hillrag.com • October 2014
Est. 1981
D SOL
D SOL
CAPITOL HILL
BRIGHTWOOD
502 1st Street, SE $898,500 Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM
CAPITOL HILL
1415 Underwood Street, NW $739,500
125 C Street, SE 4-1BR Apartments & PKG!
Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661
Fern Pannill 240-508-4856
DUPONT
1620 Corcoran Street, NW #A $399,500 Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM
CAPITOL HILL
1532 A Street, NE $830,000 Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661
SW WATERFRONT 824 Capitol Sq. Pl., SW 4BR/4.5BA on quiet courtyard w/ 2-car garage is just blocks to Metro, Capitol Mall, Arena Stage & The Wharf, a $1.5 billion mixed-use waterfront redevelopment project. THE
DUPONT
BISSEY TEAM
AT JOHN C. FORMANT REAL ESTATE, INC.
1911 17th Street, NW $998,500
Todd Bissey 202-841-7653
Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM
Stan Bissey 202-841-1433
Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661
D SOL BRIGHTWOOD
ECKINGTON
DUPONT
1749 Swann Street, NW $1,549,500
BRIGHTWOOD
MICHIGAN PARK
1910 2nd Street, NE $747,500
6408 13th Street, NW $728,500
717 Oglethorpe Street, NW $668,500
4336 20th Street, NE $499,500
Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM
Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com
Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com
Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM
D SOL
PETWORTH
607 Decatur Street, NW $708,500 Fern Pannill 240-508-4856
“WHERE WASHINGTON SHOPS FOR A NEW ADDRESS!”® 225 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003
Tel: 202-544-3900 www.johncformant.com
Sales • Rentals • Commercial Leasing • Property Management • Investments 2 H Hillrag.com
October 2014 H 3
HIll-
-WEEN
at Eastern Market
Hosted by Capitol Hill’s Own Good Witch, Jackie Von Schlegel!
Friday, October 31st – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
7th St SE between Pennsylvania and North Carolina Ave. SE Parade with Your Pooch in the Doggie Costume Parade Coordinated by Spoil Me Rotten Dog Biscuits & Howl to the Chief
• Get Treats from First Savings & the Von Schlegel Realty Team • Ride the National Capital Bank Hayride!
Free Dog (photo) Portraits by DC’s Karen Cohen
• Visit Prudential Realty’s Haunted House!
Compete in The Hill’s First Apple and Pumpkin Pie Contest Judges from American Food Roots, Hill’s Kitchen, Edible DC and Frenchie’s
• Jump on Frager’s Moon Bounce • Touch Big Cool Trucks
Compete in the Hilloween Costume Contest Creepy, Cute and Clever Categories for Babies, Youth and Adults. Judges from Dawn Price Baby, Pinktini, Bravado
• Get a Tattoo from the Capitol Hill Restoration Society • Trick or Treat with Eastern Market Merchants
Enjoy Artistic Activities & Musical Performances from the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Capitol Hill Day School, Eastern High School, Miner Elementary, Maury Elementary, Capitol Hill Cooperative Nursery School and Eliot-Hine Middle School
• Take a Photo at the Fulcrum Photo Booth • Get a Fancy Loots Law Balloon • Eat a Delicious Tunnicliff’s Hot Dog!
Volunteers from Eastern High School
Visit www.facebook.com/HilloweenatEasternMarket for the latest Hilloween News! Want to volunteer?
Contact Annette Nielsen at 518.854.3287 or annettenielsen@mac.com The Celebration Continues at Eastern Market Every Weekend! All Activities Donated by Individuals, Neighborhood Organizations and Businesses. Seasonal Street Decorations Provided by Catherine Held. Special Thanks to the Hill Rag, Eastern Market, First Savings Mortgage and Stanton Development for making this event possible. 4 H Hillrag.com
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MONTHLY PARKING AVAILABLE Convenient to Eastern Market & Barracks Row!
Call: 202-785-9465 Email: contracts@pmi-parking.com
Located at:
325 7th Street, SE
Parking Management Inc.
www.pmi-parking.com
Hours of Operation:
24 Hours: Monday-Thursday Friday: Closed @ Midnight Closed: Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY PARKING
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$
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00 24,5 N $6 O O S ING COM
00 85,0 $1,7 TED IS L JUST
00 99,5 D $5 LISTE T S JU
,700 T $2 REN R O F
Capitol Hill/ Potomac Ave Metro
Capitol Hill/ Garfield Park
Ledroit Park / Bloomingdale
1821 Potomac Avenue SE
711 5th Street SE
2304 N. Capitol St, NW
214 15th Street NE
4BR / 2BA
00 80,0 T $1 RAC T N O ER C UND
Capitol Hill
5BR / 3.5BA
3BR/2.5BA
00 10,0 T $1 RAC T N O ER C UND
00 00,0 T $7 RAC T N O ER C UND
Anacostia
Columbia Heights
Rockville, MD
4120 14th Street NW, #45
11027 Marcliff Road
1BR/1BA
0 9,50 $48 ACT R T ON ER C UND
0 2,00 $29 ACT R T ON ER C UND
Capitol Hill / RFK Stadium
Capitol Hill/ Lincoln Park
1420 Ridge Place SE
2 17th Street SE #205
106 Tennessee Av. NE, #3
1BR/1BA
1503 19th Street SE 3BR/1.5BA
3BR/2.5BA
00 253,5 CT $ A R T ON ER C UND
6BR/4BA
,000
$625 E N GO
Capitol Hill / Lincoln Park 223 14th Street NE
,000
$630 E N GO
,000
,000
$350 E N GO
M
5 $1.6 E N GO
,000
$379 E N GO
3BR/2BA
2BR / 1BA
,000
$422 E N GO
,500
$364 E N GO
Southwest Waterfront
Alexandria, VA
Dupont / U Street
472 M Street SW, #2
389 Pickett Street S., #53
2001 16th Street NW, #207
2BR / 3BA
3BR / 2.5BA
1BR / 1BA
3BR/1BA
$560 E N GO
Anacostia
,000
$825 E N GO
GONE! COULD BE YOUR HOME
Adams Morgan 2605 Adams Mill Road NW, #31 2BR / 1BA
National Harbor/ Oxon Hill, MD 202 Panorama Drive 3BR / 2BA
Capitol Hill
Cheverly, MD
101 5th Street NE
3107 Laurel Avenue
11BR / 8BA
4BR / 3.5BA
Capitol Hill/ Lincoln Park 1515 A Street SE
Call Us to Get Your Home Sold or Find a New One!
4BR / 2.5BA
“In addition to helping Buyers and Sellers on greater Capitol Hill & DC for over 14 years, we are committed to building community in Arlington, Alexandria & close-in MD.”
October 2014 H 11
What’s Inside?
35
capitol streets
In every issue: 16 What’s on Washington
Bulletin Board
60
The District Beat
64
Frager’s Inks Deal With Roadside
68
154 Classified Ads
162 Festival Photos
Andrew Lightman Andrew Lightman
Guide to Ward 6 ANC Races Profiles of the Charnice A. Milton
Candidates
80 Hill Rag Crossword
35
49
Development
20 Calendar
160 Last Word
ARTS & DINING SPECIAL
Ed Lazere & Wes Rivers
70
The Numbers
71
Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Report
Charnice A. Milton
oct. 112
72
ANC 6A Report
74
ANC 6B Report
Jonathan Neeley
75
ANC 6C Report
Charnice A. Milton
77
ANC 6D Report
Charnice A. Milton
78
ANC 6E Report
Steve Holton
Denise Romano
community life 81
E on DC
82
Eastern Market: Phoenix from the Ashes
E. Ethelbert Miller
86
Our River
88
South by West
90
H Street Life
92
Barracks Row
94
Capital Riverfront
Peter J. Waldron
Bill Matuszeski William Rich Elise Bernard Sharon Bosworth Michael Stevens, AICP
real estate 97
A Road’s Future Could Reconnect Capitol Hill to its Sleeping Riverfront Jewel
Shaun Courtney
Meg: 202.329.4068 | George: 202.203.0339
125 “The Hill is Alive”
A Capella Benefit Concert Help CAPITOL HILL GROUP MINISTRY to help the Homeless! National Community Church Theater – 535 8th St SE Oct. 15, 7pm – TICKETS: www.chgm.net
COMING SOON:
2 6th ST SE
YES, THAT HOUSE!!! 5 BEDROOM, 5.5 BATHS. REFINED AND FINISHED. HUGE YARD. $1,659,000
on the cover:
“Monday Mornings” by BEZT. Oil & Acrylic on Canvas. 100 x 130 cm Go see it on exhibit at Art Whino’s G-40 ART SUMMIT 2014 – 700 Delaware Ave., SW Available to purchase at ArtWhino.com.
100
Changing Hands
614 9th ST NE
Don Denton
3BR, 2.5 BATHS INTERIOR DESIGNER’S HOME AND IT SHOWS. PRICE TBD
arts and dining 109
Dining Notes
Celeste McCall
112
In the Chef’s Kitchen: Toyin Alli
116
Wine Guys
118
At the Movies
120
Art and The City
122
The Literary Hill
Annette Nielsen
Lilia Coffin Mike Canning Jim Magner
Boutique Exercise Studios Flourish on Capitol Hill
Pattie Cinelli Dr. Noon Kampani
128
Fall Bloodsuckers
130
DC Celebrates Local Foods
Catherine Plume
kids and family 133
Kids & Family Notebook
130
School Notes
1305 EAST CAPITOL, SE, UNIT 302 1BR, 1BA, TOP FLOOR LIST PRICE: $349,000
75 R ST, NW UNIT 1
Karen Lyon
health and fitness 125
UNDER CONTRACT:
Kathleen Donner
Susan Braun Johnson
2 BR, 2 BATH, WITH PARKING, STORAGE BASEMENT LIST PRICE: $539,000
SOLD:
103 8TH ST SE
4BR, 3.5BA w/IN-LAW STUDIO SOLD: $1,100,000
644 E ST SE
2BR, 1.5 BATHS SOLD: $705,000
homes and gardens 145
Growing Indoor Edibles • Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA
148
Green Seed Garden Growing Up • Rindy O’Brien
152
Living LARGE in a Small Space • Mary Lynn Stevens
153
Dear Garden Problem Lady
Wendy Hill
Look Us Up on Facebook! The Norris Group
F A G O N
MIDCITY
GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Masters
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Editorial Staff
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M������� E�����: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO � A�������� E�����: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com S����� N���� E�����: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com K��� � F����� E�����: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com F��� E�����: Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com
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General Assignment
NOVEMBER
1
SAVE THE DATE Look for Next Issue of Hill Rag on
SAT. 11.01.14 14 H Hillrag.com
Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Elena Burger • elena96b@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org
Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com
BEAUTY, Health & Fitness
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com
KIDS & FAMILY
Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
Society & Events
Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com
Homes & Gardens
Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com
COMMENTARY
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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.
How to Open a Small Business in DC Interested in opening a small business in the District of Columbia? Then make sure you attend this training session! At this training session, DCRA staff will walk you through everything you need to do to open a new business: • Benefits of incorporating or creating an LLC • Types of business licenses and how much they cost • How to apply for a business license • Zoning requirements for types of businesses • Obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy • What building permits are needed to do renovations • How to apply for a building permit Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am Location: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Small Business Resource Center 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-200), Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=39081
Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic: Meet One-on-One with a Lawyer for Free! If you are an existing or an aspiring small business owner, come and meet one-on-one with attorneys at this brief advice clinic. You can get information on business formation, contracts, leases, taxes or any other questions you may have related to small business legal issues. Or, if you do not have specific questions, come and tell the attorneys about your business—they can help you spot legal issues or give you general advice. Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 Time: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm Location: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Small Business Resource Center 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-200), Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=38417
Africa’s Markets of Opportunity: Small Business Training Workshops on Exporting to Africa In the wake of the African Leaders Summit in August, which focused, among other topics, on greater trade between the US and Africa, the Small Business Development Center Network of Washington DC, an outreach program of Howard University, working in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, will hold a training workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs focused on African markets. Specifically, businesses and entrepreneurs who are currently exporting or are considering selling their products and services to African markets will have the opportunity to learn from experts in international trade and Africa some of the successful strategies, top industries and markets, and best practices. Exporting can offer your company major growth opportunities in markets outside the United States. Today it’s easier than ever for a company, regardless of size, to sell goods and services across the globe. Africa offers dozens of diverse markets and a favorable trading climate for U.S. products and services. • Hear from companies successfully exporting products and services to Africa • Meet with representatives from U.S. government trade agencies • Network with like-minded small businesses and entrepreneurs active in or considering African markets. Inquiries: Ian Oliver, ian.oliver@verizon.net Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Location: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Small Business Resource Center 1100 4th Street SW, 4th Floor (Room E-4302), Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConferenceDetail.action?ID=39080
SBRC One-on-One Session: Basic Steps to Obtaining a Business License Date: Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays Time: By appointment only between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Location: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Small Business Resource Center 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-268), Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com
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Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the park. You can enter Shenandoah at four places: Front Royal near Rt. 66 and 340, Thornton Gap at Rt. 211, Swift Run Gap at Rt. 33, and Rockfish Gap at Rt. 64 and Rt. 250 (also the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway). It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the park--the speed limit is 35 mph. There are 75 overlooks that offer stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west or the rolling Piedmont to the east. nps.gov/shen
Hilloween at Eastern Market Hilloween at Eastern Market on Friday, Oct. 31, 5:307:30 p.m., has become a Capitol Hill tradition. Bring the kids for hayrides, a moon bounce, photo booth, candy treats, games and contests. All the activity will be centered at Eastern Market, 7th St. SE between Pennsylvania and North Carolina Ave. SE. Also, don’t miss the Halloween action on East Capitol Street between 3rd and 11th Sts. Walter Street, SE between 12th and 13th Sts. (south of Lincoln Park), is a little one-block street that closes off the traffic and hosts hundreds of kids every year. You should also visit the Campbell Family Haunted House at 1800 Burke St. SE. Enjoy their haunted front porch and yard on Halloween evening after dark.
Photo: Andrew Lightman
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Emilie Brzezinski: The Lure of the Forest Through Dec. 27, the Kreeger Museum presents an exhibition of monumental wood sculptures by Emilie Brzezinski. The Lure of the Forest expresses Brzezinski’s fascination with trees and her love and respect for the environment. The Museum pays homage to this masterful sculptor, who for over thirty years has chain sawed and hand-chiseled tree trunks into majestic forms. Each work exhibits beauty, grace, sensuousness, and strength. Her imposing installations are awe-inspiring and express the passion Brzezinski has for her trees. The Kreeger Museum is at 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW. 202-337-3050. kreegermuseum.org
LEFT: Lament, 2013, Red Oak. Photo: Helen Wilson Chason
New York Avenue Sculpture Project The larger-than-life sculptures by artist Magdalena Abakanowicz are on view through Sept. 27, 2015 in the median of New York Ave. NW between 12th and 13th Sts. They are part of the New York Avenue Sculpture Project, the only public art space featuring changing installations of contemporary works by women artists in Washington, DC. Abakanowicz’s monumentally-scaled sculptures of grouped human figures and birds in flight exemplify issues universal to humankind: the power of nature, the force of destruction and the resiliency of hope. Her art is often inspired by her experiences and observations during World War II and its repressive postwar climate. nmwa.org
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Walking Figures (group of 10), 2009; Bronze, each approximately 106 1⁄4 x 35 3⁄8 x 55 1⁄8 in.; All images © Magdalena Abakanowicz, Courtesy of Marlborough Gallery, New York.
Washington Craft Show The Washington Craft Show at the Convention Center presents 185 of the nation’s top contemporary craft artists in a premier showcase that is nationally recognized for presenting masterful work. The artists invited to participate must first submit their work to a professional panel of jurors and all work is required to be designed and made in artists’ studios across America. Show hours are Friday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $15 ($14, seniors). craftsamericashows.com
LEFT: “A Glory of Feathers” brooch by Marianne Hunter, Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA. One-of-a-kind.
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THE
MARYLAND CONDOMINIUMS 1350 MARYLAND AVE
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OCTOBER CALENDAR National Building Museum Creepy New Acquisition Tours
Oct. 12, 17, 19 and 28, 8 PM and 9 PM. The National Building Museum is ter-
Image: Courtesy of the National Building Museum
rified to announce the recent discovery of a set of documents belonging to a builder who, records show, died in 1886 while assisting with the construction of their historic building. Interestingly, the letters date years after he was reported dead and buried. $25. For ages 10, up. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org
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HALLOWEEN Dead Man’s Run at Congressional Cemetery. Oct. 4, 6-8 PM. Costumes encouraged, with prize for best costume or team costume. $40. $10 for the kid’s run. congressionalcem- etery.org
Howl To The Chief’s Annual Howl-OWeen Costume Contest. Join us on Saturday October 25th at 1PM at the steps in Lincoln Park for Howl To The Chief’s Annual Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest! The parade of adoptable dogs from Rural Dog Rescue will kick things off! This year we are asking for $5 donation to help the homeless dogs of Rural Dog Rescue! Howl To The Chief will be providing doggie gift bags for all the contestants and doggie goodies for the spectators! There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awarded in each category determined by the judges: Best Dog(s) and Person Theme!. Best Dog(s) and Group Theme, Funniest Costume, Best Homemade Costume, Best Celebrity Look Alike.
The Ghost Story Tour of Washington. Fri.’s and Sats in Oct., 8 PM. Tour meets at 16th & H Sts., NW. $12, $6 for those under 16 (babies in strollers or carriers, free). Military ID holders half price on all tours. 301-588-9255. historicstrolls.com
Boo! Run for Life 10K and 2 Mile Fun Walk. Oct. 5, 8 AM. The Halloween-themed run is a seasonal favorite. Run the 10K in costume, or enjoy a scenic 2 mile walk around the Tidal Basin. West Potomac Park, Washington DC. 703-786-8581. boorunforlife.com Ghosts & Goblets Soiree . Buy now to take advantage of our “ early ghost” discount! Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. 7 p.m. VIP Admission | 8 p.m. General Admission Fill some dead space on your calendar this Halloween at the Historic Congressional Cemetery’s 5th Annual Ghosts & Goblets Soiree. This spook-tacular celebration transforms Congressional Cemetery into DC’s happiest haunt - with twilight tours of the cemetery grounds, a costume contest, access to the public vault, entertainment, and more! En-
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{october events calendar}
Photo: Courtesy of Labyrinth Games & Puzzles
Taste of Horror (for adults) at Labyrinth
Oct. 25, 11 AM-6 PM. Join them all day for a ghostly host of spooky, creepy, scary board games and card games all day long. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com joy food & drink in a heated tent when you’re not out mingling with some of the cemetery’s 65,000 “residents.” Choose your ticket type and book today... before it’s too late. Promo codes expire October 3rd at 7 pm. General Admission | $70 $35 | Includes four drink tickets Use promo code: HCCFRIENDS. VIP Admission | $85 $49 | Includes early admission at 7 p.m. & exclusive VIP-only open bar with special “Witches Brew” Use promo code: HCCVIP Boo at the Zoo. Oct. 24, 25 and 26, 5:30-8:30 PM. Enjoy special treats from more than 40 treat stations. This family-friendly event offers animal encounters, keeper
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talks, and festive decorations. Proceeds support animal care, conservation science, education, and sustainability of the zoo. $30. nationalzoo.si.edu Halloween Changes Its Disguise-Has the Witching Season Grown Up? Oct. 27, 6:45-8:15 PM. Holiday scholar Daniel Gifford transports viewers back 100 years to reveal a surprisingly tricky side to Halloween. Drawing on a variety of images, including now-forgotten Halloween postcards, he conjures up a picture of a very different holiday. $25. S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. 202-633-3030. smithsonianassociates.org
Drag Queen High Heel Race. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 9 PM. Always fun, always outrageous and always held on the Tuesday before Halloween, this event features elaborately costumed drag queens racing down 17th St. NW from R to Church St. It attracts large crowds to cheer them on so don’t expect to park in the area. The race begins at 9 PM but come early because the real fun begins before the race. An informal block party follows. Bark or Treat Halloween Canine Cruise. Oct. 30, 7 PM. The Potomac Riverboat Company invites guests with costumed-pup in tow to cruise around the Potomac Riv-
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Visible Language at Gallaudet
Oct. 21-Nov. 16. Right here in Washington, DC, in the volatile 1890s, two powerful and egotistical men clashed over how the deaf should be taught to communicate--a contest that was to impact every deaf person thereafter. This brilliant new bilingual musical tells that momentous story through the real people who lived it, including Alexander Graham Bell, Edward Miner Gallaudet, First Lady Carrie Harrison--and a young girl named Helen Keller, just beginning to learn what it means to be a woman in an era of progress. A production commemorating Gallaudet University’s 150th anniversary, performed in American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet University Eastman Studio Theatre. facebook.com/WSCAvantBard Left: Eight actors from the 16-member Visible Language cast make the sign for “I love you” at the statue of Thomas H. Gallaudet (“the father of American Sign Language”) on the campus of Gallaudet University. Front row, from left: Emily Stemper, Sarah Anne Sillers, Miranda Medugno, Tom Baldridge, Tyresha Collins, Brady Humphrey. Seated on statue, from left: John Cartwright and Kari Ginsberg. Photo: Courtesy of WSC Avant Bard er on this 40-minute ride to Halloween tunes. Halloween doggie treats will be provided, as well as a photographer to capture the morning’s festivities. Alexandria City Marina, 1 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA. 703-6840580. potomacriverboatco.com Dead Man’s Hollow-Civil War Era Songs and Ghost Stories. Nov. 1, 7 PM. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts Dia de los Muertos. Nov, 1 and 2, 10:30 AM-4:30 PM. View several ofrendas (altars), and special programming that includes food demonstrations of traditional foods for the dead around the outdoor firepit; music and dance performances. National Museum of the American Indian, on the National Mall between Air & Space and US Capitol. nmai.si.edu
SPECIAL EVENTS A Literary Feast. Oct. 25. A fundraiser where over 30 dinner parties are held in homes across Capitol Hill on one evening. Each dinner features food and fun related to a specific book. $100-$500. aliteraryfeast.org Arena Stage Hosts Tommy Wells’ Job Fair. The D.C. Job Fair sponsored by Tommy Wells and Arena Stage Friday,
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October 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Mead Center, 1101 6th St., SW (Waterfront Metro). The three previous job fairs included partnerships with more than 30 participating organizations and served a combined total attendance of about 4,000 community members. This event features a new partnership with the Office of Returning Citizens Affairs (ORCA), which provides support and services to previously incarcerated persons. Fall Fest at the Soldiers’ Home. Oct. 5, 10 AM-4 PM. Festival features an Antique Car Show, beer and bourbon tasting tents, games and activities, golfing, live music, a military drill team, and tours of buildings in the historic core of the Soldiers’ Home campus. President Lincoln’s Cottage, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW. lincolncottage.org/fallfest2014 Taste of Bethesda. Oct. 11, 11 AM-4 PM. More than 50 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. bethesda.org Memorial Tribute to Legendary DC Jazz Pianist Dick Morgan. Oct. 15, 6 PM. Washington Performing Arts and the Kennedy Center present a Memorial Concert to honor the life and musical legacy of renowned DC-based jazz pianist Richard Lewis (Dick) Morgan, who passed away on Oct. 20, 2013. Free. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. washingtonperformingarts.org
Atlas Underground: Not Your Usual Gala. Oct. 17, 7 PM. The evening is an exhilarating combination of performances, dining, dancing, and celebrating the finest artistic expression. Party back stage, on-stage, and in other spaces rarely seen by audiences. $225. atlasarts.org Capitol Hill Cluster School Home Renovator Tour. Oct. 18, 10 AM-4 PM. Designed for the modern homeowner, this walking tour showcases a wide variety of homes and styles. The emphasis is on clever solutions to everyday problems and how to create the house of one’s dreams on a real-life budget. $20 advance; $25, day of. renovatorshousetour.org Washington International Horse Show. Oct. 21-26. This event hosts leading horses and riders from around the nation and the world and is a highlight of the equestrian calendar. Verizon Center. wihs.org
MUSIC Music at the Hill Center. Oct. 5, 4 PM. Gerdan: Traditional Instrumental Music from Ukraine and Eastern Europe; Oct. 8, 7:30 PM. Margaret Leng Tan, Toy Pianist. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org
OCTOBER SPECIALS!
James m. Loots Candidate for ANC6B03
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Local Law Practice Serving Capitol Hill Residents and Businesses
Current Board Member, CHAMPS, Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce. Two-term Chair, D.C. Commission on Human Rights
Former Board Member Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, D.C. Legal Counsel for the Elderly • Former Trustee, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. D.C. Bar Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year • D.C. Distinguished Public Service Award
Extensive Experience with DC Governmental Agencies and Regulations, working to enforce and adapt where appropriate to enhance city services and make access to our government easier and more effective.
www.votesforloots.org October 2014 H 25
{october events calendar}
Music at Ebenezers. Oct. 10, Trotter and Blount; Oct. 16, Marian Call; Oct. 17, Amos Saint Jean and Friends Live in Concert; Oct. 24, The Cabin Project, Matt Phillips; Oct. 30, Melissa Giges and Ryanhood. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com The Electric Pharaoh-Baltimore Rock Opera. Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. atlasarts.org Capitol Hill Group Ministry will host “The Hill is Alive” A Cappella benefit concert on October 15th, at the National Community Church Theater (535 8th St SE), at 7pm. Join CHGM for an entertaining night of music, as a cappella groups from local universities donate their talents to support our homeless neighbors. Participating groups include the “Georgetown Chimes,” “Georgetown Phantoms,” and “Georgetown Superfood” from Georgetown University; “Redline A Cappella” and “Take Note Acapella” from Catholic University; and “PandemoniUM” from The University of Maryland. The night will also include a raffle, and light refreshments will be available for a modest donation. Buy your tickets in advance at www. chgm.net for only $20, or at the door for $25. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Free but a free will offering taken. 1317 G ST. NW. 202-347-2635. epiphanydc.org Jazz Night (and fish fry) in Southwest. Fridays, 6-9 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. 202-4847700. westminsterdc.org/jazz
Alan Jabbour is one of the virtuoso faculty who will be teaching students of all ages and levels at World on a String: Cross Cultural Master Musician Workshops at Hill Center on Oct. 25.
World on a String Workshops at Hill Center
Oct. 25, 12:30-5:30 PM. The day of workshops will be followed by a Master Musician Concert featuring the faculty artists and workshop participants, at 7:30 PM at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 201 Independence Ave. SE. Registration information and tickets for the concert are available online at hillcenterdc.org.
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Blue Monday Blues. Mondays, 6-9 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 Sunday Gospel Brunch Featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir. Every Sunday, 12:30-2 PM. $30$45. The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com
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THEATER Belleville at Studio. Through Oct. 12. Belleville unmasks the seemingly perfect marriage and Parisian life of expats Abby and Zack, anatomizing the consequences of deceptions small and large and the terrifying, profound unknowability of our closest relationships. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org Marie Antoinette at Woolly. Through Oct. 12. Cake enthusiast and infamous one-percenter Marie Antoinette opens Woolly’s 35th season with a burst of high fashion and shaky morals. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net The Wolfe Twins at Studio. Oct. 15-Nov. 2. Lewis invites his estranged sister on an Italian vacation to reconnect, but when he befriends a beautiful stranger, old wounds fester and intimate secrets are revealed. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org As You Like It at Shakespeare. Oct. 28Dec. 7. All the world’s a stage in As You Like It, one of Shakespeare’s fullest comedies, where poetry, mistaken identities and true love lost and found abound. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. 202547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org Julius Caesar at the Folger. Oct. 28-Dec. 7. In the shadow of the nearby Capitol building, Shakespeare’s searing commentary on power, ambition, and democratic responsibility smolders just in time for midterm elections. Folger Shakespeare Theater, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-5447077. folger.edu Fiddler on the Roof at Arena. Oct. 31Jan. 4. More than just a poor milkman, Tevye is a humble Jewish father who finds his devotion to God severely tested by his headstrong daughters, who want to be their own matchmakers, and the increasingly ruthless government forcing him from his land. Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org
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SPORTS AND FITNESS Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Oct. 9, 14, 18 and 25. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com Washington Wizards Basketball. Oct. 12, 15, 17, 20; Nov 1. Verizon Center. nba.com/wizards Maury ES Family Fitness Night. Oct. 23, 6-7:30 PM. Just show up in comfortable clothes and sneakers to enjoy activities with folks from Breathing Space Yoga, Results Gym, Capitol Hill Bikes, Joy of Motion, Capital Speed Skating, and Capital City Karate. Maury ES, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE. 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 firstcome, first-served basis for onehour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov/dpr Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month at noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703505-3567. dcroadrunners.org
SALES AND MARKETS Grant Avenue (flea) Market in Takoma Park. Oct. 12, 10 AM-3 PM. The market is at the intersection of Grant Ave. and Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park, MD with antiques, collectibles and funky finds. grantavenuemarket.com Alexandria Art Market. 2nd Saturday of the month (rain or shine), through
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Oct., 10 AM-4 PM in the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park, adjoining the Del Ray Artisans gallery at 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA (corner of Commonwealth Ave. and Mount Vernon Ave.). The variety of original artwork from over 25+ artists will be displayed for sale including, painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, and glasswork. 703-6277656. TheDelRayArtisans.org H Street FRESHFARM Market. Saturdays, 9 AM-noon, through Dec. 20. SNAP (EBT/Food Stamps) accepted. 13th and H Sts. NE. freshfarmmarket.org U Street Flea. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM. The market is in the parking lot, next to Nellie’s Sports Bar (three blocks east of U Street Metro), at 912 U St. NW. ustreetflea.com Clarendon Night Market. Alternate Saturdays, through Oct. 25, 3-9 PM. It features a diverse mix of art, crafts, fashion, jewelry, imports, antiques, collectibles, furniture, and more. It is in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, 3140 N. Washington Blvd. at the intersection of Washington, Wilson and Clarendon Blvds in North Arlington, VA. ClarendonMarket.com Aya Community Markets @ SW Waterfront. Saturdays, through Nov. 22, 9 AM-1 PM at 900 4th St. SW on the grounds of Christ United Methodist Church. dreamingoutloud.net RFK Stadium Farmers’ Market. Saturdays, year round (weather permitting), 8 AM-3 PM. The market also has merchandise vendors. It can be seen in the RFK parking lot from the interestion of Benning Rd. and Oklahoma Ave. NE. Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays, yearround (weather permitting). Set
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CAPITOL HILL IS A SPECIAL PLACE. WE PROMOTE, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE CHARACTER OF OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS
Preservation Cafe: Archaeology of Capitol Hill October 15 6:30 to 7:15 p.m
Ebenezers Coffee House, 2nd & F Streets, NE. Free. No Reservations Required. Dr. Ruth Trocolli, City Archaeologist will bring a display case of prehistoric pottery from the Barney Circle freeway project, as well as a complete replica vessel, and replicas of containers made of perishable materials that people can handle (basketry, bark, wood, gourd, etc.). The event is free and handicapped accessible and the public is encouraged to attend.
202-543-0425
www.chrs.org
@CHRSDC
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The Green Clothing Donation Bin at 4th and East Capitol has relocated to 8th and East Capitol next to Morton’s Pharmacy
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202-548-0081 Mon.-Fri. 7-7 Sat. 8-6, Sun. 8-5 sidamocoffeeandtea.com FREE 417 H Street, NE 32 H Hillrag.com
Peter Frias “Your Connection to Capitol Hill and Beyond” I’ve been representing buyers and sellers on the Hill for over 15 years, and I can help you too! 1% of my commissions are donated to Habitat for Humanity DC
Looking to Buy or Sell? Call Me Today! www.peterfrias.com Peter@johncformant.com (202) 544-3900 | (202)744-8973
up after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3-7 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202-6985253. easternmarketdc.com Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM-8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM-8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 5th St. NE. 301652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM-7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM-5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM-5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM-6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202-6985253. easternmarketdc.com Anacostia Big Chair Flea Market. Saturdays, 10 AM-4 PM. The market features a diverse mix of art, crafts, imports, antiques, collectibles and furniture. The market will also feature local specialty food items such as fruits and vegetables, flowers, preserves, prepared foods and beverages. 2215 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. bigchairmarket.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or shine), year round, 9 AM-1 PM. 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). 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather),
“Ryall , Andrew & team guided my husband and me through prepping a cramped house for sale while we were living in it, then managed to time the purchase of our new house so the move was seamless. Thanks to their help, a tricky move turned out to be almost easy – and dealing with them was always a pleasure.”
8 AM-4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW. georgetownfleamarket.com Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7 AM-9 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
From the Sellers of 1533 A St, SE & buyers of 120 10th St, NE
Spring 2014
Making Your Real Estate a Success Story!
The GranT, ryall & andrew Group
CIVIC LIFE Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM-6 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202-783-5065. norton. house.gov ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202423-8868. anc6a.org ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-543-3344. anc6b. org
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
ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. 202-547-7168. anc6c.org ANC 6D. Second Monday, 7 PM. Meeting at 1100 4th St. SW, DCRA meeting room, 2nd floor. 202554-1795. anc6d.org ABC Committee, ANC 6D. Oct 23, 7 PM. Meeting at King Greenleaf Rec Center, 201 N St. SW. Alcohol license applications, renewals, enforcement, and other issues. To be added to e-mail list for agenda and notifications contact Coralie Farlee, Chair, ABC Committee at 202-554-4407 or cfarlee@mindspring.com ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at NW One Library, 155 L St. NW. anc6e.org ◆
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ARTS& DINING AUTUMN IN WASHINGTON, DC
I
n 1956, when Jacob Javits was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York, his wife didn’t move with him to Washington, DC which she considered a backwater and she wasn’t shy about telling anybody who’d listen. She may have had a point. DC really was men in gray suits and women in sensible shoes shuffling in and out of government buildings to a time-clock. Have things ever changed! The U District, Adams Morgan and the H Street corridor are now on everyone’s list of the hippest places in the country. We’ve also got art in alleys, music in courtyards, in-town major league sports, a thriving theater scene, restaurants popping up everywhere, trolleys and Barack and Michelle (not Ike and Mamie). As the days grow shorter and the evenings longer, here are some suggestions to help you enjoy autumn and the approaching winter months with style. ◆
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Dance ! Dance! ! e c n a ! D e c n a D
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olf Trap isn’t just for summer outdoor concerts. You’d be surprised at the variety and sophistication of the entertainment offered at the Barns year-round. On Saturday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., you can enjoy An Evening of Indian Dance at the Barns a rich cultural experience of beautiful and emotionally-engaging classical and folk Indian dance and music. Vibrant costumes, lively music, and elaborate choreography will adorn the stage when the professional dancers from IDEA (Indian Dance Educators Association) perform. This performance will feature six popular, classical dance styles— Bharathanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Mohiniattam and Manipuri, representing var-
ious regions of India. $20-$25. wolftrap.org/barns The Washington Ballet presents The Nutcracker at the Warner Theater every holiday season--this year, Dec. 4-28. The audience will be full of families, but the ballet itself is thoroughly appropriate for an entirely adult audience. Set in Georgetown and replete with swirling snowflakes, cherry blossoms and historical characters, including George Washington as the heroic nutcracker, The Nutcracker has become a tradition for generations of family and friends to celebrate the holidays. On Nov. 29 and 30, there are also performances of The Nutcracker at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE with discounted tickets for east of the river patrons. thearcdc.org
Courtesy of Wolf Trap
On Saturday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., East Meets West at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street. This special evening will premier the Gin Dance Company Artistic Director Shu-Chen Cuff’s newest works “Face to Face”, which explores how technology has changed the way we all interact and connect with each other in and “That’s Mozart,” a fun and light hearted piece in which Shu-Chen creates and shapes the movements into Mozart’s humorous and playful music notes. This work delivers an awakening message for people to take charge and tell their own story. The Atlas is becoming the performing arts venue for new music, experimental dance, off-beat humor and performance art. Tickets are $28. East Meets West is performed by the Gin Dance Company of Northern Virginia. Read more at gindance.org.
Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art
Courtesy of The Washington Ballet
Photo: Laine Shakerdge.
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Part fact, part fiction, and set in the harsh backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet, Little Dancer at the Kennedy Center is Courtesy of the Gin Dance Company a musical inspired by the story of Marie van Goethem, a young ballerina who posed for Edgar Degas and became, inadvertently, the most famous dancer in the world. Torn by her family’s poverty, her debt to the artist, and the lure of wealthy men, she struggles to keep her place in the corps de ballet--a girl on the verge of womanhood, caught between the conflicting demands of life and art. Little Dancer is at the Kennedy Center, Oct. 25-Nov. 30. In conjuncation with Little Dancer, the National Gallery of art presents Degas’s Little Dancer, Oct. 5-Jan. 11. One of the Gallery’s most popular works of art, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen will be presented with 14 additional works from the Gallery’s collection. nga.gov The Cuban Dance Social with DC Casineros at Dance Place in Brookland is an opportunity to dance--not just watch other people. On Friday nights Oct. 17, Nov. 7, Dec. 19 and Jan. 16, 8 p.m.-midnight, enjoy all levels of Latin dancing. This is Brookland’s great new chance to dance, meet new people and appreciate the richness of Cuban dance and art. Join the DC Casineros’ company of community DJs and dancers for an evening of Son, Songo, Timba, Guaguanco, Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Guaracha, and Rumba. The dance lesson is 8-8:30 p.m. and the remainder of the evening is open dancing. $12 includes appetizers and beverages. Book online at danceplace.org, call 202-269-1600 or pay at the door. Dance Place is at 3225 8th St. NE. dccasineros.org ◆
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Music! Music! ! c i s u ! M c i s u M
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he Howard Theatre at 620 T St. NW first opened in 1910 in the area known as “Black Broadway.” It provided a place where color barriers blurred and music unified. From 1980 to 2012, the theater sat vacant in what we now call the U Street District. After a $29 million renovation and a 32-year hiatus, the Howard Theatre is once again a hub of creativity and artistic expression in the modern world. It offers a dizzying array of performers, celebrations, gospel and comedy. They have become famous for their Sunday Gospel Brunch with a southern buffet and live music ($35, $45, day-of). thehowardtheatre.com Every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. the National Cathedral’s peal bells are rung for about a half hour by musicians pulling ropes attached to the bells. They are best appreciated from the Bishop’s Garden just to the right of the Cathedral. Peal bell rehearsals are Tuesday evenings, 7-9 p.m. The 10bell peal set was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London in the 1960s and installed in 1963. The bells vary in weight from 608 to 3,588 pounds. Peal bells play mathematical patterns, not melodic music, because peal bells cannot play a rhythm. nationalcathedral.org
Robin Trower appears at the Howard on Nov. 11. Photo: Courtesy of the Howard Theatre
Here are some of the performers and performance groups coming up at the Birchmere a legendary venue in the music world: Judy Collins, Three Dog Night, Herb Alpert, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Herman’s Hermits and Paula Poundstone. The Birchmere schedules a mix of old timers, country, jazz, folk and rock. It’s just across the river in Alexandria. Your ticket pays for your seat and parking, but not your food and beverage. Go to their website, birchmere.com for featured artists over the fall season. The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage was created to make the performing arts accessible to everyone in fulfillment of the Kennedy Center’s mission to the community and the nation. It is a free, live performance every night of the year at 6 p.m. in the Grand Hall, Concert Hall or Theater Lab. In the past 16 years, more than 3 million visitors have seen 6,000 groups perform jazz, ballet, storytelling, popular music, contemporary dance, opera, choral music, tap dance, theater, chamber music, symphonic music, puppetry, stand-up comedy, and cabaret. No tickets are required. Just show up. There’s a free shuttle service from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station to the Kennedy Center every 15 minutes. Enjoy. kennedy-center.org
Photo: Kathleen Donner
This season the Library of Congress presents five new works commissioned by the Library. Thursday, Oct. 30, George Lewis performed by Ensemble Dal Niente; Friday, Dec. 5, Jefferson Friedman/ Chiara Quartet with Simone Dinnerstein; Friday, Jan. 23, John Adams/St. Lawrence String Quartet; Saturday, Mar. 7, Jennifer Higdon/Roberto Díaz and the Curtis Chamber Orchestra; and Friday, May 22, Kaija Saariaho/Jennifer Koh, Anssi Karttunen & Benjamin Hochman. All concerts are free but require tickets available from TicketMaster (there is a small service charge associated with each ticket order). There is a limit of two tickets per patron. 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building. loc.gov ◆ Ensemble Dal Niente performs on Oct. 30. Photo: Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Robert Earl Keen. Courtesy of the Birchmere
Gerdan – Courtesy of the Kennedy Center.
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Museu m Museum s! s ! s m u ! e s s u m u m s e mu
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t over 50’ long, 20’ high and weighing 6 tons, Spinosaurus is the largest discovered predatory dinosaur to roam the Earth. This dino’s extraordinary features include a crocodile-shaped skull and 7’ spines forming a sail along its back. Through Apr. 12, 2015, encounter this bizarre predator for the first time at “Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous” at the National Georgraphic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. In this exhibition, you explore a full-sized skeletal model as well as genuine dinosaur fossils and learn about the latest technologies modern paleontologists use. $7-$11. nationalgeographic.com The Hirshhorn has to be the most under-appreciated art museum in the city. But inside it is one of the most contemplative places you’ll ever encounter. In a world conditioned by the frantic, 24/7 flow of information and the ephemerality of digital media, many moving-image artists are countering these tendencies with works that emphasize slower, more meditative forms of perception. Days of Endless Time, Oct. 12-Apr 14, 2015, presents fourteen installations that offer prismatic vantage points into the suspension and attenuation of time or that create a sense of timelessness. Themes include escape, solitude, enchantment, and the thrall of nature. hirshhorn.si.edu
Photo: Mark Thiessen, National Geographic
photo: Kathleen Donner
Image courtesy and © Sigalit Landau
Courtesy: Widener Collection
On the 400th anniversary of El Greco’s death, the National Gallery of Art presents an exhibition of his paintings, Nov. 2-Feb. 16. The exhibition includes 11 paintings from the Gallery and other Washington area collections. A selection of devotional works illustrates El Greco’s role as artist of the Counter-Reformation. El Greco was born in Crete and any visit to that island will have locals urging you to view the remains of his stone and brick home after which you can peruse El Greco relics and then order a moussaka lunch with a glass of retsina. nga.gov “Face Value: Portraiture in the Age of Abstraction” features 50 paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from approximately 1945 to 1975, by artists who were reinventing portraiture at a moment when most agreed that figuration was dead as a progressive art form. Artists such as Alice Neel, Elaine de Kooning, Robert Rauschenberg, Beauford Delaney, Alex Katz, Romare Bearden, Fairfield Porter, Jamie Wyeth and Andy Warhol, along with lesser-known artists, pushed the boundaries of portrait traditions, reinterpreting human portrayal, reinventing portraiture for the next generation. On view through Jan. 11, 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Sts. NW. npg.si.edu ◆
“Face Value” at National Portrait Gallery
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The John Paul II National Shrine has undergone a renovation. It officially reopens on Oct. 22 and features an array of documents, relics and bits and pieces from the life of this extraordinary man. It is a glimpse into the life of a man who, along with Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbechev, and Lech Walesa, is most responsible for the end of the Soviet Empire and, therefore, the end the cold war. Admission is free and visiting hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 3900 Harewood Rd. NE. Harewood Road is between the National Shrine and the parking lot. 202635-5400. jp2shrine.org
Second Hand Rose October 10 The Dickens Campaign and Ryan Keberle’s Catharsis October 11 Wake Up, Brother Bear October 9-13. Ages 1-5 Capital City Symphony October 12 Library of Congress: Intelligence in the Human-Machine October 16
Second Hand Rose
Rorschach Theatre Klecksography: Monsters & Mayhem October 24 Gin Dance Company: East Meets West October 25 The Welders: Not Enuf Lifetimes October 29–November 16
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Theat e r ! Theater ! ! r e t a e ! r h e T t a e Th
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he DC premier of “Sex With Strangers” is at Signature Theater from Oct 14-Dec 7. A raging snowstorm traps strangers Olivia, an unsuccessful, yet gifted, thirty-nine-year-old writer, and Ethan, a tech-addicted and wildly successful young blogger, in a secluded cabin. Opposites instantly attract, undeniable chemistry ignites and sex is imminent. As the dawn rises, however, what could have just been a one-night-stand transforms into something more complicated when online exploits interfere with their real-life connection. In this two actor drama, Holly Twyford plays Olivia and Luigi Sottile, Ethan. Three-time Helen Hayes Award winner Aaron Posner directs. Pride Night is Nov. 7 and 21. signature-theatre.org
Holly Twyford in Sex with Strangers at Signature Theatre. Photo: Christopher Mueller
“Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare is at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre from Oct. 28-Dec. 7. Julius Caesar returns home victorious, securing both unparalleled power and popularity. Fearful for the Republic and driven by their own ambition, several senators conspire to assassinate the Roman dictator in the Capitol. Michael Sharon plays Julius Caesar, Maurice Jones plays Mark Antony and Brutus and Cassius are played by Anthony Cochrane and Louis Butelli. Robert Richmond directs. In the shadow of the nearby Capitol building, Shakespeare’s commentary on power, ambition, and democratic responsibility smolders just in time for midterm elections. The Folger Shakespear Library is at 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu
Image Courtesy of Arena Stage
Maurice Jones as Mark Antony. Photo: James Kegley
By popular demand, the Theater Alliance at the Anacostia Playhouse is bringing back the “Black Nativity” after a two year hiaCourtesy of C. Stanley Photography tus from Dec. 8-Jan. 4. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the Christmas story from an Afro-centric perspective, infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz music and dance with griot-style storytelling from an ensemble cast. Originally written by Langston Hughes, the show was first performed Off-Broadway on December 1961, and was one of the first plays written by an African-American to be staged there. Eric Ruffin directs. The Anacostia Playhouse is located in the heart of Historical Anacostia at 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. Street parking is available on Shannon Place. theateralliance.com
Photo: Joseph Stand Photography
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Every year during the long holiday season, Arena Stage comes up with a family-friendly production for their theater in the round. This year it’s the Molly Smith directed “Fiddler on the Roof” which runs from Oct. 31 to Jan. 4. Tony nominee Jonathan Hadary plays Tevye, a humble Jewish father who finds his devotion to God severely tested by his headstrong daughters, who want to be their own matchmakers, and the increasingly ruthless government forcing him from his land. Everyone will know “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “Tradition.” Arena Stage offers a family fun pack--four tickets for $125. Arena is at 1101 6th St., SW. arenastage.org
“Famous Puppet Death Scenes” is at Woolley Mammoth, Dec. 9-Jan 4. It was created and is performed by the Canadian Old Trout Puppet Workshop. The Old Trouts promise to cure your fear of death; no more anxiety about difficult choices, no more dreading birthdays, no more desperate pleas for immortality through fame, art, or progeny. Curated and narrated by puppet Nathan Tweak, it is a collection of twenty-two infamous and theatrical end-of-life sequences, spanning a vast array of styles and genres. Woolly Mammoth is always ready to take a chance. They flop and they succeed, they’re fresh and they’re ridiculous, but you always come away with something. Watch for their pay-what-you-can previews. Woolly is at 641 D St. NW. woollymammoth.net ◆
Jean-Keith Fagon wishes his grandson
NEO
LUKAS FAGON
much happiness on his second birthday.
Go Nats!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
WASHINGTON NATIONALS,
NL EAST DIVISION
CHAMPIONS!
Come enjoy Nationals games at Capitol Riverfront restaurants and bars - close enough to see the lights and hear the roar of the crowd! Visit www.capitolriverfront.org/calendar for event celebration details in Yards Park.
#Natitude October 2014 H 43
Dining ! Dining! ! g n i n ! i g D n i n Di
W
ashington DC has become quite the theater town, and thankfully many restaurants have stepped up with pre-theater (or pre-event, as some now call it) menus that offer three courses for a discounted price, along with a guarantee to get you out the door in time for the show. Here are some choices grouped by area of the city.
Penn Quarter: Theaters: Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, Ford’s, Warner, National 701 – 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-393-0701. This upscale restaurant has a $32 pre-theater menu with such selections as beef carpaccio or red pepper risotto to start, flatiron steak or sake-miso glazed salmon as an entrée and dessert. The menu is available Monday-Saturday 5:30 - 6:45 p.m., Sunday 5:00- 9:30 p.m. Valet park for $8/car at 701 until after the show! Rasika – 633 D St. NW, 202-637-1222. Going early for a pre-event dinner may be your best chance of snagging a meal at this ultra-popular Indian-influenced eatery. Named among the top 20 restaurants across America in Zagat’s 2014 America’s Top Restaurants Survey, you need to make reservations weeks in advance. Rasika offers a $35 threecourse menu until 6:30. Closed on Sunday. Valet parking available. 14th Street / Logan Circle: Theaters: Studio Theatre, Source Theatre, Theater J, Howard Theater B Too – 1324 14th Street NW, 202-627-2800. In a fun, eclectic space, celebrity chef Bart Vandaele showcases the cooking of Belgium. Yes, the mussels are delicious, but there is so much more. And they offer a Belgian vanilla waffle for the table when you present your Studio Theatre ticket. Posto – 1515 14th Street NW, 202-332-8613. Posto serves both classic and modern Italian dishes. The kitchen works with local farms for organic vegetables and imports only the finest Italian ingredients. There is a three-course pre-theater menu available nightly from opening to 6:30 for $29. SW Waterfront: Theater: Arena Stage Station Four – 1104 4th St. SW, 202-488-0987. American, bistro-style restaurant gets excellent reviews and is the most convenient place to eat if you are going to the Arena Stage. They offer a $35 three-course dinner which includes valet parking on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Or take 10% off the bill from regular menu with tickets.
Photos: Andrew Lightman
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Capitol Hill: Theaters: Folger Theater, Atlas Performing Arts Bistro Cacao – 320 Mass. Ave, NE, 202-546-4737. This charming French restaurant offers a three course pre-theater menu for $29.95 per person. Every day from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There are classics such as Coquilles St. Jacques, bouillabaisse, Onglet de Boeuf aux Echalottes. If you come at 5:30 you should have time for a relaxing dinner in this romantic, European-style setting before strolling through historic Capitol Hill on the way to the theater. Cafe Berlin – 322 Massachusetts Ave NE, 202-543-7656. Located a few blocks from Union Station, this Capitol Hill mainstay of almost 30 years serves classic and modern German cuisine. Though there is no pre-theater menu, it is close to the Folger. The restaurant feels authentically German and the food backs that up. You could make a meal off the small plates with home-made pork terrine, sausages, pickles and the like. The entrees include sauerbraten and cordon bleu. Desserts are strudels, Black Forest cake and cream tortes. Red Rocks – 1348 H St NE, 202-621-7300. Red Rocks is an upscale neighborhood pizzeria with four locations in the DC area. Thin Crust Neopolitan pizzas, pastas and more. Craft beer and designer cocktails. No pre-theater special but close to the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
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potter y ! pottery! ! y r e t t o p tery! on the hill
I
TOP: Mark Shapiro “salting” during the firing process. Photo courtesy of the artist. BELOW: Mark Shapiro. Rope Bowl. Detail. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Bob Briscoe
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Matthew Metz
n what has grown into an annual fall tradition, Hill Center will host the third annual Pottery on the Hill October 31 through November 2 with a “Pottery Jam” at District Clay on October 30. This year, sixteen nationally recognized ceramic artists will display and sell a wide array of work to the public. Participating potters are: Bob Briscoe, Kevin Crowe, Naomi Dalglish, Dan Finnegan, Warren Frederick, Ryan Greenheck, Michael Hunt, Michael Kline, Jenny Mendes, Matthew Metz, Donna Polseno, Ken Sedberry, Mark Shapiro, Stacy Snyder, Sam Taylor and Julie Wiggins. While visitors to the last two expos will recognize the work of several returning potters, this year’s roster includes many first-timers who have travelled as far away as California to display their wares. Unlike traditional craft fairs, Pottery on the Hill organizers carefully hand-pick critically acclaimed artists and professionally curate the exhibition setting in an indoor expo-like setting. Potter Mark Shapiro compares Pottery on the Hill to the “farm to table movement” since people will have direct access to the potters’ finished products as well as the artists themselves. In addition, Pottery on the Hill puts the ceramic art in context. Last year, the expo had a florist make arrangements in the artists’ vases to demonstrate the utilitarian nature of the artwork sold. This year, Pottery on the Hill will partner with recently opened District Clay in the Brookland-Woodridge neighborhood to provide interactive demonstrations of how potters practice their craft. “Pottery Slam,” which will take place on October 30 at District Clay, promises more than interactivity between the audience members, the pottery wheel and the clay; participants will also have the opportunity to work directly with several professional ceramic artists from Pottery on the Hill. Who knows where the improvisational format will lead and what both novice and seasoned potter alike will create jointly or individually in this novel format! Potter Mark Shapiro has participat-
ed in all three Pottery on the Hill events. He will also participate in the first Pottery Slam and eagerly looks forward to seeing what both his peers and the audience will create during this first of its kind improvisational session. He hopes that this format will encourage a younger generation to engage with the age old craft of throwing clay and creating pottery. Shapiro recalls making pots as early as 11 but stopping around the age of 16. With an affinity for the feel of materials such as metal and wood, Shapiro shifted away from throwing clay, spending most of his twenties working as a fine arts sculptor in lower Manhattan. However by age 28, he grew dissatisfied with his practice as a sculptor, finding the end product limited and ultimately undemocratic. “I was interested in making something accessible to everyone,” Shapiro explains. “Pottery is more complex than sculpture. It has to be able to sit on a gallery shelf. It can’t chip. It has to feel good on people’s lips.” Unlike sculpture which ends up in a museum or in a wealthy person’s private collection, Shapiro appreciates pottery’s utilitarian nature. So, for three decades, Shapiro has created thousands of vessels that have found a use in countless homes fulfilling his desire to create something new every day. Shapiro left the bustle of lower Manhattan and relocated to a sylvan setting in Western Massachusetts between the Berkshire Mountains and Pioneer Valley. In this rural setting, he founded Stonepool Pottery where he still practices his craft today. Over the years, Stonepool has partnered with a large number of artists and has trained several generations of practicing potters. Visitors can tour the working studio and browse the retail gallery. On the grounds of Stonepool’s estate stands a large wood burning kiln which Shapiro uses twice a year to fire his ceramic creations. The two-chambered kiln uses approximately 1,000 pieces of scrap wood, mostly pine, purchased from local mills. The meticulous process of loading the kiln takes three full days, with help from a crew of five people, which Shapiro likens to put-
ting together “parts of a puzzle.” As part of the firing process, Shapiro introduces salt into the kiln on boards. The salting process takes place five times at 20 minute intervals. With its alkaline properties, salt creates the patina one finds on Shapiro’s work generating pleasing variations in the ceramic’s surface patterns. German potters first discovered this technique in the fifteenth century and its effects still please ceramic artists and users five hundred years later! Despite the skill needed to create earthenware and the laborious process required to fire it, for Shapiro, a ceramic piece remains unfinished until it falls into the hands of a user. The cup, plate, bowl or pitcher comes alive once it is used and washed in the sink. Shapiro describes this final process as the “intimacy” which develops between the end user and the object which takes place the moment a user connects with the ceramic object transcending its aesthetic and functional roles. At Pottery on the Hill, the 16 invited artists belong to a close knit-artistic community. Shapiro speaks highly of this community praising its openness and generosity, lauding the artists’ “big tent” philosophy not often found in other crafts or Donna Polseno Naomi Dalglish & Michael Hunt art forms. To illustrate his point, Shapiro Jenny Mendes discusses how potters make glaze formulas openly available to all and in fact, few keep skilled information proprietary. In this same spirit of inclusiveness, Shapiro sees Pottery on the Hill as a coming together and celebration of the ceramics community as a whole with laymen, students and industry professionals convening, interacting and learning from one another. What brings Shapiro back to the expo for a third year in a row is both the quality of the experience and more importantly that “Pottery on the Hill expresses the values that we [as an artistic community] embody.” Stonepool pottery is located Pottery on the Hill’s Events are as follows: at 42 Conwell Road Worthing• Pottery Slam at District Clay-- Thursday, October 30. ton, MA or visit them online at Time TBD. District Clay is Located at 2414 Douglas www.stonepoolpottery.com Michael Kline
Avenue NE • Preview Reception-- Friday, October 31 at 6:30 pm. The cost is $30 • Show and Sale-- Saturday November 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sunday, November. 2 from noon to 5 p.m. The Show and Sale is free of charge. Hill Center is located at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, a publication dedicated to DC’s visual arts. He has been covering Pottery on the Hill since its inception in 2011. For more information visit www. eastcityart.com ◆
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I N F O R M AT I O N D EEM ED R ELI A B LE B U T N O T G UA R A N T EED
{capitol streets}
Bulletin Board Pottery on the Hill brings 16 Top Potters to DC Sixteen of the nation’s top ceramic artists gather at the third annual Pottery on the Hill show and sale from Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. Most of the pieces on display have never been shown in public before, having been made specifically for this event. The show features the work of nationally recognized artists, including: Bob Briscoe (Harris, MN), Kevin Crowe (Amherst, VA), Naomi Dalglish (Bakersville, NC), Dan Finnegan (Fredericksburg, VA), Warren Frederick (Warrenton, VA), Ryan Greenheck (Philadelphia, PA), Michael Hunt (Bakersville, NC), Michael Kline (Bakersville, NC), Jenny Mendes (Chesterland, OH), Matthew Metz (Alfred Station, NY), Donna Polseno (Floyd, VA), Ken Sedberry (Bakersville, NC), Mark Shapiro (Worthington, MA), Stacy Snyder (Arlington, VA), Sam Taylor (Westhampton, MA), and Julie Wiggins (Charlotte, NC). Pottery on the Hill will begin with a free Pottery Slam on Thursday, Oct. 30 at District Clay in Brookland. Potters Finnegan, Taylor and ShapCeramic artist Stacy Snyder of Arlington, VA, works in her studio in iro will challenge each other on potters wheels, dare each other to perform preparation for Pottery on the Hill. specific tasks, make pots together, and take special requests from the audience. The sale weekend kicks off with a special Preview Reception at 6:30 p.m. Panorama Bakery Opens in Union Market on Friday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $25/advance, $30/door and available at potteryPanorama Baking Company has opened at Union Market. The bakery onthehilldc.com or by calling 202-549-4172. The show and sale runs from 10 brings the distingué taste and aroma of Paris to the Union Market Disa.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1 and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2. Admistrict, as pastry chef Damien Le Tyrant offers DC-based Francophiles sion to the show and sale on Saturday and Sunday is free. and bread-lovers alike fresh pastries, viennoiseries, cakes and other gourmet treats. SW Dog Park Opens, Needs Volunteers The new SW Dog Park, at Lansburgh Park (behind DMV) on Delaware Ave. and K St., officially opened on Sept. 14. Paws of SW is now responsible for opening and closing the dog park, 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, as well as monthly cleaning. They’ll also have other opportunities to volunteer in fundraising, cleaning, joining the board, etc. pawsofsw.org
Library of Congress Main Reading Room Open Columbus Day Twice each year, the Library of Congress opens its magnificent Main Reading Room for a special public open house to share information about how the public can access the Library’s resources year-round. The fall open house is on Monday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Photography (no tripods) is allowed. The Main Reading Room is on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Reference librarians will be available to demonstrate the Library’s online resources and discuss access to the Library’s vast onsite collections, including services and collections for use in family history research. No other reference services will be available and all other Library of Congress reading rooms and buildings will be closed. loc.gov
October Potluck at William Penn House All are invited to attend a potluck and Quaker dialogue at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, featuring Karen Grisez who will discuss Immigration: An American Dilemma. Karen will lead a discussion on hot topics in immigration policy today, including the recent influx of unaccompanied children at the southern border, the US government’s policies regarding handling of children’s cases, the use of family detention camps in Artesia, NM and the prospects of immigration reform via congressional or executive action. William Penn House: A Quaker Center on Capitol Hill is at 515 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-543-5560. WilliamP
City Archaeologist Dr. Ruth Trocolli to Speak at Ebenezers Dr. Ruth Trocolli, City Archaeologist with the Historic Preservation Office, will speak Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6:30-7:15 p.m. at Ebenezers Coffee House, 2nd and F Sts. NE. Dr. Trocolli will bring a display case of prehistoric pottery from the Barney Circle freeway project, as well as a complete replica ves-
October 2014 H 49
Alpha Lillstrom in her newly created garden
SW’s Alpha Lillstrom Portrait Garden Opens The garden, at 4th and I Sts. SW, is in the likeness of a Southwest DC resident and celebrates the unsung heroes of daily life as part of the theme “Nonuments.” The plants in the garden have been painted black with a natural, Chinese ink and green shoots will grow throughout the exhibition period, giving evidence of life’s resilience.
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sel, and replicas of containers made of perishable materials that people can handle (basketry, bark, wood, gourd, etc.). The event is free and handicapped accessible and the public is encouraged to attend. No reservations required. chrs.org
Book Talk and Signing with Lou Bayard, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill, with the Lambda Lions, will host a book talk with Lou Bayard, author of the acclaimed Roosevelt’s Beast, as part of our Open Door campaign in which we open up our events to our Hill community. Monday, Oct. 13, 7 pm ñ 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall at St. Markís, 301 A St. SE on Capitol Hill. Be ready to be amazed! Reserve your tickets (FREE) at http://bit.ly/1unCx9p
2014 Visitor Parking Passes Extended Until December 31, 2014 Residents can apply for 2015 passes starting on October 1. DDOTannounced that Visitor Parking Pass-
es (VPP) that will expire September 30, 2014, will continue to remain valid until December 31, 2014. District residents will not be ticketed for proper use of their 2014 VPP. The VPP program is designed to allow guests of District residents to park for more than two hours on Residential Permit Parking (RPP) zoned blocks.
Community Health and Wellness Fair for Seniors On Wednesday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.3 p.m., the Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter #4751 and the District of Columbia Office on Aging presents the annual Community Health and Wellness Fair at the River Park Mutual Home Community Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. Flu vaccines and screenings will be available. The guest speaker is Dr. Willie Jolley, of “The Willie Jolley Show” on CBS TV, PBS and radio. The fair is open to the Washington, DC senior community. A box lunch will be provided to early arrivals. For more information, contact Chapter President
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DC Mayoral Forum Arena Stage, Oct. 6 Kreeger Theater, 7-8:30 pm.Now is your opportunity to hear directly from the candidates. Get answers to your questions on: Van Ness School and DCPS boundary realignment issues, how to get our long promised Community Center off the ground, how to improve Metrorail, the Circulator, timing of an M Street streetcar, parking solutions, cleaning up the Anacostia, how to attract more community serving retail, better coordination during major construction projects, pace of development and concentration of new apartment units, CSX, possible big box stores, the $1 billion South Capitol Street and Bridge reconstruction project. Co-sponsored by ANC-6D, Navy Yard Citizen Association, & Southwest Neighborhood Assembly
District Doughnut Opens on Barracks Row District Doughnut has opened their first store on Barracks Row. The specialty doughnut shop is at 749 8th St. SE, across the street from Marine Barracks. Founded in 2012, District Doughnut has already built a following by hand-delivering to private customers and serving at a wide variety of public and private events throughout the District. The company honed its pastry craft at Union Kitchen, DC’s leading incubator for food entrepreneurs, in preparation for their storefront launch.
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All Credit Cards Accepted October 2014 H 53
Spring Bulbs at Eastern Market One of the oldest traditions of the Capital Hill Garden Club, during October, members will be at Eastern Market every Saturday and Sunday with a beautiful selection of the finest bulbs from Holland. Spring bulbs are easy to plant and require very little care. You may select bulbs that bloom early, mid or late season. If you select from all 3, you can have a long lasting display in your Spring garden. Look for our booth Saturdays and Sundays throughout October. To find out more about the Capitol Hill Garden Club, visit capitolhillgardenclub.org.
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The District Department of Transportation has implemented daytime lane closures on H St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW, between 2nd and 4th Sts. The lane closures will continue on a daily basis, from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. The current phase of related work--which involves upgrading and installing new underground utilities and restoring the roadway along these two corridors--is expected to last for approximately 18-24 months. For more information, visit 3rdsttunnel.com. For additional details, contact the project’s public outreach office at 202-719-0196.
Cherry Blosson Festival Seeks Local Talent The National Cherry Blossom Festival is accepting submissions for the second annual Nation-
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Parents and Teachers are invited to Dr. William Stixrud’s Lecture and Q & A Executive Functioning:
Understanding and Developing the Brain’s Command and Control System Wednesday, November 5th • 7:00pm–9:00pm. @ the Hill Center / 921 Pennsylvania Ave.SE
This event is FREE of charge, but space is limited. RSVP at LearningSpecialistOnTheHill@gmail.com Learn: • Why Executive Functions contribute more strongly to academic success than IQ and play an even stronger role in life success.
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*Dr. William Stixrud is a clinical neuropsychologist and popular speaker, with 35 years’ experience helping children maximize talents.
October 2014 H 55
al Cherry Blossom Festival Sing Into Spring competition, a call for local talent that will highlight the region’s outstanding vocalists in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, Apr. 11, 2015. Up to four winning soloists and/or vocal groups will perform in the largest spectator event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Artists should submit a 30 second YouTube video for consideration through Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. The competition is open to all residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia, age 8 and up (those under 18 require parental consent). Submissions will be accepted online only at nationalcherryblossomfestival. org/sing-into-spring-vocal-competition. Only vocalists are eligible, instrumental performances will not be accepted.
Rosa Parks’ Papers to Reside at Library of Congress The Library of Congress will be the new home of the Rosa Parks Collection. The collection will be at the Library on a 10-year loan from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The collection comprises approximately 1,500 items including personal correspondence and photographs, autobiographical notes, letters from presidents, her Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, additional honors and awards, clothing and furniture, 200 drawings by schoolchildren and hundreds of greeting cards from individuals thanking her for her inspirational role in the civil rights movement. Items from the collection will be incorporated in spring of 2015 into the new exhibition “The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for
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Freedom,” which opened Sept. 10. In addition, the Library will digitize the documents and visual materials and make them widely available through its website.
Warriors To The Workforce Hiring Event The Warriors To The Workforce Hiring Event at the Convention Center on Oct. 13-14, will include workshops featuring some of the top speakers in the country providing resources and information for veterans, transitioning military and spouses. Presentations will include topics such as mental readiness, confidence building, networking and presentation skills, resume writing, interviewing techniques, job searching, career planning through goal setting, translating military skills and training into civilian life and corporate experience. This event is free and open to veterans, military service members and spouses.To learn more, visit warriorstotheworkforcedc.net.
DC Taxicab Comm. Operated Anonymous Riders Enforcement Program During Labor Day Weekend The DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) Anonymous Rider Program conducted over the Labor Day Weekend yielded infractions for 20 of the 63 vehicles tested. The program ran from Aug. 28Sept. 1 with a total of 31 tickets written; 10 for refusal to haul violations; 5 for non-functioning credit card readers; and the others were issued for operating an unsafe vehicle, seat beat violation and maintaining an improp-
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620 G Street SE Washington, DC 20003 202-547-9300 www.washingtonparish.org
A Welcoming Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill Holy Eucharist: Sunday 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Childcare and Sunday School Holy Eucharist and Breakfast: Wednesday 7:30 a.m.
Come as you are and join a welcoming community of faith, spiritual growth, fellowship, and service.
Fall Events for Children
Sunday, October 5 Sunday, October 12 Sunday, November 9
Laugh Dance Love Praise Learn Sing Serve Pray
Blessing of the Animals at 11:00 a.m. Children’s Worship, Supper, and Play at 5:00 p.m. (for children 6 and under) Children’s Worship, Supper, and Play at 5:00 p.m. (for children 6 and under)
October 2014 H 57
er manifest. The program is an on-going effort of DCTC to periodically place trained anonymous riders in taxicabs to make direct observations of driver behavior. The primary objective of this enforcement program is to target violations for refusal to haul and determine that the Modern Taximeter System is fully operational and able to process credit card payments. The deployment of anonymous riders includes African Americans and whites, males and females of a range of ages, as well as, an individual in a wheelchair and a person requiring the assistance of a seeing-eye dog.
White House Visitor Center Reopens after $12.6 Million Revitalization The White House Visitor Center has re-opened after two years of renovations. The transformed space affords an outstanding stand-alone experience and an enhanced experience for visitors who take a self-guided White House tour. All new exhibits weave together the stories of the White House as a home, office, stage and ceremonial space, museum, and park. More than 90 White House artifacts, many of which have never been on public display, give a glimpse into life and work inside the Executive Mansion. The White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is free and open from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. u
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THEY SERVED OUR COUNTRY TO PROTECT US. LET’S SUPPORT THEM! This CFC season consider giving back to a veteran who has given so much to us. We have been a place of transition for hundreds of chronically homeless veterans. Providing veterans with a new home and a new beginning. Proudly celebrating 11 years of service.
9533
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9533
22663
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For more information on how you can assist, please call
202.561.VETS (8387)
MAURY ELEMENTARY NEEDS YOU! Our 5th graders are working to go to Space Camp!
Elect
Pranav Badhwar DC Council Ward 6
A Critical Thinker for Critical Issues For real solutions which address root causes, go to:
www.Pranav4DC.com Paid for by Committee to Elect Pranav Badhwar
Learn more about our effort as well as watch the student created newscast about why this is important to us at: http://mauryelementary.com/spacecamp
Questions?
Contact Think Tank teacher Vanessa Ford at: Vanessa.ford@dc.gov Individuals, companies and/or organizations are welcome to become sponsors. All donations are tax-deductible. October 2014 H 59
{capitol streets / district beat}
Revolution or Continuity? That Is The Election The District Beat
article and photos by Andrew Lightman
W
alking to the polling station on Nov. 4, District voters face a clear choice in casting their ballots: On one side of the equation is a candidate who stands ready to continue down the city’s current path chartered by Mayors Anthony A. Williams and Adrian M. Fenty with minor course corrections. Alternatively, the electorate can choose a politician known for seeking innovation. “Revolution or Continuity?” is the real question on November’s ballot. The District electorate is generally happy with the city’s situation. In the recent Marist Poll conducted by NBC 4 and the Washington Post, 62 percent of registered voters believed the “things in the District of Columbia are going in the right direction.” This is a substantial turnaround from the 11 percent who thought so in 1993. Many of these voters may be seeking continuity. If so, Muriel Bowser, The Democratic Nominee for Mayor, may be their choice.
Stay The Course with Bowser Bowser is the candidate of the Democratic establishment. She has been endorsed by everyone from former mayors Williams and Marion S. Barry Jr. (D-Ward 8) to Tommy “Mr. Clean” Wells (D-Ward 6). Former AtLarge Councilmember William P. Lightfoot and real estate developer Benjamin N. Soto, who put Adrian F. Fenty in office, are piloting her campaign as chair and treasurer. She has been endorsed by colleagues Anita Bonds (At-Large D), Vincent B. Orange, Sr. (At-Large D), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Kenyon R. McDuffie (DWard 5) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7). Many prominent Democratic lobbyists such as David W. Wilmot number among her contributors. She has been endorsed by most major labor unions. During last winter’s primary, Bowser focused squarely on the scandals surrounding Mayor Vincent C. Gray. Promising a “Fresh Start,” she successfully
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Muriel Bowser
David Catania engages a potential voter during his campaign.
convinced a plurality of Democratic voters that a vote for her was a vote to remove Gray. After unseating the incumbent, Bowser’s message pivoted to one of inclusiveness. #All8Wards was her Twitter hashtag. She pointedly reached out to voters in Wards 7 and 8, holding town halls and meet-and-greets. Echoing Williams and Barry, she promised to expand opportunity and economic development to the city’s peripheries. Yet Bowser remains a careful and conservative politician. The ethics reforms that she shepherded into law are a case in point. The legislation did create a watch dog to prevent the type of lapses committed by both Barry and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) while in office. However, it ignored the campaign finance issues at the heart of the Ronald C.
Machen’s federal investigation. A supporter of Fenty’s school reforms and modernization programs from their inception, she is committed to keeping the public education system moving along its existing reform trajectory, while tweaking around the edges. Bowser has publicly promised to keep DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson. She supports increased support for, and a limited expansion of, the city’s middle schools. She hopes to use the increased resources to push schools on the edge of success over the brink. Questioning the public process that resulted in the mayor’s reformulated school boundaries, she has promised to freeze or reverse Gray’s plan. Bowser steers an equally deliberate path with city finances. Opposed to general income tax increas-
October 2014 H 61
es, she favors removing the homes of lower income seniors from the city’s property tax rolls to preserve affordability. She has promised increased funds for affordable housing, the mother’s milk of District politics. Echoing a younger Barry, Bowser seeks to employ city contracts to drive the expansion of District businesses by recasting the role of the agency responsible for minority contracting. A cabinet-level appointment position, she also believes, is necessary to facilitate economic development east of the Anacostia. None of these measures would significantly alter the course charted by Williams. A vote cast for Bowser, in other words, is a safe vote for continuity.
I WILL WORK FOR YOU WARD 1 WARD 2 WARD 3 WARD 4 WARD 5 WARD 6 WARD 7 WARD 8
JOHN CHEEKS CHAIRMAN FOR D.C. COUNCIL See 15 point agenda on www.electcheeks.com
20
Email us: dcnewleadership@yahoo.com
INDEPENDENT
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Report on file with the Office of Campaign Finance. Paid for by: Elect Cheeks for Chairman, Ron Bonifilo Treasurer
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Up The Revolution With Catania While Bowser trods the well-worn highway, Catania often takes the road less traveled. His campaign managed by distinguished ex-Councilmember Sharon Ambrose and endorsed by the DC Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, he is a candidate of ideas, in other words, a ‘wonk.’ Catania’s penchant for innovation is best assessed on the basis of his stewardship of the Council’s committees and his shepherding of marriage equality legislation. During his seven-year chairmanship of The Committee on Health, Catania authored bills that expanded medical insurance for the working poor in the wake of the closing of DC General, the city’s public hospital. In the face of skeptics, he found the funds to preserve United Medical Center, the only hospital east of the Anacostia River. Using sharp elbows, he monitored the hospital’s unsuccessful sale to a private entity, subsequent bankruptcy, and return to city control. In all these situations, Catania employed a combination of new ideas and relentless
oversight to achieve his aims. Marriage equality was another of Catania’s defining moments. Here, he worked with then Chairman Gray to forge a consensus among his colleagues which resulted in its near unanimous passage (11 to 2). Despite heated sparring during the vote, Catania later managed to repair a damaged relationship with Barry. In 2013, Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) appointed Catania to the chairmanship of The Committee on Education. Over the next year, Catania personally visited more than 144 of the city’s 200-plus schools. As important, he authored a set of bills known collectively as “School Reform 2.0,” designed to significantly adjust system’s trajectory that had been piloted by Fenty and former Chancellor Michele A. Rhee. Not all were successful. However, Catania did secure passage of changes in the student funding formula that increased support for schools educating disproportionate numbers of at-risk students. Another bill ended social promotion. A third overhauled school attendance laws by reducing the number of absences triggering government intervention and increasing inter-agency coordination. Yet despite his relentless push for changes in health and education, Catania has been very conservative on issues related to taxation and government spending. A dogged foe of public funding for Nationals’ Stadium, he has yet to attend a game. He has consistently opposed tax increases, and is usually a favorite of the business community. A vote for Catania is therefore a vote against the status quo.
Back to The Future with Schwartz While Bowers represents ‘con-
tinuity’ and Catania embodies ‘change,’ the campaign of former Councilmember Carol Schwartz is largely a nod to the past. Schwartz, out of office since 2008, has had to reintroduce herself to the gentrified District electorate. The reforms of Williams and Fenty significantly cut government waste and lowered city taxes, two of Schwartz’s go-to electoral hobby horses. Seeking to preserve the DC Board of Education, she voted against Fenty’s educational reforms while on the dais. Schwartz points to The Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008 as her finest legislation. The bill guaranteed workers the right to paid sick days. Yet her work, while costing her the support of the District’s business community, did not earn her the endorsement of labor. Still, Schwartz retains much affection among older city residents, who may be unwilling to vote for “Fenty in a Skirt” or a white gay councilmember.
Continuity or Change? In a boom town whose skyline is dotted with cranes and blessed with an expanding population, many may question the wisdom of rocking the boat. Bowser can be depended on to stay the course. To those frustrated with the existing system, Catania offers innovation. Voter looking to the past for comfort may well back Schwartz. November’s ballot, therefore, offers a clear choice between continuity, change and nostalgia. u
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{capitol streets}
Frager’s Inks Deal With Roadside Development Storied Hardware Store to Return to Original Location
F
by Andrew Lightman
rager’s Hardware of Capitol Hill has reached an agreement with Roadside Development, LLC, a District based developer, to purchase its property at 1101-1117 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, on Capitol Hill. After development, Frager’s will return as the anchor tenant under a long-term lease. The store will transfer its hardware, paint center, garden center and equipment rental operations, now scattered in three different temporary storefronts across the Hill, to their original home.
Deciding to Sell Frager’s decision to sell its Pennsylvania property was not an easy one. The store had operated there since its founding in 1920. However, the damage sustained in the fire was severe and the challenges of environmental remediation significant. In addition, the location of the site within the boundaries of the Capitol Hill Historic District ensured any redevelopment would require a significant, and no doubt expensive, effort to preserve the deteriorating facade. All this would reFrager’s owner John Weintraub red shirt, center) and employees in front of the burned-out walls of quire capital and expertise and create a major distraction the hardware store in June 2013. Photo: Andrew Lightman from the important task of reviving Frager’s retail operations. “We are grateful for the overwhelming support and paAve. NW. Acquired by Roadside in 2001, this property, built in 1941and most retience from our loyal customers and the Capitol Hill community as we evalcently a Hechinger store, sits atop the Tenleytown Metro and across from a Whole uated our options to restore the original site,” said John Weintraub, President Foods. Roadside choose to create Cityline at Tenley, a $105 transit-oriented, mixof Frager’s. “Over the past year, we studied the site extensively, removed enuse project, which includes 204 condominium units, 330 parking spaces and 88,000 vironmentally sensitive materials, conducted several structural analyses, and square feet of retail. Anchor tenants include Best Buy, the Container Store and Ace evaluated the costs to rebuild the site. We learned that the fire damaged the Hardware. The project was completed in 2005 and completely sold out. site so severely that, even with insurance proceeds, we could not afford to re“Cityline required considerable creativity on the part of the entire team includbuild the site alone,” said Weintraub. ing the architects Shalom Baranes & Associates, as well as the patience and conRetaining Fern Barrueta and Robert Bryan of Colliers International as sideration of the community and the city,” said Richard Lake, Founding Partner of advisers, Weintraub began exploring Frager’s options. Roadside. “We wanted to create a unique environment for our residents, unlike any-
Choosing Roadside
The combination of the prime location of Frager’s Pennsylvania property and the booming Capitol Hill real estate market ensured the company did not lack for suitors. However, Weintraub was intent on returning the store to the location of its founding and preserving as much of the original building as feasible. A longtime resident of the Hill himself, he remained sensitive to neighborhood concerns about density and scale of any new construction. “We sought out a development partner with a history of developing highquality projects that would appreciate the unique history of the site and the store’s relationship to the community, and a partner that would welcome our return to the site in a new Frager’s Hardware Store,” said Weintraub. Roadside Development quickly caught his attention for its adaptive reuse of historic properties. Among potential suitors, Roadside Development stood out. In Tenley, the company had redeveloped the historic Sears building at 4500 Wisconsin
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thing else in this market and we achieved this with design and all of the amenities we provided,” said Lake. In 2005, Cityline’s unique Art-Deco design by Shalom Baranes Associates won the Project Excellence Award from the DC chapter of the American Institute of Architects. That same year, the project also received Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. Roadside’s success with Cityline set the stage for their more ambitious redevelopment of the historic O Street Market in Shaw. Constructed in 1881, the O Street Market served as the central food emporium for the Shaw community. The rise of competing supermarkets in the 20th century saw the market falter. After passing into private ownership, it had been abandoned in the 1990s leaving little left other than a set of disintegrating exterior walls standing adjacent to the large parking lot belonging to Giant supermarket. Yet, this decaying landmark sat within a 10-minute walk of the Verizon Center and Gallery Place, and just one block north of the 2.3 million-square foot Walter E. Washing-
ton Convention Center. Rather than leveling the entire site, Roadside worked with Baranes Assoc. to incorporate the historic structure into City Market at O, a 1,000,000 square foot redevelopment that spans an entire block. The old O Street Market now serves as the fresh food section of a state-of-the-art, flagship Giant Food store. 650 residential units, a 182-room Cambria Suites Hotel, 500 parking spaces and additional retail form the remainder of the site. Recognizing the importance of City Market at O to Shaw’s revival, The Committee of 100 awarded Roadside its 2014 Visionary Award. “This plan established a 21st-century vision whereby the overall larger site would serve as a neighborhood center and a mid-city commercial node between downtown DC and U Street that includes, among others: a rehabilitated O Street Market that serves its original purpose as purveyor of produce, but this time as part of a new, relocated Giant supermarket; eight stories (246 units) of rental apartments above the new supermarket; the reopening of the 1400 block of Eighth Street, NW, reestablishing the presence of L’Enfant’s plan in the area; creation of 90 rental apartments for active adults 55+, whose income level is at 50% to 60% of Area Median Income (opens May 2014) ;700 additional spaces of underground parking to help minimize the impact of increased population and new activities in the neighborhood.” stated the Council. “Roadside’s values, approach to incorporating community input, and quality of their past projects convinced us that they were the best partner for Frager’s and the community,” states Weintraub. “We understand how important local businesses are to the integrity of a neighborhood. We are truly honored to partner with the Weintraubs to return Frager’s to its original
home,” said Lake, a native Washingtonian, whose father owned the famous Zebra Room.
The Deal The site is currently zoned CHC/C2-A. As a matter of right, this designation permits a structure of up to 50 feet in height, with a maximum floor-to-area (FAR) ratio of 2.5 for residential and 1.5 for other permissible usages. Roadside intends to develop the Pennsylvania Avenue site as a matter of right within the existing zoning. Frager’s will serve as the anchor tenant under a long-term lease on the ground floor. The company has yet to determine the final mix of uses for the remainder of the property. However, it does contemplate additional retail and residential uses. The exact details of the sale are not yet public. Provided the facade is structurally sound, Roadside plans to incorporate it into its new development, much it did with the O Street Market. The company plans to consult with the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, the DC Historic Preservation Office, ANC 6B and nearby residents as it formulates its plans. “We look forward to working with the Capitol Hill community in the planning and the redevelopment of this key building into the existing fabric of the neighborhood,” stated Lake.
...because I keep my prenatal appointments. My name is Brittney and I’m 6 months pregnant. I keep all my prenatal appointments to help make sure I have a healthy pregnancy. When I’m healthy, my baby is healthy! To see the I am healthySM series and get tips on ways to stay healthy, visit www.amerihealthdc.com/iamhealthy.
The Way Forward During the next few weeks, Roadside will be conducting inspections of the site as part of its due diligence prior to purchase. Simultaneously, Frager’s and Roadside will begin a process of community consultation. They plan to both attend and host meetings and conversations throughout the neighborhood. During the redevelopment, Frager’s will continue to operate out of temporary locations. With the commencement of construction at the
October 2014 H 65
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Hine School site, the company’s garden operations will move soon to 1230 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. “We could not have made it this far if not for the support and patience of the community, the District government, and most of all our employees,” said Weintraub. “I am delighted to learn that Frager’s Hardware has definite plans to return to its long time location at 1115 Pennsylvania Avenue. And that the historic walls of its burned out building will be incorporated into a new structure,” stated neighbor and Advisory Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg (SMD 6B04) learning of the plan. “Frager’s and its staff have worked diligently since the fire in 2013 to rebuild its business. But we all need it back, in one piece; it is more than just a business on the Hill. I look forward to working with Frager’s and the community to do all I can to make the new building a reality as soon as possible,” Oldenburg added. ‘We are delighted at the prospect of Frager’s speedy return to its original location. We are pleased at Roadside’s decision to redevelop the property within the existing zoning designation. We hope that the historic façade can be preserved and look forward to working with both Roadside and Frager’s to accomplish this,” stated Lisa Dale Jones, President of CHRS. “This has the potential to be a real win-win for Capitol Hill. Roadside has shown their expertise in preserving historic structures. They have the capital and track record to ensure that Frager’s returns speedily to its original location in the heart of our community,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. Charles Allen, the Democratic nominee for the Ward 6 seat on the DC Council, agrees, “Priority number one is protecting Frager’s and restoring to its rightful place at the center of our Capitol Hill community. This sounds like a solution that can get us there,” stated u
Tim Krepp is a former Naval officer and author who is intimately familiar with the District and our history. As a parent of two children in our public schools, he is well prepared to bring his firsthand experience to Congress to improve our schools, and fight for DC statehood. He lives with his family on the east end of Capitol Hill and has been a DC resident since 1993.
? y l s u o i Ser
. y l s u o Seri
F
or twelve elections, we’ve sent the same person to Congress with the same results. What makes us think the thirteenth time will be any different? Those of us who live on Capitol Hill are intimately acquainted with the impact the federal government has in our lives. We’ve seen firsthand the results of Congress’s dysfunction, with closed playgrounds and piled-up garbage in our parks. We need an energetic and creative Delegate to go to bat for us when it counts. Tim Krepp is thoroughly immersed in the REAL Capitol Hill: the one where we live, walk our dogs, and raise our children. He is well-positioned to be a local and vocal advocate for our interests in the OTHER Capitol Hill– the one in the big white building. Our current Delegate has taken us as far as she can. It’s time for new leadership. Seriously.
Krepp2014.com Paid for by the Krepp for Congress Committee.
October 2014 H 67
{capitol streets}
Guide to Ward 6 ANC Races Profiles of the Candidates by Charnice A. Milton ANC 6A After serving as vice-chair of ANC 6A’s Transportation and Public Space Committee since 2006, J. Omar Mahmud was elected Single-Member District (SMD) 6A01 representative in 2012. “I am running for reelection because, as a resident of our neighborhood for more than ten years, I love our community and thoroughly enjoy working with my neighbors and city officials...” he wrote in a statement. He faces two challengers, including Andy Clark, a program director for an education non-profit. “I have built relationships with individuals and families whose diverse interests and backgrounds make our community so beautifully unique,” Clark said. “As a result, I have come to care deeply about the future of our neighborhood.” The third candidate, Raphael Marshall, could not be reached for comment. “With 12 years of experience, I know how to get things done,” SMD 6A04 incumbent Nick Alberti wrote in a press statement. “I’ve worked hard to improve our quality of life, to support our schools, revitalize H Street, improve parking, cyclist and pedestrian safety, and assist neighbors in resolving issues with District agencies.” His challenger, Matthew Levy, stated, “I believe healthy communities and outstanding schools are the backbone of a healthy city, and as a community pediatrician who has built his career on finding creative solutions to the challenges that face our families, I have been a strong advocate for improved access to care and for great schools.” The candidates for SMD 6A05, Patrick Malone and Hassan Christian, have Capitol Hill backgrounds. As a legislative aide, Christian’s work involves community and economic development issues. “This experience taught him that communities need strong advocates who form partnerships, leverage local resources and balance growth with the challenges that come with development,” states his profile. Malone, the Communications Director for Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) will focus on embracing change while retaining the area’s character. “This means ensuring responsible growth for bars and restaurants on H street, working on traffic solutions to cut down on commute times and keep the streets safe for pedestrians and children, and administering a zoning plan to maintain the look and feel of our neighborhood while allowing room to expand,” he stated.
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In SMD 6A06, Stephanie Zimny and Todd Sloves highlight their Federal government backgrounds. Zimny, a financial consultant, has over 11 years of experience in the government and private sectors. “The DC Government can often seem removed from the issues the community faces on a daily basis,” she said. “The ANC commissioner is the advocate for these issues.” Sloves, a community liaison for a Congressman, also co-chairs ANC 6A’s Transportation and Public Space Committee. “In my time working with our ANC, I have gained a unique understanding of the issues affecting our community and know the feelings of my neighbors about how increased development can be balanced with the maintenance of our quality of life,” he said.
ANC 6B In SMD 6B02, candidates K. Diane Hoskins and Gerald “Jerry” Sroufe are dedicated to community service. Sroufe, co-chair of the Eastern Market Metro Community Association and member of the Hine Community Advisory Group, hopes to preserve Eastern Market, foster collaboration between city government and community groups for improved middle school opportunities and enforce the zoning code and licensing regulations. Hoskins, Director of Government Relations for the nonprofit Restore America’s Estuaries, plans to “...champion efforts to improve public safety, advocate smart growth that works for the character and quality of life in our neighborhood, and build open lines of communication to help solve problems.” The three candidates of SMD 6B03, Kelly Vielmo, Claudia Holwill, and James Loots, bring different perspectives to the race. Loots, and attorney, stated, “I have a working knowledge and good relationships at city agencies that deal with constituent issues coming before the ANC, and believe that would inform and assist my tasks as a Commissioner.” Holwill, a member of ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force and founding editor of “The Hill is Home” blog, said, “There are important decisions being made around our neighborhood. I believe that we should all have a right to know about them and should able to have our voices heard.” Vielmo, co-editor of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society newsletter, vows “...to be responsive to all constituents and continue to make Capitol Hill a vibrant, livable and walkable community,” he said.
All three candidates for SMD 6B05, Ellen Opper-Weiner, Steve Hagedorn, and Carl Reeverts, are active throughout the community. Opper-Weiner, who worked with Eastern Market, Boys Town, and the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, states that she wants “...the ANC to ensure there are meaningful opportunities for public discussion about major development projects, public safety, zoning, and noise issues, and that the process is open and transparent.” Hagedorn, a member of the Hill East Task Force, CHAMPS, and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, also discussed future developments, as well as improving middle schools, quality constituent services, and pedestrian and bicycle safety. Reeverts, co-chair of the Eastern Market Metro Community Association and member of the DC Green Building Advisory Council, has three goals: promoting smart growth, constituent involvement, and transparency. SMD 6B06 candidate Anthony Cassillo works as a Constituent Services Specialist for Councilmember Mary Cheh. “I get a lot of problems resolved in Ward 3 and stay abreast of changes that will particularly affect upper northwest DC,” Cassillo wrote in a statement, “but now I want to become more involved with issues closer to home.” Nick Burger, member of ANC 6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee and Hill East Task Force, hopes to utilize that experience as Commissioner. “To keep our community vibrant, I believe we must provide a mix of housing options and neighborhood resources that make it affordable and attractive for families and elderly residents to stay in the neighborhood,” he explained. “Over the next couple of years, RFK Stadium and Reservation 13 are slated for major development,” SMD 6B10 candidate K. Denise Rucker Krepp wrote on her campaign blog. “These changes will significantly impact ANC 6B10 neighbors.” She believes that her experience as a government consultant will allow her to better promote constituent interests to political leaders. Her fellow candidate, Peter Gould, is focussing on Reservation 13. “I refuse to be dismissed by our Mayor and Council when it comes to following the Hill East Master Plan and keeping their promises to redevelop the Hill East Waterfront...” he wrote. Gould’s other goals include improving Payne Elementary and improving the ANC input process.
ANC 6C “Since I’ve been a commissioner, I’ve worked with business owners and developers to help bring amenities that residents want and to minimize the negative impacts of rapid growth,” said Mark Kazmierczak, the incumbent of 6C05. “I look forward to continuing to build relationships and serve the community the best that I can.” His challenger, Chris Miller, was a field organizer for the John Edwards Presidential Campaign. While, like Kazmierczak, he would like to work foster collaboration, he also would like to improve grant distribution. “The ANC has over $40,000 in grants,” Miller said. “It should be used to improve the community, not sit in a bank account.”
ANC 6D Of the three candidates running for SMD 6D07, Josh Hart has served two terms as a Commissioner in ANC 3C. Coupled with his public policy experience, Hart believes that he is “... well positioned to provide topnotch constituent services for the citizens of ANC 6D07.” Candidate Meredith Fascett has leadership experience as co-founder of the Van Ness Elementary School Parent Group. As Commissioner, she hopes to address other issues, including proposed projects like the CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel and lobby for improved constituent services. The last candidate, long-term resident T.D. Stanger, is a frequent participant in community discussions on economic development, public space, and transportation issues. “I have the time, energy, and desire to take part in meetings, hearings, and other forums to both obtain information and convey the community perspective,” he said in a statement. u
RE-ELECT ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONER - 6A04 - SINCE 2003
NICK ALBERTI EXPERIENCE COMMITMENT SERVICE “Why I’m asking for your vote: I’m a consistent advocate for our neighborhood and I know how to get things done. I’m willing and able to commit the time and attention the community deserves.”
alberti6a04@yahoo.com 202.329.1193 Paid for by Nick Alberti 1330 North Carolina Ave NE, Washington DC 20002 October 2014 H 69
{capitol streets / the numbers}
Questions for the Candidates
T
he District will soon have a new Mayor-elect. She or he won’t take office until January, but will need to start setting priorities very soon. The District’s finances are strong, which is a great starting point, but the challenges facing the city are large. • School reform, after two mayoral terms, is not showing notable gains in high-poverty schools. • Housing costs reach new eye-popping levels every time we look around, contributing to a rise in homelessness but also creating challenges for middle-income families. • Unemployment among DC residents without a college degree – about half of all adults – has not recovered from a recession that technically ended four years ago. • The federal government is shrinking and DC needs a new economic development strategy. These issues are important to the whole city. While there are reasons to be excited about development bringing new vibrancy and retail options to many neighborhoods, there is widespread concern that rising costs of living are pushing residents out. Beyond that, businesses need workers to fill jobs at a range of skill and pay levels, and if workers have to live further and further out, that will make it harder for businesses to find the workers they need. The mayoral candidates all say these issues are important, and soon one of them will have to develop policies and shape budgets to make their campaign promises a reality. But wouldn’t it be great to know now what the candidates will do? Here are some questions you could pose to mayoral or council candidates to see what they really will do if they win.
Education After years of re-building school facilities and working to improve teacher quality and pay, many schools still struggle with lagging test scores, especially among low-income students. The District’s approach to boosting student achievement needs to go beyond improving the quality of classroom instruction to also address the challenges that poor
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by Ed Lazere and Wes Rivers children bring with them to school. Will you help low-income students attend high-quality schools outside their neighborhood? The recent school boundary and admissions taskforce recommended that every low-poverty school (under one in four students) create a preference for low-income students in the lottery process. DCPS would have to change its out-of-boundary policies, and new legislation governing charter school admissions would be needed. Will you fund more afterschool and summer programs? One of the clearest differences between poor children and higher-income children is their uneven access to enriching activities after school and in the summer, and research confirms that this contributes to the achievement gap. Yet DCPS puts only modest funding into afterschool programs, and the budget for the Children and Youth Investment Trust, which supports non-profits serving youth, was cut sharply after recent DC Council scandals. Will you make sure every school has sufficient resources to meet students’ mental health needs? The District is well behind its goal to have school mental health programs in all schools by 2016. What will you do to promote better collaboration between DCPS and charter schools? DC does little to help charter schools find a home, and this at times results in instability or in schools ending up in locations that may not be ideal from citywide perspective. What will candidates do to help charter schools get the sites they need but also guide where they locate?
Housing As million-dollar homes and $3,000 rents become the norm, it is clear the city cannot maintain an economically diverse population and workforce without more public investment to make housing accessible. Not surprisingly, the working poor and those living on fixed incomes from social security or other public assistance face the greatest challenges. Will you commit to creating 25,000 new apartments that are affordable to the low-income working or fixed-income households over the next four years? That is the about number of new low-
cost units needed to meet this need, according to a study released this year by the Community Foundation. Will you commit $100 million to DC’s Housing Trust Fund each year? One of the key tools to build or preserve low-cost housing is DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund. Every $1 of DC money from the Trust Fund generates $2.50 of other funds. Yet the Trust Fund is tied to a tax source that is volatile and it has never been enough to meet the full demand. $100 million every year would help get to the goal of 25,000 new affordable units. Will you truly address family homelessness? In the winter, homeless families languish in the dilapidated DC General shelter or in motels. And in the summer it is even worse: families seeking shelter are just turned away. Every candidate should be asked if they will allow families in need to seek shelter and services year-round, and what they will do to move families out of shelter and into stable housing.
Jobs The other key to helping more residents afford to live in the city is better wages. Yet nearly one in nine DC adults lacks basic literacy skills, and most are not getting services to address their educational or job skill needs. Meanwhile, wages for DC’s lowest paid workers fell $1 an hour over the past four years. Will you raise wages for waiters and other tipped workers? DC’s minimum wage for waiters and other tipped workers is just $2.77 an hour, and will not go up as DC’s minimum wage rises to $11.50. Some states set the minimum wage for tipped workers at the same rate as for everyone else, while many others are higher than DC even though their minimum wage for tipped workers is lower than for other workers. Will you support better child care? For many parents, child care is nearly as expensive as their home. DC subsidizes child care for working families, but the rates are so low that many child care centers cannot thrive on it, and others are not able to provide a high-quality educational environment. Will you improve literacy services and training? The number of adults needing literacy servic-
Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Report es is 8 times higher than the number that get help each year. And the District spends relatively little in direct support of job training, even at successful programs like DC Central Kitchen. Will candidates commit to spending more on literacy and skills training?
Economic Development If the District is going to grow in a way that doesn’t squeeze everyone else out, new economic development strategies will be needed that create opportunity for all District residents. It also is likely that it will be a new mayor who completes a soccer stadium deal. Will you make smart investments in economic development? The best way to support new industries and job growth is to connect entrepreneurs with a highly-skilled and appropriately trained workforce, to nurture industry clusters where businesses can grow together, provide affordable workspace for emerging businesses, and support research and development. Will you avoid the ineffective tax subsidy approach? Tax incentives are costly but rarely produce much, if anything, in terms of new jobs and economic growth. Cutting capital gains taxes is good for wealthy investors but doesn’t change their minds about where or how much to invest. These and other tax incentives, such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), divert revenue from education or infrastructure that are needed to promote economic growth. Will you ask DC United to pay its fair share for the stadium? The District should offer to pay no more than half of the total stadium cost. The team stands to benefit most from a stadium and should ultimately foot most of the bill. DC United should not get costly sales and property tax breaks. Will you kill the Reeves Center “swap?” If the District sells the Reeves Center to pay for its share of the stadium costs, it should do so in a way that is transparent, gets the best value for the property, and sets conditions on its future use. Will you take the needs of SW residents into account? The District and DC United should commit to preserving affordable housing in neighborhoods adjacent to the stadium site at Buzzard Point, and provide training and job opportunities for residents in those communities. What are you waiting for? Get yourself to a forum and ask some questions! Lazere and Rivers work at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. u
by Charnice A. Milton Eastern Market Weekend Space Distribution Policy Continuing a conversation that began during the July meeting, the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) discussed changes to the Eastern Market Weekend Space Distribution Policy. Written by Deputy General Counsel C. Vaughn Adams, the policy attempts to clarify rules in regards to activities such as political petitioning. EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder proposed holding a public meeting on October 1 to further discuss the policy. However, Vice-chair Chuck Burger suggested meeting with a legal adviser, as there are still a number of legal issues to address. Eastern Market Public Development Corporation Representative Richard Layman agreed, saying that the political petitioning section could be in conflict with federal law. “It just depends on how this federal circuit interprets the Constitution with regards to expression...” he said. However, ANC Commissioner Ivan Frishberg (6B02) warned, “...If the bulk of this debate is about what’s legal and what’s not...in my mind, we’ve already failed...”
Bylaws In 2007, EMCAC voted on technical changes to its bylaws; however, according to EMCAC Secretary Monte Edwards, not all of those changes were added according to minutes from the February 28, 2007 meeting. According to his report, Edwards and Scheeder will revise the bylaws according to those minutes and will post an update before the next meeting. Edwards also presented more amendments to the bylaws, which include conforming citations to the DC Code and legitimizing the practice of providing the public with minute drafts before meetings. EMCAC voted 8-0 to approve the changes.
Fresh Tuesdays ANC Representative Brian Pate (6B05) raised concerns about the aggregators’ ability to sell and having a consistent policy for Fresh Tuesdays. Since some community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs have policies about how much members can sell, he suggested ei-
ther having another line for aggregators on another day or creating a policy on à la carte sales on Fresh Tuesdays. However, Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson, as well as other EMCAC members pointed out that some aggregators’ could bring products from outside the region. Scheeder suggested that they continue the discussion at a later meeting.
Capital Improvements Edwards, who is also chair of the Capital Improvements Committee, reported that the committee was asked to approve a proposal to repair the pottery studio stairs by replacing brownstone with concrete; however, they were not asked for their input beforehand. After members raised concerns about the project, Edwards reported that the Committee could not reach an opinion in the short time they were given and therefore, could not recommend that EMCAC adopt the proposal. Burger motioned for EMCAC to halt the project until the correct protocol is followed. While Margeson discussed three alternatives (colored concrete, brownstone, and a cathedral stone-like product), Burger amended the motion rejecting the concrete and asking for information on other alternatives. The motion passed with a 7-0-1 vote.
Other News The dedication for the John Harrod Plaque will be October 5. The plaque is located outside of the North Hall on the north side. Scheeder, Burger, Edwards, and Tom Kuchenberg (Independent Community Representative) were elected to new terms for their respective positions. Margeson reported that he could not hire MPD officers to work weekend security or back alley parking, as Eastern Market is under the jurisdiction of the Department of General Services (DGS). Margeson also reported that due to a budget issue, the Eastern Market study is postponed until the 2015 fiscal year. The Hine School Project has been delayed again after community members filed an appeal in opposition to a recent legal decision in favor of Stanton/Eastbanc. u
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ANC 6A by Denise Romano
ANC 6A to Co-sponsor Mayoral Forum ANC 6A unanimously voted to co-sponsor the DC Federation of Civic Associations’ and DC Federation of Citizen Associations’ mayoral forum on Tuesday, October 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Eastern High School. All candidates will be invited. Pulitzer Prize winner Colbert King will moderate. The Hill Rag is also a sponsor.
ANC 6A Comments on New DDOT Rules for Private Improvements to Pocket Parks In a 6-0-1 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to DDOT regarding amendments to the agency’s new proposed rules on private improvements to pocket parks. They are: that ANC’s should be given the opportunity to review all types of alterations to triangle parks; that the time for ANC comment be extended to a minimum of 45 days and that the definition of triangle parks be amended to include parks that fit the definition when jurisdiction was initially transferred to the District but now no longer fit the proposed definition.
ANC Transparency Bill Commissioners unanimously voted to recommend that the ANC submit an amendment to the DC Council regarding the new ANC Transparency Bill: that ANC minutes, reports, recommendations and bank statements be made available 45
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days after a meeting, instead of the proposed 14. Also, the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions will have to add staff for support. Chair Alberti noted that bank documents contain very sensitive information and all of this information can already be seen on ANC 6A’s website.
Community Outreach Committee Business Before any business was conducted, Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert said that she had concerns about the way the committee processed grant applications. After much discussion and questioning, Community Outreach Chair Elizabeth Nelson assured commissioners that the process was objective and fair, with all grant applications given the same treatment. In a 5-0-2 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC give a grant for $300 for Miner Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization. The grant will go towards athletic equipment for use in physical education class and at recess. In a 4-1-2 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC give a $733 grant in support of the Maury Elementary Parent Teacher Association’s request for items to enhance the math resource room and $1,760 in support of the aquatics component of the Serve Your City grant request.
Alcohol Beverage and Licensing Committee Motions Chair Alberti recused himself from participation in the ABL portion of the meeting due to his position on the Alcohol Beverage Control Board.
In a 6-0-0 vote commissioners approved a recommendation to amend the settlement agreement for the H Street Country Club and the Rock & Roll Hotel. In the new agreement, the roof deck will be closed at 11 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends and nights before federal holidays, the back part of the deck that faces residents will close at 1 a.m. and the front part that faces H St. will be closed at 2 a.m. The amended agreement also states that no sound, music or voices from the roof deck would be heard inside any premises nearby, including homes. Residents who live near H Street said that they regularly have to deal with not only noise, but drunk fights and police visits. Rock and Roll Hotel has not yet agreed to the amended agreement. In a 6-0-0 vote, commissioners approved a
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A NICK ALBERTI, CHAIR, 202-329-1193 Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and Stanton Park communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.
www.anc6a.org Next ANC 6A meeting is 2nd Thursday, October 9 recommendation that the ANC take no action regarding the CR license renewal for Kitty’s Saloon at 1208 H St. NE, formerly known as Souk. In a 6-0-0 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC take no action regarding the license renewal for Ocopa at 1324 H St. NE, formerly known as Chicken Tortilla.
Transportation and Public Space Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a recommendation that the ANC send a letter to DDOT to examine traffic patterns at the intersection of F St. NE and 11th St. NE. In an unanimous vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC send a letter in support of legislation to name the 1100 block of Florida Ave. NE in honor of Ruby Whitfield, a resident who was fatally hit by a motorist. Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to DDOT to conduct an assessment of drainage, cleanliness and traffic conditions concerning troublesome alleys in ANC 6A, which residents said is also used as a restroom. The letter will request tools to rectify the situation. In an unanimous vote, commissioners voted to approve a recommendation that the ANC send a letter to DDOT asking them for information about issuing emergency no-parking permits and opportunities for the ANC to weigh in on longer-term permits. There is currently no review of this process and how much space permitted vehicles can use.
Economic Development and Zoning Motions Commissioners unanimously approved a recommendation that the ANC write a letter of support to BZA for the request for a special excep-
tion for 1229 F St. NE from the rearyard setback conditions in order to build a two-story garage that will be connected to the home with a covered walkway. In an unanimous vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC write a letter of support to BZA for the request for special exceptions for 1419 F St. NE from the lot occupancy and rearyard setback restrictions and for an addition to a non-conforming structure – a one-story screened-in porch replacing a deck. Commissioners unanimously approved a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to the Zoning Administrator saying that the permitted construction occurring at 1215 Wylie St. NE is on a lot that only measures 825 square feet in area and does not meet the lot-dimension requirements for the R-4 district and requesting that the Zoning Administrator require that the developer obtain the approval prior to continuing construction. If the Zoning Administrator elects to take no action, the ANC will appeal to the BZA. In an unanimous vote, commissioners voted to approve a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to DCRA relating recent observations regarding the condition of 1000 C St. NE and requesting that the property be inspected to find out if it is a vacant or blighted property.
Other Business
In a 6-0-1 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC write a congratulatory letter to Rev. Dr. of the Pilgrim A.M.E. Church, on his 40th pastoral anniversary. ANC 6A meets on the second Thursday of every month at Miner Elementary School at 7 p.m.. Visit www.ANC6A.org or the latest on meeting times. u
Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee
3rd Tuesday, October 21, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Jay Williams, 906-0657
Transportation & Public Space Committee
3rd Monday, October 20, 7pm • Maury Elementary School 13th Street & Constitution Ave NE Co-Chairs, Omar Mahmud, 546-1520; Todd Sloves, 347-735-8633
Economic Development & Zoning Committee
3rd Wednesday, October 15, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE • Chair, Dan Golden, 641-5734
Community Outreach Committee
3rd Monday, October 20, 7pm Maury Elementary School • 13th Street & Constitution Ave NE Chair, Elizabeth Nelson, 543-3512
Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue.
Elect
Pranav Badhwar DC Council Ward 6
A Critical Thinker for Critical Issues For real solutions which address root causes, go to:
www.Pranav4DC.com Paid for by Committee to Elect Pranav Badhwar
October 2014 H 73
ANC 6B by Jonathan Neeley
Zoning Regulations Review Proposal
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James m LOOts, Pc Serving the Capitol Hill Community Since 1984 General Litigation and Arbitration Franchising and Business Organizations Commercial Leasing and Development Labor and Employment Issues Contract and Licensing Matters
In July, the Office of Planning released a set of alternative amendments to the DC Zoning Regulations, the latest in a series of negotiations between the Office, the Zoning Commission (which is responsible for approving the final update), and the public that dates back to 2009. At its September general meeting, ANC 6B voted unanimously to send a letter to the Zoning Commission with comments on the new alternative amendments. ANC 6B urged the Commission to approve the overall zoning update but disagreed with a number of the Office of Planning’s new suggestions. Among them were a requirement that owners of accessory apartments and carriage houses obtain permits to rent them out, which commissioners said was counterproductive for a city facing an affordable housing crisis, and a requirement that 6B’s corner stores that are at the bottom of residential buildings obtain a special exception to sell alcohol, as the existing ABC Board liquor licensing process is sufficient. The ANC’s letter voiced support for inclusionary zoning practices designed to extend beyond the 30-40 year window after which some units can revert to market rates, as well as the closing of a zoning loophole that currently allows property owners to skirt zoning requirements by allowing them to claim accessory structures as part of a main building. 6B also suggested that the Regulations’ definition of a fast food restaurant be broadened to fit more establishments, making it easier to curb the trash, odors, and loitering that tend to accompany establishments where food is prepared and served quickly.
Swamp Fox Statue Proposed for Marion Park TOP “AV” RATED BY MARTINDALE-HUBBELL
634 G Street SE, Suite 200 | Washington DC 20003 (202) 536-5650 • Fax: (202) 315-3515 www.lootslaw.com 74 H Hillrag.com
The National Park Service is considering six sites along South Carolina Avenue for a statue of Revolutionary War general Francis Marion of South Carolina. Marion Park, located at Fourth and E Streets SE, is the only feder-
al site on the list. Neighbors attended the 6B’s regular meeting to oppose the statue going in at Marion Park, citing frustration over years-long construction projects that are still ongoing at the park and poor maintenance of sections that aren’t being built on (both of which are the National Parks Service’s responsibility), and a lack of communication from the Parks Service regarding both. A statue, they said, would add a new maintenence burden to a park that is already underserved. Aside from issues with the Park Service, residents voiced concern over a statue obstructing either the park’s playground or its open grass area. Given that the Parks Service already has funding for the statue, ANC 6B acknowledged that an all-out fight was less likely to gain traction than earlier voicing of neighbor concerns. Commissioners voted narrowly (43-1) to approve Marion Park as a site for the statue, but with the stipulation that the Parks Service participate in an extensive community involvement process that clarifies how the statue will be cared for after its construction. “The District has a lot of Federal land, and they can do what they want with it,” said 6B chair Brian Flahaven. “The best we can do is encourage them to reach out to the community.”
Pocket Parks The District Department of Transportation has proposed amendments to the city’s regulations on public parking that more clearly establish reservation land transferred to the city from the federal government as public space. Under the clarified rulemaking, private citizens may perform basic maintenance of these spaces, but more extensive private use will require a public right of way permit. ANC 6B sent a letter applauding these updates as well as offering two recommendations before they are finalized: that the window for ANC comment on applications for private use be extended to 45 days from 30 to accommodate its 30-day meeting cycle, and that the definition of triangle parks include those that fit the criteria when they were initially transferred but no longer do, such as those that have been intersected by new roads.
Visitor Parking Pass Program Last year, DDOT made its Visitor Parking Pass program available to nearly all District residents (most of Ward 2 was left out). Under the program, residents can obtain a permanent placard rather than having to get one from the police station every two weeks. Following an update to the program, DDOT will now require residents to use an online system to request a visitor pass, and the agency is considering reinstating a requirement that pass applicants submit proof of DC residency. ANC 6B sent a letter supporting the proposed rulemaking but urging DDOT to make passes valid only in the resident’s ANC single member district. Commissioners said the measure will help ensure passes are used only at the residence for which they were requested, which will aid in cracking down on fraudulent pass use.
Southeast Freeway Re-Opening DDOT is currently planning to reopen the Southeast Freeway between Barney Circle and 11th Street SE by the end of the year. The stretch of the Southeast Freeway that ran between the I-395 exit at 11th Street and Pennsylvania Ave SE at Barney Circle provided a high-speed connection between I-395 and I-295. It was closed after the opening of the 11th Street Bridge provided a similar connection, the long-term goal being to reopen the stretch as a boulevard that would promote access to the waterfront as well as provide new space for city growth. Citing political pressure from Ward 7 that stems from congestion on 1-295, DDOT plans to temporarily reopen the freeway by the end of the year.
6B sent a letter to DDOT stating strong opposition to the reopening. Doing so, commissioners said, would undermine current planning studies whose purpose is to find a new use for the space, worsen traffic on residential streets, and create a constituency for a long-term highspeed connection through DC. Instead of using resources on reopening the freeway, the letter urged DDOTs to put money toward addressing I-295 congestion and supporting the planning studies. In a recent blog post, Flahaven urged residents to contact Mayor Vincent Gray’s office with requests that he stop the reopening.
Miscellaneous ANC 6B also approved letters to support a special exception for DCanter (545 Eighth Street SE) to serve beer in single bottles, to urge the Department of General Services to renew its $1/year lease with Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, and in support of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer expanding DC WiFi access at the Potomac Gardens Housing Complex. ANC 6B’s next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th, at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). u
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 • www.anc6c.org Call (202) 547-7168 for meeting time and location. ANC 6C generally meets the second Wednesday of each month.
ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS ANC 6C01 Daniele Schiffman Daniele.Schiffman@gmail.com
ANC 6C04 Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C02 Karen Wirt (202) 547-7168 6C02@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C05 Mark Kazmierczak 6C05@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C03 Scott Price (202) 577-6261 6C03@anc.dc.gov scott.price@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C06 Tony Goodman (202) 271-8707 tonytgood@gmail.com
ANC 6C COMMITTEES Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee Contact: (870) 821-0531 anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com
Transportation and Public Space Committee First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: (202) 641-4264
Grants Committee Contact: SDucote@afscme.org Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee First Wednesday, 7 pm Contact: zoning@eckenwiler.org Twitter: @6C_PZE
ANC 6C by Damian Fagon
Commendations for David Holmes, Melissa Smith and Laura Marks Commissioner Price announces commendations for three community members. David Holmes, who was vital in a number of ANC6C projects including the redesign of
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Maryland Ave; Melissa Smith, who stepped down after a highly successfully term as Assistant Principal of the Cluster Schools at the Peabody Campus; and Laura Marks, who stepped down from the Grants committee and “served extraordinarily well since the committee was first populated.” Commissioner Price recommends committee send letters of commendation to all three. Recommendation approved unanimously.
Community Membership Commissioner Schiffman nominated Christine Healy, 6C01, to Alcohol and Beverage Committee. Commissioner Price nominated Leslie Barbour, 6C03, to Grants Committee. Ms. Barbour has served on board of directors for Capital Hill Group Ministries and other local groups. “She will bring real dynamic experience and will be a great asset to the Grants Committee,” said Commissioner Price.
Commissioner Announcements Commissioner Price provided an update that half the dirt playing field at Stanton Park will be shut down from November through June for returfing. Commissioner Kazmierczak announced that the Apollo Project, the development on the 600 block of H St. where Murray’s and Self-Storage are located, will begin with demolition in September. Monthly meetings covering construction and traffic plans with the developer and community members will be ongoing. Commissioner Goodman announced that the NOMA Park Funds will be selecting the developer finalists for a project to unify the underpasses on K, L and M St. at a public meeting in October. Furthermore, a representative of the NOMA Park project at the corner of 4th and Florida Ave in Ward 5 met with developers on Tuesday, September 9t. Construction will start in early 2015. The site next door, a Burger King, was recently sold to Level 2 Development, who hope to start in 2016 with a large, new project.
DC Streetcar Joe McCann, Chair Transportation/Public Space Committee provided an update regarding the DC Streetcar on H St. Representatives from DDOT, Malia Salaam and Thomas Perry, were present. Streetcar operators continue to be trained throughout the month of September and, if all
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things go according to plan, will conclude by early October. The committee noted that at certain locations where streetcars will have to cross over a lane of traffic there will be a pre-emptive signalization such that the operator of the streetcar has a separate dedicated traffic light which will allow the street car to move through intersections. Committee adds this may cause problems for pedestrians who fail to pay attention to the signalization from the street car. DDOT representative, Thomas Perry, adds that all streetcar signals will be coordinated and DDOT expects pedestrians to pay attention to all walk signals. Mr. Perry states that there will also be special signs located on both sides of the streetcars. Commissioner Price recommends that DDOT have audio signals available to pedestrians as the light itself for the streetcar is far too subtle at the corner of 3rd and H St. “Think of the signs you’re going to put up the week after the first person gets hit and all the things you might have done to avoid that,” said Commissioner Price. Commissioner Eckenwiler added that if pedestrians adhere to the pedestrian signals already available, there should be no issue. DDOT representatives informed the committee that they are fully aware of the challenges for this relatively new transportation system in the District and that they are committed to doing everything they can to make sure the system is safe and working. Mr. Perry further stated that there will be a learning curve for all citizens coming into H St. and that DDOT is currently orchestrating a huge outreach program.
DDOT Proposed Rule Prohibiting Bikes on Streetcar Guideway The Transportation/Public Space Committee proposed to send a letter to encourage DDOT not to adopt a proposal to ban cycling in street car guide ways. The letter will acknowledge that there is a safety concern for people biking on H St., with regular reports of people falling. The letter will request that DDOT implement surface markings to notify cyclists of the danger of getting close to the streetcar tracks. Finally, Committee letter will request that DDOT perform a study on the extent of the risks for cyclists on H St., such as the bike share locations and track design. Last-
ly, the committee letter will renew commissions previous request that there be a sidewalk cycling ban on H St. Currently a ban is in effect for H St. sidewalk cycling, but only in the downtown area. Commissioner Goodman pointed out that the letter to DDOT should emphasize how strongly the committee disagrees with this proposal. “The problem with bikes on H St. is not with the streetcars but with the streetcar tracks,” said Commissioner Goodman. “The issue should have been brought up several years ago when tracks were first installed.” Commissioner Goodman added that although “it’s not a good idea to be biking on H St., that doesn’t mean that bicyclists shouldn’t be able to.” “We let people do a lot of stupid things, and I think this should be one of them,” concluded Commissioner Goodman. Commissioner Eckenwiler echoed support for Commissioner Goodman’s statement, adding that the proposed ban would not only set a terrible precedent, it would become the rule and be applicable all over the streetcar network in the future. A motion to send the Transportation/Public Space Committee recommendation letter to DDOT was apporved unanimously.
DDOT & Parking DDOT has released proposed new rules for a temporary visitor parking permit and an annual visitor parking pass. The first proposal would allow the Chief of Police to issue a temporary parking permit to be valid on a residential block for 15 days. Committee raised an issue that there is no provision limiting number of times an individual could receive the temporary permit. The annual visitor parking pass will rely on an online and phone-based registration system wherein any individual living on a residential block would be able to register through DDOT to receive an annual parking pass. The Committee ultimately made the motion to limit the number of temporary parking permits in a calendar year that any one vehicle can receive to 30 days. Furthermore, the committee requested that DDOT publicize how a resident may register a complaint or concern regarding these permits, whether they be temporary or annual. Commissioner Goodman said that “it seems insane to have free visitor parking throughout the city when there isn’t enough room for residents.” Commissioner Eckenwiler added that the issue of
cost was addressed in the transportation committee meeting and recommended tabling the issue until the current rules are discussed. Commissioner Goodman moved to adopt committee’s recommendations with the brief caveat that the committee look forward to future discussions with DDOT about whether these free passes be issued at all. Motion approved unanimously. ANC 6C meets every second Wednesday of the month at the Heritage Foundation located at 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Meeting start at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be held on October 8th.
ANC 6D by Roberta Weiner
C
hange of Date, Change of Venue: Because of the Columbus Day weekend, the next business meeting of ANC 6D will be held on Monday, October 20th. The meeting will be held at 200 I Street SE (the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities), at 7 p.m.
What’s New At The Wharf Sean Seaman and Eleanor Bacon of Hoffman-Madison-Marquettte gave their regular quarterly update on what’s happening at the massive Wharf project. Highlights of the presentation included: • Construction on the renovation of the Fish Market is ahead of schedule and will be completed in the fall of 2017.
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•
The repurposing of the Channel Inn is under way; Jenny’s has closed its longtime location, and, while construction is ongoing, will reopen in the former cafeteria of the Channel Inn and—good news for those Southwesters who have missed having a place to start their day—will add breakfast service to its menu. The Capitol Yacht Club will temporarily relocate its headquarters to the former hotel. And Hoffman- Madison Marquette’s offices will now be found there as well. • Construction of the condominiums at St. Augustine’s Church will begin before the end of this year, with that of the new church scheduled to begin after the first of the year. The large copper beech tree that shades the rear of the church will be moved and saved, to be returned to its location when construction is done. • The antique police call boxes that line the neighborhood will be stored and returned to their sites, as will the heritage trail posters. • The construction management committee, made up of community members and Hoffman- Madison Marquette representatives, will be meeting next month. For on-going information about the project, its website is wharfdc.com.
Filling In the Construction Blanks The lot at 1240 South Capitol St. SE--South Capitol and M Streets—long-vacant and surrounded by tattered developer advertisements, has a new owner—JBG Companies—and a new development plan, for a residential building, affording its residents to practically live at the ballpark. At 110’ feet tall, on its south side the building will face the stadium, and have ground-floor retail, with a proposed sidewalk café, and amenities including a rooftop pool, the project will provide a lively addition to a major corner of the neighborhood. (There is also a Hilton Homewood Hotel going up directly across the street). There will be some mandated “affordable” housing, with rents at 50-80% of AMI. There was a lively discussion focused primarily on rooftop setbacks, exceptions to the existing Zoning Overlay, and the commissioners’ strong view that residential parking permits there should not be issued for rental apartment tenants.
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Then the Commission decided that they had not had enough time to study the project, and would therefore vote on the requested zoning relief at the next meeting.
Water, Water Everywhere – But Southeast Buildings Are “Excess Property” A representative of the DC Deputy Mayor’s Office for Economic Development came to the ANC to request support for its plan to have two buildings it owns at 125 O Street SE and 1402 Water Street SE. declared as excess property” so they can be sold. One of the buildings, the Boilermaker Building, is historic, and they will become part of The Yards development and, most importantly, will house a very elegant multi-screen movie theater, a neighborhood amenity that was greeted enthusiastically when presented to the ANC several months ago. The ANC voted unanimously to support the sale of the buildings and to write a letter to the City Council saying so.
In Other Actions… •
•
•
•
Presented an award to Felicia Coutts, for many years the determined force behind the new creative community playground that has recently opened outside the Southwest Library at 3rd and I Streets SW. Approved a change to the Commission’s Bylaws that will enable Alcoholic Beverage and Licensing Committee members, at the discretion of its Chair, to attend meetings “virtually,” by means of phone, internet chat or any other method that will allow committee members and others to hear and/or read each other’s comments. At least two members of the committee must be present in person. This is being done to assure the presence of a quorum to facilitate the Committee’s heavy workload. Okayed two upcoming races that will skirt the edges of ANC 6D territory: the October 25th Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Annual Walk to End HIV; and So Others May Eat’s Annual Thanksgiving Day November 27) Trot for Hunger. Supported extending the business hours of CAP Liquors on South Capitol Street SE. The new hours will be 10 a.m. until midnight, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 9:00 PM.
•
•
Voted to support the move of the liquor license for the Capitol Yacht Club from its current location to 660 Water Street SW (the Channel Inn), and to allow a stipulated license if ABRA requires a new license and placarding. Approved a negotiated Cooperative Agreement with the new Harris Teeter that will soon open at the Yards on 3rd Street SE. u
ANC 6E by Steve Holton
Frustration With City Mounts A parcel of land located at Second and H St. NW has been awarded to Roadside Development and the commission is troubled the city decided to pick this group without their agreement. The commission feels that it has come to great lengths to engage the community by communicating their wishes and needs that were relevant to three recent development projects including the aforementioned. All three development groups in each project that had the ANC 6E backing were turned down. The commission is now looking to send a letter to the offices of Mayor Vincent Gray, Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Miller and Committee on Economic and Development Council Chairwoman Muriel Bowser to question the process under which these selections are made without granting weight to the commission’s input. “The reality is, if they really don’t want our input, then they shouldn’t go through the motions suggesting that they want the communities input. We look at community benefits associated with any development project,” said ANC 6E01 Chairman Alexander Padro. Other members of the commission voiced their frustration over the tireless hours and effort to reach out to the community and development groups to strike an agreement and reach a fair plan for everyone. “I have spent over 120 hours working with 10 different developers going through architectural plans only to find out that the city’s selection committee chose a development group from a short list of candidates which Mayor Gray later overturned and chose someone else. We have to request answers from the city as to why our weight isn’t recognized and how did
this decision come to be?,” said ANC 6E05 Commissioner Marge Maceda. A city representative was on hand and Maceda requested a hearing before Chairwoman Bowser and the Committee on Economic and Development Council to express her concerns. “We put hours into communicating with residents and developers and I expect the city to at least respect what the commission votes on. We get no explanation or nothing in writing as to why we were not considered,” said Maceda. The commission passed a motion to send a letter to the appropriate city officials expressing their concern that the ANC 6E Commission does not appear to be receiving the great weight offered in the ANC Statute in relation to proposed dispositions of district owned lands in their jurisdiction. The commission said that other ANC Commissions are experiencing the same difficulty and they are requesting a detailed response from the city in relation to the points raised in their correspondence. “Our recommendations have been ignored and we are requesting clarification on the process being utilized to request ANC input. If ANC input will not be receiving great weight, the process should be modified so that ANC’s should no longer have to be in a position to offer advice that isn’t desirable,” said Chairman Padro.
Historic Townhouse Renovation A historic townhouse located at L and Sixth St. NW will be used for retail and office space. Red and grey bricks will be used to complement other buildings in the area. “This is in my area and residents are very happy with what you are doing to this property. The project renderings look fantastic,” said ANC 6E04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro.
Curb Cut Request The commission opposed a curb cut request by Portofino, LLC at 1534 Fifth St. NW for a new construction project being carried out on a three story home. ANC 6E02 Commissioner Kevin Chapple told the Portofino representative that if support can be garnered from the community then he is welcomed to reappear before the commission with another request.
“Residents who have contacted me are opposed to this and feel they will have a harder time finding parking,” said Chapple.
ABC License Request Julio O’Neill of Grand Cata Vino Barra Market appeared before the commission to request support for a Class C Restaurant ABC License. O’Neill wishes to serve wine with the food his establishment will be preparing and will have a small private room for events. He also wants to provide Latin dance classes that will require acoustic guitarists and a cover charge to pay for the lessons. The commission expressed concern with restaurants in the past that had city permission for live music that would eventually turn into a dance club after 10 p.m. and disrupt the neighborhood. “Although your establishment is on the first level of a living complex, you have to respect the people who live there and call it their home. The residents are afraid of the noise that could be coming at the end of the night,” said Maceda. The commission moved to support the license contingent on the applicant signing an agreement that specifies they will not support a dancing and cover charge endorsement and that the agreement stipulates that valet parking must be provided.
Other Topics The commission asked the city to reserve two vacant parcels of land located at Second and H St. NW for green space and affordable housing with retail space. The commission supported an ABC License Request for Beau Thai located at 1555 Seventh St. NW contingent on seating and service on the outdoor patio ending at midnight seven days a week. The commission supported an ABC License Request for Convivial located at 801 O St. NW. ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the Northwest One Library, located at 155 L St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter, @ANC6E, and on Facebook by searching ANC6E u
October 2014 H 79
Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
To blunder or not to blunder? by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:
1. Theorem 5. Discretion 10. Cathedral recess 14. Protozoan 19. Waxy 21. Odor masker 23. Not on the right course 25. ___ Robinson 26. Swami 27. Expire 28. VIPs 29. Hood 30. Change states, in a way 31. Johns 32. Scarf 35. Wrap up 36. Run off to wed 38. U.N. Day mo. 41. Hunch 45. Celebes buffalo 46. D-Day beach 47. “___ divine.” 52. City in Texas 53. Abstractionism 54. God of fire 55. Disencumber 56. “Get it?” 57. Hindu widow’s suicide 58. Singer DiFranco 59. Freshness 61. Deuces 63. Drove 65. Nine inches 69. Bear a penalty 72. High points 74. Samovar 77. “___ to a Nightingale” 78. Lean 81. Rhubarb 82. Motorboats 84. Is definitely correct 87. Old railroad name 88. In case 89. Occurring every eight years 90. Cyst 91. Bat an eye? 93. Some bent pipes 95. Retin-A treats it
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96. Madison Avenue award 97. Locality 98. Be-boppers 101. Acquire 104. Gamut 106. Like some hair 107. “___ do you do?” 110. ___ conduct, banned under consumer protection law in Australia 114. Means of access 115. Wrapped 116. Grooves 117. Gingrich 118. Takes out 119. Uncle ___
Down:
1. SALT concern 2. ___ John 3. Blunders 4. Diving bird 5. Strength 6. Broadway backer 7. One’s 8. Swallow 9. Stable worker 10. Masterful 11. Seats with kneelers 12. Irritated 13. Shogun’s capital 14. Relating to Greece 15. Hands, in slang 16. Book after II Chronicles 17. Existed 18. Aphrodite’s lover 20. Japanese soup 22. Like draft beer 24. Robust 29. Grasshopper sound 30. Remote control button 31. Baker’s unit 32. Shankar’s instruments 33. Bivalve shells 34. Positions 35. Small salmon 36. Main dishes 37. One who takes spoils 38. Auditory 39. A sparkling wine
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 40. Consequently 42. Rainbow goddess 43. Scrabble piece 44. Cay 45. Curse 46. Hybrid fruit 48. Most plain 49. On target 50. Fertility clinic stock 51. Seek a seat 57. Casuist 60. Bender 62. Closer, in a way 64. Old gold coin 66. Kind of license 67. Adoptive son of Trajan 68. Get cozy
70. Dunderhead 71. Desire 73. Director’s cry 75. After-bath wear 76. Palindromic time 78. Old World duck 79. Peel 80. Comparable 82. Moments 83. Bluefins 85. This and that 86. Kind of nut 91. Broadsheets 92. Physics lab device, for short 93. As a result 94. Stared rudely 96. Muslim leader
97. Apprehensive feeling 98. Secret store 99. Certifies 100. Proof goof 101. Trans-Siberian Railroad city 102. Dentist’s request 103. Boris Godunov, for one 104. Greet the day 105. Freshly 106. ___ Bank 107. Screen 108. Baker 109. Makes one 111. One of Alcott’s “Little Men” 112. ___ lab 113. Old cargo boat
{community life}
E on DC The Ear Is Still An Organ Made For Love
I
by E. Ethelbert Miller
often try to write with my ears--where many of my poems begin. For years I didn’t listen to music while traveling around the streets of Washington. That’s not the case anymore. I’ve grown tired of people pissing in my ears. How much abuse should a poet take? So much beauty has been lost in our conversations. We talk as if we need to throw a punch every time we speak. Since I don’t drive these days, I now know why the caged bird sings. Place me on the Green Line or the # 70 bus these days and you’ll find my ears covered as if they were sacred altars. I’ve started to plug headphones into my smartphone. I’ve also discovered I need a different soundtrack for different cities. When I was recently in New York City, I found myself walking around Greenwich Village listening to Miles Davis. I needed the music he made before “Bitches Brew” fell on me like early autumn leaves. If you see me in Washington these days you know I’m wrapped in Fela. I need his drums and lyrics to spill around me like libations. Bless me Fela! It’s often said that we are what we eat. I guess the same can be said about the music: we are what we hear. I have a longing for spirituals and even some of those corny love songs The Intruders recorded. I’ll always be a fool for everything recorded by the Delfonics. Is it possible that recently a holy horn has been blown and we are now witnessing the early death of a civilization again? How much of global warming might be a result of our language burning and giving off toxins? We use profanity in such a casual manner that it might as well be ketchup on a side-order of fries. Language is essential to how we communicate. It seems we all want to be left alone. We listen only to whom we want to listen to. The breakdown in authority begins with the increase in noise. Protest music should capture what the powerless desire. People who desire freedom must always sing about it. If my ears only continue to hear the sounds of sex and materialism, then the only thing I will accomplish is the shaking of my booty. This is music to keep one dancing in place – it fails to provide a better vision of tomorrow’s world. I think my ears are in need of Spirit music. After all the movies about Ray Charles, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix, maybe someone will introduce movies for our souls. Please place John Coltrane or Sun Ra on the next big screen. With all the new buildings going up around this city, I need a sound that will encourage me to seek a higher ground. Next month we will elect a new mayor to help us govern our city. It has often been said that people elect the leaders they deserve. Why do my ears hurt? How will I continue to navigate these D.C. streets? How do I sing my song in what is slowly become a strange land? I remove my headset and I hear a silent rage stirring in the hearts of many blues people. How long before there is dancing in the streets? I once wrote, “the ear is an organ made for love.” I want to continue to believe this. What about you? u
October 2014 H 81
{community life / eastern market}
Eastern Market Phoenix from the Ashes
article by Peter J. Waldron, photos Andrew Lightman
F
ive years after being ravaged by a devastating fire, the Eastern has returned to its role as an economic engine serving as the de facto town square of the vibrant Capitol Hill community. Under District management, the Market, formerly a fiscal black hole, is breaking even. New programs and innovative marketing are playing key roles in this success. Despite this, opinion remains divided on the question of whether the Market is thriving.
Is The Market Thriving? Luanne Stephenson, a recent visitor from Manassas, describes the Market as “European in setting.” It compares favorably, in her opinion, with a public market that she recently visited in Italy. Her impressions of the Market’s success are typical of regional tourists and many who live here on the Hill. Hill resident and noted food writer Bonny Wolf echoes Stephenson’s positive assessment. “The Market has never been better. The fire was awful, but it brought the Market to the attention of the city. It is much more crowded than it used to be. There are people from all over. “ Wolf, who shops daily at the Market, points to merchants and farmers carrying “exotic items.” The “merchants seem open to trying things” in line with the increasing food sophistication of their customers. “If you ask for something they will try to get it, within reason,” she adds. Not everyone is positive on the Market’s current situation. A number of South Hall merchants believe their profits have been adversely impacted by limited public parking on weekends. They complain bitterly about the city’s decision to close the 200 block of Seventh St. SE to accommodate the weekend flea market, which reduced adjacent on-street parking. “We have no parking. That is all we want,” states Bill Glasgow, owner of Union Meat. While acknowledging the impact of limited weekend parking, Mike Bowers, owner
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of Bowers Fancy Dairy Products, has found that inventory changes geared towards younger customers have improved his bottom line. Bowers seeks a balance between keeping “the old time feel of the market,” and his new products. “I am trying to be smart about this” he states. “The business enShopping in the South Hall vironment has definitely improved.” Anita Jefferson, a twelve-year veteran vendor who sells candles in the adjoining flea market, takes issue with Bower’s positive assessment. In her estimation, flea market vendors took a disproportionate hit after the tragic fire. Widespread news reports of the fire led the public to think the flea market had closed. Business has not Barry Margeson serves up a whole roasted rebounded in the honpig at The Community Potluck eymoon period that followed the re-opening, she states. While opinion on the Market’s economic health remains divided, it is clearly operating in a more competitive food environment.
Dancing at The Community Potluck
The New Food Environment Public markets are on the rise. Their growth nationally has doubled from 4400 markets in 2007 to 8,100 in 2013. In the District alone, nearly forty farmer’s markets operate on a daily basis at varying hours and locations. On the Hill, competition for the dollars of food consumers is particularly fierce. A host of recently opened supermarkets and farmers mar-
The Farmers’ line at Fresh Tuesdays
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Eastern Market after the fire
kets including a Giant, multiple Harris Teeters and a soon-to-open Whole Foods, provide a wide range of choices. The renovated Union Market is drawing residents north of Florida Ave. NE for the first time. There is a new organic market on H Street. Aside from these brick and mortar operations, the neighborhood is also served by numerous weekly farmers’ markets. Nationally, according to one report, 80% of the small and middle sized farmers are using public markets as their primary food conduit. “Things are fantastic……….never been better,” states David O’Neil, a nationally acclaimed expert on public markets. O’Neil ticks off newly established markets in city after city. In Flint, Michigan, for example, he points to the success of a public market that has led to a new spate of development in its dilapidated city center: “Cities that do not have them, want them,” he says. The “mix” of what constitutes a successful market is hard to come by, O’Neil cautions, and even harder to maintain. “Maintaining original merchandizing is crucial” to continued success, he argues. Some markets, however, get a bit complacent, he says. But Eastern Market’s management is not remaining still in the face of new competitors.
City Management Brings Innovation “Right now the Market is just getting up to speed,” states Barry Margeson, manager of the Market since 2009. Margeson recites a long list of successes. North Hall bookings are up. For example, over five hundred guests attended the annual Lamb Jam this past spring, which is hosted
in the North Hall and under the Farmers’ shed. Events and promotions keep the Eastern Market brand in the public eye. Online awareness of the Market has increased substantially. With more than 23,000 friends on Facebook, its posts have earned 38,000 likes. and 53,000 visits; 24,000 people follow its news on Twitter. Margeson has pulled out the stops to involve the Capitol Hill community in the market. A recent Community Potluck that he hosted drew a significant crowd of residents excited about sharing dishes with their neighbors. Margeson roasted a whole pig as management’s contribution to the festivities. When Hilloween, the neighborhood’s annual spooky children’s celebration on Market Row threatened to fall apart, Margeson stepped in to fill the vacuum. He tasked Annette Nielson, a consultant working with the Market on marketing and communications, with organizing the event, scheduled for Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. As usual, the Seventh Street event will feature a horse drawn hayride, a moon bounce and cotton candy. Planned activities are found on www.facebook.com/HilloweenatEasternMarket. Along with events and promotions, Margeson has made some institutional changes as well. Under his direction, the Market added an outdoor ‘Fresh Tuesdays’ weekly evening market. Made up largely of farmers from the Amish and Mennonite communities of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland, it is now in its successful third season. Margeson has also made changes in the city run flea market that surrounds the Eastern Market on weekends. In answer to the long standing and widespread community complaints about the quality of its offerings, he established a formal jurying and application process for the arts and crafts vendors. Led by Anita Jefferson, this arduous effort, involving the input of as many as fifty vendors, has produced an increase in vendors retailing a larger variety of handmade works. The Market now accepts applications for vending on a continuing basis rather than biannually. This has reduced the Flea Market’s attrition rate. “The change is not as good as it could be. There needs to be an assessment and we need take this opportunity to redefine ourselves,”
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October 2014 H 83
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states Jefferson. The success of the Margeson’s innovations is measurable in the Market’s healthier bottom line.
Increasing Market Revenue In 2009, the first year the Eastern Market was managed directly by the city, its gross income totaled $365,000. (In that year, no rental income was captured from flea market.) With the exception of 2013 when it encountered a onetime capitol expense, the Market has been profitable every year since. In 2013, its gross revenues exceeded $880,000. The Market earns roughly equal revenue from three different sources: South Hall leases; flea market vendors and Farmer’s Line rentals; and North Hall bookings. North Hall revenue has significantly contributed the Markets bottom line. In 2013 alone, bookings produced $198,000 in revenue. It can command a rental of $4,000. There is significant room for future growth, Margeson believes. Outside vendors pay fixed fees of $28 to $44 for their stalls. Rentals on the Farmers’ Line range from $30 to $44. Since the District assumed management in 2009, outside income has increased every year. The South Hall merchants pay roughly $28.50 per square foot for their stalls. This below market rent reflects the value the city and community place on preserving the Market’s historic character. The merchants have been without signed leases since 2008. (The sticking point in their negotiations with the city has been the length of the leases with the District offering a five-year term while the merchants seek a ten year term.) To sum this up, one can say with certainty that the city’s takeover of the Market’s management
has put the operation on firm financial footing, setting the stage for growth. “The Market has never been better,” agrees Donna Scheeder, chair of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC), which is charged with providing Margeson with advice and guidance.
Remaining Challenges Despite successes under city management, the Market faces an uncertain future. Competition for the public’s food dollars will certainly increase. Weekend parking remains a challenge for patrons of the South Hall. The commencement of a large construction project at the adjacent Hine School will also impact its operations. Hine “is going to have a huge impact in the short term. In the long term it is doable. It will be a headache but in the end it will be great for the market,” states Margeson. Much of the burden for charting the Market’s future sits squarely on Margeson’s shoulders. In the event of his resignation or removal, the positive progress under District management could be retarded. Recognizing this, Scheeder has urged the city to consider incorporating EMCAC into a regime of “stronger governance” for the Market. She has also urged the District to tackle the “financial challenges including the need to build up a capital improvement and reserve fund.” “The issues are those of structure, not of competency,” states Scheeder. In the end, it is the residents of Capitol Hill, who are the real arbiters of the Market’s success. Every dollar they choose to spend with its merchants, farmers and vendors is a vote cast for its future success. u
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October 2014 H 85
{community life / our river}
Gone But Not Forgotten
Demolition Underway at the Benning Road PEPCO Plant. Photos: Rick Giammaria. Courtesy of Pepco Holdings, Inc.
The Benning Road Pepco Plant’s Toxic Effects Will Take Years to Ameliorate by Bill Matuszeski
H
ere in the city, we are used to seeing additions to our skyline, but seldom do we watch a piece of it being removed. Yet that is what is underway along our Anacostia River at Benning Road, where the old (1906) Benning Power Plant is being demolished. The
ward hikers and bikers with more views of nature along the new section of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail now under construction between Benning Road and the Bladensburg Marina in Maryland. This long-awaited trail will link the trails along the tidal river with the system of streamside trails in Montgomery and Prince Georges County, giving be implosion of the stacks and remaining heavy steel structures. This will be, according to PEPCO, “a onetime event lasting up to five minutes with public notifications and considerable planning, monitoring, safety measures and dust containment.” There will be plenty of public notice and engagement of DC police and fire officials. The final phase of the demolition will be to grade, level and restore
Area in blue underway; area in red to be imploded in December
best views of this major undertaking are from the River or the Metro Orange Line between Stadium/Armory and Minnesota Avenue Stations. PEPCO Energy Services closed the plant’s two remaining oil-fired generators in 2012 and recently decided that demolishing the plant, which covers a quarter of the 77 acres that make up the Benning Service Center, would be in everyone’s best interest. PEPCO plans to use the land to expand its Service Center activities, which include electric distribution and transmission reliability. For most us who like to use the River, ridding the landscape of the grim facades and stacks of the old plant will mark an improvement. It will also re-
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Mist gun used to control dust from the plant demolition
us one of the longest systems of interconnected urban trails in America. And it will pass right in front of the site of the old power plant.
GONE (almost) The demolition is well underway. Before anything else, all asbestos and other potentially hazardous building materials were carefully removed and disposed of. Then the two cooling towers were dismantled and removed; they included lots of plastic, fiberglass and wood. Conventional demolition of the main structures is now underway. The next phase, scheduled for December, will
the site for use by the expanded Service Center. Further details about the demolition, including public meetings, fact sheets and frequently asked questions can be found on-line at www.
benningservicecenter.com and at the following libraries: Anacostia, Deanwood, Dorothy Height/Benning, Francis A. Gregory and Rosedale.
But Not Forgotten While the plant may disappear, its legacy of toxic contamination to the land, the stream banks and the river will be with us for many more years. This is a much more complex set of issues and, while the solution is coming, it will take more time to clean it all up for the benefit of the Anacostia and all of us. First of all, the power plant is just one of several potential sites for toxics in the immediate area; for years the District dumped and burned trash along the river just upstream of the power plant. So the toxics analysis of the PEPCO plant will include the current DC solid waste transfer station and the National Park Service Kenilworth Maintenance Yard. Second the power plant is one of six major facilities along the river where toxic pollution is said to have occurred in the past; these include the Navy Yard, a Washington Gas facility near Capitol Hill and the CSX rail yard in Anacostia. All of these are in various stages of investigations that will lead to clean-ups under Superfund. The PEPCO plant is not formally a Superfund site, but is the subject of a judicial consent decree that treats it virtually the same. Third, there is a large reservoir of toxic sediments in the bottom of the river as a result of all this and other contamination over the years. The DC government has undertaken a major effort with EPA to carry out the studies to develop a plan to clean these up. The City Council recently set a date of 2018 to complete the planning and begin the cleanup. So the PEPCO plant is part of a larger history of contamination along the river, and there is under way a program and a plan to deal with all the sources. According to the DC Government, the Benning Road power plant was the source of six documented releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), a known cancer-causing toxic, into the environment between 1985 and 2003. A 2008 EPA study linked PCB’s and other toxics in Anacostia sediments to discharges from the site.
All this led to the consent decree under which DC and PEPCO Energy Services are carrying out a multi-year study and clean-up for toxics that may be on the site, in the soils along the river, and in the river sediments and surface water. The effort has four parts. The names given the first two parts are Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, sometimes referred to as an “RI/FS.” The Remedial Investigation is to determine historic toxic releases from the site to the River water or sediments and any ongoing pollution. The Feasibility Study determines what cleanup actions are needed and how they should be done. PEPCO is then responsible to pay the cost of any clean-up related to the power plant site. Field work related to the RI/FS is to be completed this year. The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) expects to approve the final RI/FS by late 2015 or early 2016. A Proposed Plan of actions is scheduled for early 2017 and the final Record of Decision setting out what must be done should be ready by 2018. Then the actual clean-up of what the plant left behind will begin. While this seems to be a very lengthy schedule, the issues are complex and the remedies are not self-evident. More information about all this is available on the Benning Service Center website. So the good news is that the power plant will be out of our sight very soon! And the new trail will be opened in a year or so. But despite the best efforts of EPA, the DCDOE and Pepco Energy Services, the legacy of the Benning Road Power Plant’s toxics will be with us for a while. 2018 seems a long way off and 2025, the goal for a swimmable Anacostia, even further. But when we consider they are only as far ahead as 2010 and 2003 are behind us, it gives us some hope we may see the day! Bill Matuszeski writes about the environment, with a focus on the Anacostia. He was Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program from 1991 to 2001, and currently serves as Chair of the Anacostia Watershed Citizens Advisory Committee. u
October 2014 H 87
{community life / south by west}
Former SEU Campus Building’s Days Are Numbered by William Rich
A
According to the agreement, STC will need to keep the townhome neighbors abreast of all aspects of the development process and host a charrette to show massing concepts for the development, as well as host at least one meeting with townhome residents to present development plans. Two community meetings are also mandated prior to submitting at Planned Unit Development (PUD) application and STC will need to keep SWNA and ANC 6D updated on their plans. Some restrictions have been placed on the development as a result of this Neighborhood Cooperation Agreement. For instance, since a minimum of 70 off-street parking spaces will be built, tenants or owners in the residential building will not be qualified to obtain Residential Parking Permits, so they will not be permitted to use onstreet parking spaces. The maximum amount of density on the site will be limited to a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 4.5, or 164,142 square feet of enclosed space above grade.
raze permit was filed in May by the Graduate School USA for 501 I Street, SW, which is the former Southeastern University campus building. The raze permit was filed to see whether any historic preservation groups would try to landmark the building; however, at the June Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting, the commissioners voted to oppose the permit because no plan had been formally presented for what would replace the building. Spurred by the raze permit applicaSoutheastern University closed its campus building at 501 I Street, tion, the Southwest Neighborhood AssemSW in 2009 and has been vacant ever since. Photo: William Rich bly (SWNA) filed a historic landmark application for the property in July. According to scattered across leased space in the District. A zonthe landmark application, the building was first coning change would be needed for the property in orstructed in 1948 for the Metropolitan Police Boys der to build what STC and Erkiletian have initialCommunity Benefits Club No. 4 with a brick exterior in a smaller footly planned. A historic landmark designation for the Effective immediately, STC will participate and print than its current state. The building was one property would scuttle STC’s plans. support the annual SW ArtsFest; offer free tickets of the few that survived urban renewal. Then in SWNA hosted a neighborhood forum on the for special STC events that can be raffled off at 1961, The Hawthorne School (a private co-ed high project on July 28 at Arena Stage. At the forum, CeSouthwest community events; distribute free tickschool) purchased the building, expanded it to the cille Chen from SWNA gave a presentation on the ets to Ward 6 Night Free for All performances at north and south, and clad it in concrete in a brutalist history of the building, followed by additional reSidney Harman Hall; and advertise in The Southdesign done by Charles Goodman, the same archimarks on the social implications of the Hawthorne wester newspaper on a quarterly basis for the next tect that designed River Park Cooperative Homes. School and SEU by Dr. Marjorie Lightman. Afteryear. Once a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Eventually, declining enrollment and financial difwards, STC’s managing director Chris Jennings exhas been approved for the project, STC will start ficulties at the school caused the sale of the propplained the Company’s plans for the project and providing other community benefits, including: proerty to Southeastern University, which operated at current involvement in the community. vide Jefferson Academy Middle School and Amithe site until 2009. don-Bowen Elementary School students and faculCurrently, the campus is owned by GraduForming a Neighborhood ty with access to certain STC events and activities; ate School USA and is vacant. The campus is unCooperation Agreement offer discounted tuition to Southwest residents for der contract to the Shakespeare Theatre Company Less than two months after the forum, SWNA and Adult Master Acting Classes and Camp Shake(STC) who has plans to joint venture with developSTC signed a Neighborhood Cooperation Agreespeare; free tickets for Southwest residents to the er Erkiletian to build a nine-story building with apment on September 17 whereby SWNA will imAcademy of Classical Acting showcase performancproximately 155 residential units (a portion of the mediately withdraw its nomination of 501 I Street es; provide arts event programming at the Southwest units will be set aside for actors, interns and affordand in exchange, STC has committed to engage Duck Pond; advertise in The Southwester at least able housing under Inclusionary Zoning), as well as the Southwest community during the developonce a quarter for four years; make an annual conrehearsal space, a black-box theater, a costume and ment process, limit the maximum density of what tribution of up to $2,500 for five years to SW Artsset equipment fabrication shop, and the administrawill be built on the property, and provide an extenFest; and host tours of STC facilities for local schools tive headquarters for the Company. Most of STC’s sive amount of community benefits, along with payand community associations. After the development operations will be located below-grade. STC has ments to SWNA to help fund projects in the neighhas been built, additional community benefits start been looking for several years for a location to conborhood. to kick in, including: Allow the free use of assembly solidate its back-of-the-house operations, which are
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spaces/conference rooms for community meetings when they are not in use by STC; host an Open House in coordination with SW Arts Fest. As a part of this deal, SWNA will receive two cash payments of $30,000 each – the first payment after SWNA withdraws its nomination of historic status for the property and the second once the raze permit has been granted. SWNA will have unrestricted use of the funds – one potential use will be to help establish a historic district in Southwest. SWNA has been trying to build momentum for the creation of a historic district – aside from individual building landmarks, SWNA recently commissioned a study of the history of Southwest and is planning a study of mid-century modern houses of worship in the neighborhood. Although SWNA plans to withdraw its historic nomination for 501 I Street, SW, this does not mean that opposition to the project has disappeared. A number of residents in the townhomes adjacent to the proposed project are opposed to the project, partially due to infrastructure problems in the area – a sinkhole formed at the intersection of 6th and I streets, SW a few years back. However, the main reason for the opposition is the proposed building height, a “monstrosity” as one neighbor put it. The proposed building will be tallest along I Street, SW at nine stories, but will step down in height along 6th Street, SW as it gets closer to the townhomes. A shading study of the proposed building will be completed by the developers, which neighbors will closely scrutinize to see how the project will potentially cast shadows on their homes. William Rich is a blogger at Southwest…The Little Quadrant that Could (www.swtlqtc.com). u
October 2014 H 89
{community life / h street life}
H Street Life
F
estival season is drawing to a close in the District, and it’s time to settle down and enjoy the cooler temperatures. As the leaves change color, let’s take a moment to examine recent H Street NE happenings, and to look forward to Halloween.
Panorama Bakery Brings Tempting Pastries to Union Market A new bakery has set up shop in Union Market (1309 5th Street NE, http://
by Elise Bernard Le Gaulois among others. You cannot purchase their fresh breads at Union Market, but they do sell delightful pastries, viennoiseries, and cakes.
DC Dosa Offers Vegan Friendly Indian Fare for All While perusing the stalls at Union Market (1309 5th Street NE) one recent weekend, I spotted a new stall, DC Dosa. DC Dosa prepares dosas (sort of a South Indian crêpe) made with a choice of three different types Panorama Bakery has just the thing for your sweet tooth.
I sampled the petite yellow lentil dosa ($9) filled with the roasted cauliflower and peas, and finished with the onion tamarind chutney. This one fell about in the middle of the spicy range for their available options, and it pleased me without offending my dining companion with an aversion to fiery fare. The portions are of a decent size, and would certainly make a fine meal for any but the most famished. They also have seasonal lassi available.
Ben’s Chili Bowl Prepares to Open on the H Street NE Corridor Ben’s Chili Bowl (1001 H Street NE, http://benschilibowl.com) recently announced via Twitter that they would open their H Street NE loca-
Contestants battled it out during Ben’s Chili Bowl’s half-smoke eating contest
unionmarketdc.com) and they offer a wide variety of wares. Panorama Bakery (http://unionmarketdc.com/market/artisans/panorama-bakery) has previously operated only as a wholesale bakery, with the exception of bread sales at the Bloomingdale and 14th & U Street NW farmers markets. The bakery currently supplies breads to several well-regarded local restaurants and hotel chains, including Citronelle and Central, Faccia Luna, Overwood, and
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of lentil bases (four-lentil, petite yellow lentil, and whole mung lentil). All of their dosas are gluten free and vegan. Hold on carnivores, don’t let those words turn you off. These dosas are actually packed with flavor (available fillings include: curried potatoes, eggplant and sweet potatoes, cabbage and carrots), and you can top them off with your choice of three chutneys (cilantro sesame, onion tamarind, tomato peanut).
The crowd filled the streets during the H Street Festival
tion in October or November. Ben’s is a DC institution, with politicians all the way up to President Obama stopping in for one of their legendary half-smokes. At the recent H Street Festival, a large crowd gathered around a stage to watch a line of contestants stuff themselves silly with half-smokes. The new H Street space will offer a nice rooftop, as well as an open kitchen and a bar.
Nando’s Peri-Peri Headed to H Street NE Local fans of Nando’s Peri-Peri (http://www.nandosperiperi.com) are no doubt excited over news that the chain plans to open up an H Street Corridor outpost at 411-413 H Street NE. Nando’s serves up spicy (you choose exactly how spicy) Portuguese flame grilled chicken, plus a variety of sandwiches, pitas, wraps, and salads.
Nomad Hookah Lounge, Dry No Longer Recent visitors to Nomad Hookah Lounge (1200 H Street NE, https:// www.facebook.com/nomadhookah) may have noticed that the establishment offered hookahs, but had ceased serving alcoholic beverages. This was due to an internal matter that has since been resolved. The next time you have a yen for a hookah and a cocktail, Nomad’s patio is a great place to indulge yourself.
H Street Festival Draws Terrific Crowd Anyone who took part in this year’s H Street Festival, or even saw a photo of the crowds, probably suspects that it drew a record number of attendees. I haven’t seen any official numbers yet, but a lot of people are throwing around the number 125,000. Past H Street Festivals have drawn crowds of about 100,000, and I’d say that this year’s crowd looked at least that large.
Regardless of the crowd size, it was a very fun event. Along the eastern end of the Corridor artists and vendors showed off their creative side, a nice compliment to the art cars that have become a staple of the Festival. One fun feature of this year’s Festival was the marinara sauce dunk tank outside of Pizza Parts & Service (1320 H Street NE). Down on the western end of H Street NE you could find clever DC themed t-shirts and items highlighting the District’s unique neighborhoods. As always, the many dancers and musicians delighted crowds gathered around the Festival’s 14 different stages.
Halloween on H St., NE The H Street NE Corridor is always a big draw on Halloween. I expect that to be especially true this year because the holiday falls on a Friday night. Joy of Motion (1333 H Street NE) will once again host their popular Thriller workshop (tickets $25 in advance, or $30 at the door). In past years they have followed the workshop with a public performance of Thriller in the AutoZone parking lot. I am told they have yet to set a site for this year’s post-workshop performance. Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar (1104 H Street NE, and Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Road NE) always have huge Halloween parties, and the Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H Street NE) has been known to throw down as well. A source confirmed that The Queen Vic (1206 H Street NE) is finalizing plans for something creepy that evening, and I suspect other local spots will get into the game as the 31st grows closer. For more on what’s abuzz on, and around, H Street NE, you can visit my blog http://frozentropics.blogspot. com. You can send me tips or questions at elise.bernard@gmail.com. u
October 2014 H 91
{community life / barracks row}
Where Tradition Meets Transition
T
by Sharon Bosworth
he traditional 2014 Barracks Row Fall Festival on September 27 was noteworthy in one unusual metric. This year the festival had the largest registration for booths in the event’s fifteen-year history and the earliest. By mid September all festival booths sites were sold out! The festival takes place annually along 8th Street between E and I Street, SE. Closed to vehicular traffic for twelve hours, the corridor is transformed into what first appears to be a small town fair until fair goers catch on to the many urban curiosities in their midst. This year there were continuous performances by Trapeze School DC. Both a tap dancing horse and The Georgetown Chimes (a capella group) performed on stage. A daylong black-box Cook Off was held in tents on the midway where chefs from all areas of the Armed Forces competed for the trophy of Top Chef in the US Military. Belga, 514 8 St, SE, Cava, 527 8 St, SE, and matchbox, 521 8 St, SE, hosted a private beer garden in the parking lot opposite matchbox, while an accordionist strolled the many sidewalk cafes along the Row. Most Barracks Row restaurants report that Fall Festival is their best business day of the year. Several fashion trucks made their appearance joining food Chesty XIV promoted! trucks and food booths, artists, craftsmen and politicians in this election year. Twelve river-oriented organizations were grouped together under the banner We © the Anacostia River. “River Row” participants wore river critter costumes to further underscore the unique asset we have at our doorstep while actual farm critters were available at the petting zoo.
Marine Corps Gets New Commandant Every four years the United States Marine Corps, one of the largest enterprises on the Row and the one we are named for, gets a new leader. This October, General James Amos, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps will be retiring. The General and his wife, Bonnie, have lived in our neighborhood for many years. Before they moved to the Home of the Commandants in 2010, General Amos was the Assistant Commandant under Commandant General James Conway. This October we will be introduced to General Joseph Dunford, the 36th Commandant, and his wife Ellyn. General Dunford, a native of Boston, recently returned from duty as top commander in Afghanistan. Earlier this year he was nominated by President Obama to lead the Marine Corps and Congress approved his appointment in August. It had been General Dunford’s job in Afghanistan to oversee the withdrawal of US troops and to establish a retainer force of 10,000 soldiers. By all accounts, General Dunford is not only a “Marines Marine,” very popular with troops, but also a skilled administrator and negotiator. He will be taking over at a moment when the United States military is undergoing a congressionally mandated downsizing. Further, under General Dunford’s command, General Dunford, General Bailey and General women in the Marine Corps for the first time will have the opporAmos in Afghanistan
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Colonel Benjamin Watson, Base Commander, Marine Barracks Washington
tunity to choose an assignment that could get them sent to front line combat zones.
Change of Command at Marine Barracks Washington This summer another transition took place at Marine Barracks Washington. MBW is where the Home of the Commandants of the Marine Corps is located but it is also an independent military base. A new base commander, Colonel Ben Watson and his wife Janet arrived in July. The base commander job turns over every two years. Colonel Watson is taking over from Colonel Christian Cabiness who is moving to duties at the Pentagon. Colonel Watson is a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Colonel Watson hails from Syracuse, N.Y and is a graduate of Cornell University, the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting and the National War College. He is a history buff, enjoys hitting the pavement for long runs, and roots for the New England Patriots and the Boston Bruins. Colonel Watson is quick to mention that while he
is a Yankees fan he is married to a die-hard Red Sox fan. No word yet on the family’s view of the National League.
Change and Renewal – Our path to the Future The pace of change ramped up once again at MBW when Marine Corps mascot bulldog Private Chesty XIV was promoted to Corporal in a ceremony presided over by General Amos in late August. Chesty XIV’s military career has been marked by a succession of quick promotions. In 2013 his predecessor, Chesty XIII got into an incident with former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s Golden Retriever that led some to question XIII’s suitability for his role. The new Chesty has been under the watchful eye of Mrs. Amos and his trainers to make sure there are no mascot issues during the transition. It appears that transition is in our Barracks Row DNA. Through economic downturns and upticks, fires and earthquakes we’ve kept at it - always a neighborhood in transition. Our plans for future change include rehabilitating the entrance to Barracks Row at the Metro plaza between 7th and 9th on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; continuing to recruit a diverse business mix to 8th Street, SE; co-funding the Clean and Safe team which results in seven day a week coverage; and hosting many events through the year to foster discovery of the area. Join us in determining the destiny of Barracks Row. We promise there’s something new every day. Volunteer by calling 202-544-3188 or send us a message at info@barracksrow.org. u
October 2014 H 93
{community life / capital riverfront}
Nationals’ Playoff Games Return! by Michael Stevens, AICP
T
he Nationals are headed to the playoffs again after winning the National League East Division! Go Nats!! We are excited for the players, the manager and coaches, the general manager and team owners, and all of the club’s support personnel…you have done a remarkable job and we as a community and fan base we thank you! Now the “second season” of baseball begins
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with the MLB playoffs. The Nats are assured of an opening series with a best of five format, and by the time you read this the dates and the opposing team will have been decided. The Capitol Riverfront BID has always appreciated the fact that our neighborhood was selected to be the home of Nationals Park, and that the team plays 81 regular season games here. As we begin the playoffs, we want to welcome all fans back to the stadium and the neighborhood to see the games and experience the festive atmosphere that always surrounds a playoff series. For those fans attending the games, come early and enjoy our neighborhood restaurants and parks before the game or for a post game celebration. For those fans unable to get tickets and who still want to watch the games, we invite you to come to the Capitol Riverfront and view the games
in a restaurant or bar setting, and join us in Yards Park for some Nats celebration events before the first two home playoff games. As the playoff formats and dates had not been set before this article went to press, please visit our website at www. capitolriverfront.org for updates on the celebration events and times.
October 3 and 4 Festivities
The festivities will commence on Friday, October 3rd with the ultimate game viewing experience at a variety of venues in The Yards, beginning at either 12:07 pm or 3:07 pm EDT. Following the game, Nationals Park patrons and those viewing the game in The Yards are encouraged to visit Yards Park for a concert by a favorite DC band on the Yards Park boardwalk. Local craft beverages
from Bluejacket will be available for purchase along with tasty cuisine from local restaurants and food trucks. Attendees can bring a picnic to the park or grab takeout from surrounding eateries. The Natitude will continue in Yards Park on Saturday, October 4th at 3:00 pm with a pre-game concert by fan favorite Hand Painted Swinger, family-friendly activities such as face painting, and broadcasting from CBS Radio personalities with Nationals-focused commentary and interviews. Once the game begins at 5:37 pm EDT, fans without tickets can stay in The Yards to watch the game. Bluejacket beverages and food from restaurants and food trucks will also be available on Saturday. Please visit our website at www. capitolriverfront.org for updates on the celebration events. The Nationals have played hard and well for six months to get to the point of winning the National League East Division title and achieving a spot in the playoffs. They have won more than 90 games and showed great determination and perseverance. So come join us in Yards Park to celebrate this beginning of the playoffs for the Nationals in early October. The evening weather will be crisp, the lights in Nats Park will be ablaze and can be seen from many neighborhood vantage points, and you will be able to hear the roar of the crowd when the Nats play amazingly on the field. We hope that this starts a trend of playoff participation by the Nats in the Capitol Riverfront for years to come. Michael Stevens, AICP, is President of the Capitol Riverfront BID. u
BOO! WE TAKE THE FEAR OUT OF REAL ESTATE! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 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 October 2014 H 95
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{real estate}
A Road’s Future Could Reconnect Capitol Hill to its Sleeping Riverfront Jewel
W
hether the former Southeast Freeway in Capitol Hill retains its status as a freeway or evolves into an urban boulevard is not just a matter of semantics: it’s the difference between an established neighborhood and a new neighborhood being isolated from or connected to one another. When the Southeast Freeway closed as part of the 11th Street Bridge project, community groups saw the closure as an opportunity to reconnect the neighborhood wedged between the freeway and Pennsylvania Avenue to the Anacostia Riverfront--and the new real estate development planned for that area. Despite an ongoing community effort involving both the Office of Planning and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), DDOT is now planning to reopen the freeway on what the agency says is a temporary basis to allow through traffic to flow from Barney Circle to 11th Street SE. Residents and developers invested in the area are worried that temporary will become permanent and the District will miss a chance to undo the damage of a highway-obsessed era in the city’s history.
It Starts With A Boulevard DDOT closed the Southeast Freeway between Barney Circle and 11th Street, SE in 2013 to serve as a construction staging area for the 11th Street Bridge project. DDOT solicited community input on future configurations for the former freeway in early 2013 and proposed a no-build option and five alternative build-options in November of last year. The goal would be to convert the former freeway into a boulevard to handle through traffic from 17th Street and the Sousa Bridge through Barney Circle along the Southeast Boulevard to the Southeast/Southwest
by Shaun Courtney
Freeway connection at 11th Street SE. But the community took issue with many of the preconceptions behind the designs--namely that a freeway was necessary at all and that the proposals continued the road’s position as a barrier between the neighborhood and the nearby Anacostia River. The local Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6B) voted unanimously to write a letter in opposition to DDOT’s concepts. Through the intervention of Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells, DDOT paused its process to allow the Office of Planning (OP) to develop the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Project Planning Study. “The neighborhood should define the boulevard, not the boulevard define the neighborhood” says ANC Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg.
The OP study offers new options for connecting the neighborhood to M Street, SE and the Anacostia waterfront. The boulevard will still handle through traffic, but it could also be accompanied by bike and pedestrian trails, significant landscaping or even linear parks separating L Street SE from the roadway and CSX railroad tracks. Several options propose adding new residential development in the area as well. The way Oldenburg sees it, adding more residential would really just be “putting back” residential that was demolished to make way for the freeway when it was first built. Pedestrian connections to M Street as well as new residential could go a long way to connect the area north of the boulevard to the area south of the boulevard--roughly bounded by 11th, M and Water
October 2014 H 97
{real estate}
Streets SE--where another transRendering of 1333 M Street SE formational development is in the works. There Cohen Siegel Investors propose a mixed-use project of high-rise residential at 1333 M St. SE with significant landscape architecture along Water Street to connect their new development to the Anacostia River. Tammy Shoham, vice president of economic development and research for the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID), says the BID wants a boulevard to provide critical east-west connectivity to future residents and businesses; they also want to make sure the boulewith OP are “vast improvements” over DDOT’s inivard is not a barrier to M Street tial proposals--what Flahaven describes as “essentialand the riverfront. ly replacing a freeway with a freeway.” Oldenburg notes that adding residential in the The ANC along with OP and DDOT recently new boulevard design would likely benefit the M narrowed to three their preferred concepts for how to Street project, a sentiment developer Eric Siegel of program the SE boulevard area: two include a mixCohen Siegel Investors shares. Siegel says the best ture of green space and development and one that choice is one that maximizes density with the reis dedicated to a central park of entirely green space. maining land after accounting for the space needed for a boulevard. Creating a New Waterfront Neighborhood “There’s a lot of work to be done on that freeCohen Siegel Investors has three acres of land beway there to create an urban boulevard and the only tween the proposed boulevard and the Anacostia way they’re going to pay for it is if they generate some River. Save for a pair of office buildings at Marireal estate property,” says Siegel. time Plaza, the historic boathouses along the river The BID agrees, questioning the logic of addand construction equipment staging areas, the land ing new parks in the remaining area, especially is largely undeveloped. since the Anacostia River waterfront is just three “Right now, it’s really wasted land,” says Shoblocks away. ham. She compares this area--the easternmost part “If you want to invest funds in a park, invest in of the BID’s territory--to what the award-winning the riverfront where the city has already expressed Yards Park was 10 years ago. its commitment to building a world class, intercon“It could be completely transformed,” nected system of open parks and open spaces and she believes. trails,” says Shoham, referring to the goals of the AnThat’s the plan if you ask Siegel. The develacostia Waterfront Initiative. opers filed their planned unit development paperOldenburg for her part says she understands work in August and will appear before the Zoning Siegel and the BID’s perspectives. While she has Commission in December for a phased proposal her own personal reservations about moving forward to eventually bring as many as 673 residential units with a concept that is exclusively park land--rather and more than 10,000 square feet of retail to M than one that mixes green space and real estate deStreet. Their Zoning application operates under the velopment-- Oldenburg says she is waiting to see assumption that the boulevard and its connections what happens in the next step as OP fleshes out the do not exist, though they would be factored into futhree remaining concepts. ture phases of the large project should the concepts ANC 6B Chair Brian Flahaven says all of the become a reality. concepts achieved through community discussion
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“We are creating a neighborhood,” says Siegel. Their designs connect their new high-rise buildings to the waterfront, proposing a plaza with a grand staircase that draws people down to the river. Siegel says his company is talking with the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association and the government groups working on the Anacostia River Trail to make sure the project creates a community gathering place at the water. “Right now it’s a sleeping jewel” he says about the riverfront and the surrounding area. “It’s just a question of getting people down there and quite frankly making people understand that something is there that’s worth seeing.”
Can We Get There From Here? The transformation that is possible is just that--a possibility and one with potential pitfalls. One of the biggest potential obstacles is that DDOT is planning to repave the old freeway and reopen it for commuters, but only temporarily according to the agency. Flahaven has been leading the community effort to oppose DDOT’s temporary reopening for a variety of reasons. “From my perspective it’s a total waste of money” says Flahaven. DDOT has said it secured $6 million from the funds set aside for the 11th Street Bridge project to repave the freeway and have it reopened by year’s end. Flahaven would rather see the District pause its efforts and deal with traffic concerns for a bit longer. “We’re not taking away the connection forever. There will be a connection when we bring it back, but it needs to be a more neighborhood friendly connection” says Flahaven. The nearby community is also fretting that a reopened freeway will take away DDOT’s incentive to complete the boulevard project and to secure the funding necessary to make it a reality. Another hitch to the realization of the boulevard connecting the existing northern neighborhood with the waterfront and new neighborhood proposed to the south is the District’s right of way (ROW) agreement with the federal government for
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the southeast freeway. Federal limitations restrict the use of the ROW to transportation purposes and possibly “ancillary recreational/open space uses,” according to Dan Emerine, a transportation planner at OP working on the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Project Planning Study. “Any use of the ROW for residential or commercial purposes would require DDOT to engage in a land disposition process, and reimburse the federal government for the value of any portion of the ROW that was disposed of. DDOT recently went through a similar exercise with the air rights over a portion of I-395 for the Capitol Crossing project downtown,” explains Emerine. Siegel says the District should lay out the boulevard to match whatever concept is ultimately selected and plat out the areas where future development could happen pending a land disposition agreement with FHWA. “Anything that we do that’s not a road is going to mean we have to engage other partners,” says Oldenburg. But that does not mean the road portion of the boulevard cannot be constructed and quickly, she adds. Neighbors, developers, and business and community organizations all see significant potential and possibility in the area, but it will take time and may require a change of heart from DDOT. Shaun Courtney is the cofounder and editor-in-chief of District Source, a D.C. real estate and neighborhood news blog, co-founded and supported by Lindsay Reishman Real Estate. Shaun has been a local reporter in D.C. since 2009 and has called the city home since 2002. She currently lives in Kingman Park. Read more from District Source at: http://districtsource.com ◆
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(202) 415-2117 (202) 944-8400 DC.DC@LongandFoster.com www.yourneighboronthehill.com October 2014 H 99
{real estate / changing hands}
Changing Hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.
NEIGHBORHOOD
CLOSE PRICE BR
FEE SIMPLE 16TH STREET HEIGHTS 1347 MONTAGUE ST NW 6409 16TH ST NW 1621 MONTAGUE ST NW 4512 IOWA AVE NW 1423 DECATUR ST NW 1351 KENNEDY ST NW 1208 MADISON ST NW 4511 IOWA AVE NW
ADAMS MORGAN 1719 LANIER PL NW
$865,000 $850,000 $799,000 $705,000 $701,423 $625,500 $595,000 $512,850
4 4 4 6 5 4 3 3
$895,000
4
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4624 CHESAPEAKE ST NW 4954 BRANDYWINE ST NW 4477 SEDGWICK ST NW
ANACOSTIA
2010 14TH ST SE 1408 RIDGE PL SE 1228 U ST SE 2020 14TH ST SE 1431 19TH ST SE 1533 U ST SE
BERKLEY
4815 DEXTER ST NW
BRENTWOOD 2226 13TH ST NE 2261 16TH ST NE
BRIGHTWOOD
411 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 5728 3RD ST NW 5706 4TH ST NW 7457 7TH ST NW 806 FLORAL PL NW 522 TUCKERMAN ST NW 1321 WHITTIER PL NW 324 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 810 UNDERWOOD ST NW 5918 4TH ST NW 530 QUINTANA PL NW 6019 7TH PL NW
BROOKLAND
2822 CHANCELLOR’S WAY NE 37 GIRARD ST NE 26 EVARTS ST NE 1617 NEWTON ST NE 4325 20TH ST NE 3121 7TH ST NE 13481350 LAWRENCE ST NE 1351 FRANKLIN ST NE 4413 13TH ST NE
100 H Hillrag.com
$1,300,000 $1,225,000 $875,000
5 4 3
$377,000 $290,000 $200,000 $184,250 $150,000 $149,500
3 3 3 4 2 3
$4,005,000
7
$420,000 $252,500
3 3
$675,000 $650,000 $630,000 $480,000 $470,000 $448,000 $410,000 $385,000 $379,900 $379,000 $330,000 $320,000
5 4 4 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
$780,340 $708,350 $699,900 $657,000 $615,000 $595,000 $592,000 $555,000 $495,000
3 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 3
FALL INTO
T H E S E G R E AT H I L L H O M E S !
2703 NORTH CAPITOL ST NE 4748 6TH PL NE 432 EVARTS ST NE
$410,000 $399,500 $350,000
3 3 4
BURLEITH 1931 38TH ST NW
$1,319,000
CAPITOL HILL 541 7TH ST SE 628 A ST SE 326 A ST SE 1016 C ST SE 108 7TH ST SE 609 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NE 550 7TH ST SE 331 11TH ST NE 205 3RD ST SE 530 9TH ST NE 741 10TH ST SE 816 G ST SE 832 5TH ST NE 36 18TH ST SE 418 SOUTH CAPITOL ST SE 442 KENTUCKY AVE SE 412 16TH ST SE 644 E ST SE 313 14TH ST NE 1435 AMES PL NE 226 15TH ST NE 1305 C ST NE 1352 L ST SE 1915 C ST NE 1539 C ST SE 25 16TH ST NE
$2,300,000 $1,426,150 $1,253,260 $1,140,000 $1,085,000 $1,075,000 $890,000 $875,000 $870,000 $850,000 $815,000 $802,000 $799,000 $781,000 $779,000 $729,000 $709,000 $705,000 $704,055 $699,000 $625,000 $590,000 $549,500 $460,000 $399,900 $399,000
CHANCELLOR’S ROW 553 REGENT PL NE
$795,000
CHEVY CHASE 2601 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 3711 CUMBERLAND ST NW 2765 UNICORN LN NW 3731 HARRISON ST NW 3343 LEGATION ST NW 3335 MILITARY RD NW 4116 LEGATION ST NW 3391 STUYVESANT PL NW 3275 VAN HAZEN ST NW 3707 HUNTINGTON ST NW 3637 INGOMAR PL NW 4925 41ST ST NW 5700 CHEVY CHASE PKWY NW 2975 MCKINLEY ST NW
$1,350,000 $1,280,000 $1,050,000 $951,000 $912,750 $850,000 $849,000 $822,000 $785,000 $785,000 $760,000 $755,000 $740,000 $681,379
4 5 3 3 4 3 4 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2
$607,000 $428,500
CLEVELAND PARK 3312 35TH ST NW 3238 RODMAN ST NW 2934 PORTER ST NW
$1,785,000 $1,062,500 $1,050,000
COLONIAL VILLAGE 2254 SUDBURY RD NW
$790,000
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 824 OTIS PL NW 1030 PARK RD NW 3516 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 1019 COLUMBIA RD NW 811 EUCLID ST NW 1406 MERIDIAN PL NW
$830,000 $820,000 $807,250 $755,000 $729,000 $685,000
431 15th Street SE $725,000 2BR/2.5BA
E BL A IL W! A AV NO
Immaculate Victorian Bayfront w wide open main level, KNOCK-OUT kitchen of cherry, granite and steel w 3 bright windows PLUS tremendous counter prep and cabinet storage space! Upstairs sky-lit den with Master Suite overlooking rear gardens and patio. In the front WIDE bay-front BR and guest bath. New roof and new MB in 2013. E BL A IL W! A AV NO
1126 Constitution Ave NE $775,000 3BR/2.5BA
708 8th Street NE $699,000 3BR/1.5BA Beautifully renovated with 3 HUGE bedrooms and well preserved historic features throughout! PLUS reclaimed heartpine floors, new high efficiency windows, systems, plumbing and kitchen in 2013. Private patio in rear with side entrance to a lower level with raw potential for workshop, den, office, guest quarters or separate living unit!
E BL A IL W! A AV NO
Victorian featuring prominent portico over front entrance, wide open foyer with setback stairs, deep interior dimensions, and spacious kitchen. Upstairs, sky-lit hall takes to you two bedrooms and bath PLUS bright master with 4 windows, wall of built-ins and en suite bath. In the rear, immaculate brick patio with private parking!
1620 G Street SE $685,000 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA colonial porch front across 3 levels, renovated in 2011 w restored heart pine floors and exposed brick accent walls flow throughout. Central kitchen w island of stone and steel, outdoor deck off dining, media room, wet bar, office nook, & 1BR/1BA in lower level. Steps from Congressional Cemetery, Metro and Potomac Ave shops!
3 4 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 4 3
CHILLUM 22 NICHOLSON ST NW 221 PEABODY ST NW
!5 LD O S
YS DA
E BL A IL W! A AV NO
137 North Carolina Ave SE $1,390,000 4BR/3.5BA Rarely available UNPARALLELED LOCATION on the intimate tree-lined avenue of ornate historic facades nestled steps from prized parks and Capitol grounds, plus METRO and more. Grand Romanesque Revival towers up 3 levels w/ dramatic kitchen, open main level, 3 beds + den and 3.5 baths. DEEP lot w large front gardens and rear patio plus parking for 2
E BL A IL W! A AV NO
1328 Maryland Ave NE #2 $510,000 2BR/1.5BA First-Floor, 2BR/1.5BA Condo at the Capitol View w/soaring ceilings and wide open living area, southeastern sun-filled bay, a true chef’s kitchen of steel, stone and maple with Wolf range and commercial vent-a-hood. Luxury dual shower, built-in book cases, laundry center, PLUS Gated Secured tandem Parking for two!
3 2 6 4 2 4 5 3 4 4 3 4
October 2014 H 101
3622 13TH ST NW 782 LAMONT ST NW 443 NEWTON PL NW 520 LAMONT ST NW 644 MORTON ST NW 447 IRVING ST NW 511 COLUMBIA RD NW 1506 SPRING PL NW 744 LAMONT ST NW 753 HOBART PL NW 3543 WARDER ST NW 538 NEWTON PL NW 615 GRESHAM PL NW 931 BLAKNEY LN SE 56 BRANDYWINE ST SW 710 CONGRESS ST SE 921 BARNABY ST SE 3806 2ND ST SE 843 XENIA ST SE
$661,000 $555,000 $500,000 $491,000 $485,000 $480,000 $480,000 $470,000 $399,999 $390,700 $375,000 $300,000 $300,000 $280,000 $275,000 $234,000 $230,000 $166,000 $124,800
CRESTWOOD 4348 BLAGDEN AVE NW 4617 BLAGDEN AVE NW
$925,000 $700,000
DEANWOOD 4939 NASH ST NE 5578 JAY ST NE 5580 JAY ST NE 1016 48TH ST NE 549 47TH ST NE 4903 FITCH PL NE 4531 DIX ST NE 203 63RD ST NE 4931 FITCH PL NE 3912 EAST CAPITOL ST NE 821 49TH ST NE 5533 JAY ST NE
$332,500 $325,000 $325,000 $285,000 $263,000 $235,000 $229,000 $224,888 $195,000 $192,100 $133,200 $120,000
3 2 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 2 2 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2
4423 Q ST NW 4415 GREENWICH PKWY NW
$749,900 $735,000
GARFIELD 2905 28TH ST NW
$1,160,000
GEORGETOWN 3043 P ST NW 1319 30TH ST NW 3325 N ST NW 3040 Q ST NW 1218 29TH ST NW 3217 RESERVOIR RD NW 1725 34TH ST NW
$4,000,000 $2,610,000 $2,436,150 $1,950,000 $1,250,000 $1,200,000 $856,000
GLOVER PARK 3806 BENTON ST NW
$749,000
HILL CREST 1408 30TH ST SE 3317 GAINESVILLE ST SE 3301 ALABAMA AVE SE 3653 ALABAMA AVE SE
$485,000 $417,000 $380,000 $345,000
HILL EAST 1700 D ST SE
$780,000
KALORAMA 2230 Q ST NW 2208 Q ST NW
$2,200,000 $1,600,000
4926 ESKRIDGE TER NW
$1,175,000
KINGMAN PARK 320 16TH ST NE
$782,000
LEDROIT PARK
ECKINGTON
LILY PONDS
1910 2ND ST NE 130 R ST NE 1929 1ST ST NE 220 RANDOLPH PL NE
$2,390,000 $1,250,000 $1,150,000 $747,000 $650,000 $540,000 $370,000
FOGGY BOTTOM 2 SNOWS CT NW
$675,000
FOREST HILLS 3225 ELLICOTT ST NW 4550 BROAD BRANCH RD NW 4015 28TH PL NW 2329 PORTER ST NW 2813 ALBEMARLE ST NW
$3,600,000 $1,940,000 $1,926,380 $1,550,000 $1,470,000
FORT DUPONT PARK 3908 Q ST SE 1647 FORT DAVIS PL SE 1830 41ST PL SE 829 HILLTOP TER SE 1536 FORT DAVIS ST SE 4316 E ST SE 4355 F ST SE 737 HILLTOP TER SE
$313,735 $250,000 $230,000 $175,000 $174,000 $159,999 $152,500 $140,000
2 5 6 4 3 3 3 2 5 6 4 5 6 3 3 3 4 3 2 2 2
FOXHALL 4449 VOLTA PL NW 1421 FOXHALL RD NW 4432 RESERVOIR RD NW
102 H Hillrag.com
$835,000 $825,000 $795,000
2 3 3
3 6 6 4 5 3 2 3 4 5 3 3 3 3 3 6
KENT
DUPONT 1732 S ST NW 2024 15TH ST NW 1763 U ST NW
3 3
5 V ST NW 35 ADAMS ST NW 2012 2ND ST NW 1224 44TH ST NE 243 33RD ST NE
$820,000 $775,000 $430,900 $308,897 $274,725
LOGAN CIRCLE 2102 12TH ST NW 1215 T ST NW
$925,000 $1,160,000
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5201 C ST SE 5131 D ST SE
$316,000 $305,000
MICHIGAN PARK 4849 16TH ST NE 1628 BUCHANAN ST NE 4108 20TH ST NE
$449,900 $424,000 $358,000
MOUNT PLEASANT 1701 HOBART ST NW 1851 NEWTON ST NW 1804 LAMONT ST NW 1802 KILBOURNE PL NW 2920 18TH ST NW 3227 WALBRIDGE PL NW 2910 18TH ST NW 1927 LAMONT ST NW 1753 HARVARD ST NW
$1,212,000 $1,175,000 $970,000 $939,000 $910,000 $820,000 $800,000 $760,000 $729,000
NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3415 RODMAN ST NW
$1,010,000
4 4
4403 38TH ST NW 3615 UPTON ST NW 4429 35TH ST NW
$890,000 $855,000 $745,000
3 3 3
OLD CITY #1 139 13TH ST NE 1377 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 524 7TH ST NE 1009 9TH ST NE 412 7TH ST NE 445 15TH ST NE 1436 D ST NE 1815 EAST CAPITOL ST SE 714 4TH ST NE 1328 G ST NE 245 17TH ST SE 725 10TH ST NE 1313 D ST NE 919 POTOMAC AVE SE 31 17TH ST SE 649 20TH ST NE 1680 KRAMER ST NE 1429 IVES PL SE 522 21ST ST NE
$1,175,000 $1,050,000 $995,000 $930,000 $730,000 $724,000 $695,000 $679,500 $665,000 $636,300 $630,000 $550,000 $465,000 $435,000 $416,000 $410,900 $375,000 $350,000 $350,000
OLD CITY #2
1310 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 1527 S ST NW 1514 8TH ST NW 20 Q ST NW 1917 9 1/2 ST NW 10 N ST NW 56 BATES ST NW 1427 NEW JERSEY AVE NW 1421 1ST ST NW 64 K ST NW
$2,435,000 $1,350,000 $1,050,000 $750,000 $632,000 $567,000 $554,064 $495,000 $405,000 $380,000
4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 5 4 11 5 3 3 2 2 2 3
PALISADES 4 4 3 4 3 4 2 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 3
1405 RIDGEVIEW WAY NW 5510 MACARTHUR BLVD NW 4539 WESTHALL DR NW 4914 ASHBY ST NW
$1,500,000 $1,265,000 $1,200,000 $1,123,400
PETWORTH 311 VARNUM ST NW 3928 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 607 DECATUR ST NW 906 ALLISON ST NW 129 VARNUM ST NW 5509 4TH ST NW 4914 ILLINOIS AVE NW 607 DELAFIELD PL NW 415 VARNUM ST NW 5504 8TH ST NW 4615 9TH ST NW 832 DELAFIELD PL NW 904 DELAFIELD PL NW 1241 SHEPHERD ST NW
$780,000 $725,000 $680,000 $650,000 $625,000 $609,000 $580,000 $565,000 $557,000 $525,000 $490,000 $355,000 $300,000 $505,000
PHILLIPS PARK 4410 MEADOW RD NW
$3,695,000
RANDLE HEIGHTS 2419 MINNESOTA AVE SE 1816 U PL SE 3487 23RD ST SE 1915 TRENTON PL SE 1917 T PL SE 1516 23RD ST SE
$400,000 $310,000 $280,000 $265,000 $171,500 $110,000
RIGGS PARK 4
5046 12TH ST NE 517 INGRAHAM ST NE
$392,000 $375,000
4 5 3 6 4 4 4 3 5 4 3 3 5 3 3 3 4 3 5 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3
New Price Fort Washington 7103 Sunnyside Ln 5049 10TH ST NE #5049 5001 12TH ST NE 4956 12TH ST NE 618 KENNEDY ST NE 608 ONEIDA ST NE 5217 CHILLUM PL NE 701 HAMILTON ST NE 755 NICHOLSON ST NE
RLA (SW)
608 6TH PL SW
SHAW
1512 8TH ST NW 1614 NEW JERSEY AVE NW
SHEPHERD PARK 7529 16TH ST NW 1219 FLORAL ST NW 7810 14TH ST NW 1305 FLORAL ST NW 7911 13TH ST NW
SPRING VALLEY 4849 UPTON ST NW 4215 49TH ST NW 4612 SEDGWICK ST NW
SW WATERFRONT 823 6TH ST SW
TAKOMA PARK
107 SHERIDAN ST NE 6551 NORTH CAPITOL ST NE
TRINIDAD
1740 L ST NE 1266 OATES ST NE 1734 L ST NE 1921 M ST NE 1648 L ST NE 1636 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1637 LANG PL NE
$360,000 $356,000 $334,750 $330,000 $300,000 $300,000 $289,000 $231,300
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
$735,000
3
$1,292,500 $680,000
4 3
$1,150,000 $710,000 $700,000 $621,305 $527,911
4 3 4 3 3
$1,330,000 $1,005,000 $930,000
4 3 4
$775,000
4
$315,000 $315,000
3 3
$479,000 $430,000 $427,500 $420,000 $364,950 $305,000 $191,000
3 4 2 8 2 3 2
VILLAGES AT DAKOTA CROSSING 3605 HANSBERRY CT NE 3805 HANSBERRY CT NE
WOODLEY
2825 31ST ST NW
WOODRIDGE
2240 EVARTS ST NE 2900 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 3805 22ND ST NE 1920 KEARNY ST NE 2844 VISTA ST NE 3810 EASTERN AVE NE 2805 MYRTLE AVE NE 2810 NEWTON ST NE 2614 22ND ST NE 3112 CHESTNUT ST NE 3116 ELM ST NE
$520,240 $505,000
3 3
$1,425,000
4
$570,000 $557,000 $449,995 $395,000 $375,000 $353,000 $349,000 $320,000 $305,900 $305,000 $251,000
4 20 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
2351 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #C-2 2328 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #316
Randle Heights 2402 24th St SE
Three big bedrooms, two living areas, large kitchen, separate dining room, garage.
Silver Spring 10238 Capitol View Ave
Three bedrooms including main floor master, wood floors, family room addition, off street parking for 4+ cars
Licensed in DC, MD & VA
UYERS. SERVING BSELLERS. SERVING OUR COMMUNIT Y. SERVINGroud Sponsor of Hilloween P
Jackie VonSchlegel 202.255.2537 Mark Spiker 202.341.9880
jackie@jackiev.com
CONDO ADAMS MORGAN
Private 他 acre setting. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. Two car garage, wood floors, two fireplaces
$874,900 $840,000
2 2
202-547-5088 Licensed in DC, VA, MD & FL
October 2014 H 103
2410 17TH ST NW #302 1676 BEEKMAN PL NW #A 2633 ADAMS MILL RD NW #305 2357 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #101
$790,000 $740,000 $538,500 $499,900
2 2 2 2
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4335 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #4335 $622,500 4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #334 $482,000
ANACOSTIA 1332 TALBERT CT SE #A
$370,000
BARRY FARMS 2619 DOUGLASS RD SE #203
$193,900
BLOOMINGDALE 11 S ST NW #2 11 S ST NW #1
$690,000 $597,000
BROOKLAND 1210 PERRY ST NE #303 421 EVARTS ST NE #2 2824 12TH ST NE #105 315 EVARTS ST NE #109 2615 4TH ST NE #B-2 1029 PERRY ST NE #1 1029 PERRY ST NE #103
$335,000 $280,000 $216,200 $210,000 $185,000 $179,878 $150,317
CAPITOL HILL 811 8TH ST NE #1 1526 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE #1 649 C ST SE #104 1431 A ST NE #1431 333 2ND ST NE #106B
$650,000 $610,000 $422,500 $369,500 $260,000
CAPITOL RIVERFRONT 1025 1ST ST SE #409
$545,000
CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS 3901 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #213
$319,500
2 1 3 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 3 1 1 1 1 2
CENTRAL 2425 L ST NW #837 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1103 1409 21ST ST NW #1B 616 E ST NW #812 616 E ST NW #1122 2201 L ST NW #501 915 E ST NW #1111 701 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1012 777 7TH ST NW #602 1260 21ST ST NW #412
$925,000 $599,000 $554,000 $465,000 $442,000 $417,500 $407,500 $323,000 $286,000 $200,000
CHEVY CHASE 4301 MILITARY RD NW #PH07 4301 MILITARY RD NW #303 5402 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #501
$1,475,000 $934,000 $315,000
CHINATOWN 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #602
$277,500
CLEVELAND PARK 3670 38TH ST NW #252 2711 ORDWAY ST NW #211 3629 38TH ST NW #301 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #A309 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #439 3616 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #307 3611 38TH ST NW #205 2710 MACOMB ST NW #408
104 H Hillrag.com
$450,000 $390,000 $345,000 $343,000 $304,200 $295,000 $218,000 $210,000
2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 1
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1476 HARVARD ST NW 3552 13TH ST NW #2 730 GIRARD ST NW #2 1451 BELMONT ST NW #316 1129 COLUMBIA RD NW #2 2750 14TH ST NW #508 1461 GIRARD ST NW #201 1354 EUCLID ST NW #B-402 751 FAIRMONT ST NW #3 3577 WARDER ST NW #102 1454 EUCLID ST NW #6 3500 13TH ST NW #409 610 IRVING ST NW #201 2535 13TH ST NW #104 1464 HARVARD ST NW #2 1390 KENYON ST NW #404 907 EUCLID ST NW #204 1417 NEWTON ST NW #306 1417 NEWTON ST NW #401 1457 PARK RD NW #502 3511 13TH ST NW #104 1401 COLUMBIA RD NW #306 1401 COLUMBIA RD NW #203 3500 13TH ST NW #107 3534 10TH ST NW #340 4120 14TH ST NW #44 1457 PARK RD NW #405
$875,000 $792,000 $630,000 $625,000 $583,500 $522,000 $517,150 $489,000 $475,000 $475,000 $465,000 $420,000 $399,000 $399,000 $375,500 $375,000 $349,000 $345,000 $340,000 $330,000 $324,900 $322,500 $318,000 $300,000 $249,000 $150,000 $112,000
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3423 5TH ST SE #44
$45,000
DEANWOOD 4915 N. HELEN BURROUGHS AVE NE #B02 $60,000
DOWNTOWN 1150 K ST NW #702
$541,000
DUPONT CIRCLE 1531 P ST NW #6 1833 S ST NW #B1 1821 16TH ST NW #106 1833 S ST NW #32 1717 P ST NW #E AND E1 1817 RIGGS PL NW #3 1603 16TH ST NW #5 1813 19TH ST NW #C 1416 21ST ST NW #301 1325 18TH ST NW #R-1002 1754 CORCORAN ST NW #48R 1620 CORCORAN ST NW #A 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #225 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #525 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #31
$497,000 $332,500 $319,000 $299,000 $1,435,000 $1,295,000 $1,125,000 $900,000 $895,000 $430,000 $410,000 $399,500 $399,000 $275,000 $60,000
ECKINGTON 36 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE #2
$575,000
FOGGY BOTTOM 0
3 WASHINGTON CIR NW #901
$650,000
FOREST HILLS 2 1 1 2 1 1 0 0
3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #202 2755 ORDWAY ST NW #208 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #108 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #540 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #708
$387,000 $349,900 $320,000 $285,000 $250,000
FORT LINCOLN 3332 BANNEKER DR NE #3332 3234 BANNEKER DR NE #3234
$220,000 $215,000
3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1
GEORGETOWN 3303 WATER ST NW #E-7 1080 WISCONSIN AVE NW #2001 3252 GRACE ST NW #3252 2500 Q ST NW #538
GLOVER PARK 2325 42ND ST NW #309 4000 TUNLAW RD NW #407 4000 TUNLAW RD NW #1027 2143 SUITLAND TER SE #301
1 2 1 1 3 3 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #326
2 1 1 1 1 1 2 3
$407,000
KALORAMA 2225 CALIFORNIA ST NW #301 2013 KALORAMA RD NW #6 1807 CALIFORNIA ST NW #103 1840 VERNON ST NW #307 1812 VERNON ST NW #41 1840 CALIFORNIA ST NW #16A 1827 FLORIDA AVE NW #303 2127 CALIFORNIA ST NW #301 1825 FLORIDA AVE NW #10 2032 BELMONT RD NW #624 2410 20TH ST NW #311
$1,120,000 $652,500 $532,500 $475,000 $447,000 $415,000 $349,900 $348,000 $280,000 $277,000 $218,300
LETTERMAN HOUSE
$370,000
LILY PONDS
$189,900
2 2 2 0 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 3
LOGAN 1401 Q ST NW #603 1444 CHURCH ST NW #702 1215 N ST NW #7 1408 Q ST NW #21 1408 Q ST NW #23 1245 13TH ST NW #106 1133 14TH ST NW #602 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #103 1239 VERMONT AVE NW #404 1401 Q ST NW #605 1325 13TH ST NW #301 1226 11TH ST NW #200 1437 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #401 1440 N ST NW #406 1117 10TH ST NW #205
$1,500,000 $949,900 $754,000 $750,110 $726,000 $465,000 $450,000 $369,000 $335,000 $1,675,000 $671,500 $580,000 $560,000 $340,000 $311,000
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4810 C ST SE #102
3
$75,000
HILL EAST
3725 CASSELL PL NE 2
$377,500 $340,000 $285,000
HILL CREST
2030 F ST NW #901 1
$2,400,000 $690,000 $620,000 $267,400
$55,500
MOUNT PLEASANT 1652 BEEKMAN PL NW #A 1879 MONROE ST NW 1656 EUCLID ST NW #2 1673 PARK RD NW #302 1673 PARK RD NW #503 1608 BELMONT ST NW #E 1708 NEWTON ST NW #305 1855 CALVERT ST NW #105 3314 MOUNT PLEASANT ST NW #32 1673 PARK RD NW #506 1750 HARVARD ST NW #6C 2630 ADAMS MILL RD NW #308 3510 16TH ST NW #103 2440 16TH ST NW #416 3314 MOUNT PLEASANT ST NW #1
$625,000 $570,000 $559,500 $459,555 $433,000 $425,000 $415,000 $390,000 $341,000 $334,000 $324,500 $320,000 $307,000 $255,000 $219,500
2 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 2 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
Here Is What My Clients Are Saying...
HOMES THAT SHOW BETTER SELL BETTER WITH D OL
S
Dare eliminated a great deal of stress through her knowledge, preparation, and communication. MT VERNON SQUARE
301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #706 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #712
NAVY YARD
1025 1ST ST SE #912
OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 2828 WISCONSIN AVE NW #508
OLD CITY #1
618 L ST NE #1 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #533 1025 1ST ST SE #605 1479 A ST NE #1479 920 15TH ST SE #D 326 8TH ST NE #302 233 KENTUCKY AVE SE #2 2 17TH ST SE #104 1815 A ST SE #202
OLD CITY #2
1515 15TH ST NW #712 301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #403 1402 SWANN ST NW #8 1724 17TH ST NW #73 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1103 1724 17TH ST NW #81 1901 19TH ST NW #402 811 4TH ST NW #804 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #216 910 M ST NW #704 1718 CORCORAN ST NW #41 1800 R ST NW #803 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #605 475 K ST NW #1118 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #719 1830 17TH ST NW #701 1624 U ST NW #303 1300 N ST NW #811 1225 13TH ST NW #508 1545 18TH ST NW #213 440 L ST NW #114 1239 VERMONT AVE NW #1008 424 RIDGE ST NW #3 1931 17TH ST NW #405 1117 10TH ST NW #607 424 RIDGE ST NW #2 1727 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #412 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #P51 1212 M ST NW #301
PENN QUARTER 777 7TH ST NW #822 616 E ST NW #809 915 E ST NW #807 631 D ST NW #1138
PETWORTH
610 NEWTON PL NW #3
RANDLE HEIGHTS 3105 NAYLOR RD SE #202
$385,000 $420,000
1 1
$574,900
2
$825,000
3
$685,000 $682,000 $605,000 $563,000 $499,000 $372,000 $319,000 $249,000 $240,000
3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
$1,120,000 $730,000 $714,500 $600,000 $590,000 $580,000 $565,000 $564,000 $550,000 $501,100 $499,000 $475,000 $465,000 $462,000 $445,500 $410,000 $399,998 $399,900 $395,000 $385,000 $380,000 $359,000 $325,000 $324,900 $305,000 $282,000 $240,000 $43,000 $399,000
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 1
$460,000 $407,500 $400,000 $332,000
1 1 1 0
$510,000
2
$60,000
2
RESIDENCES AT CITYCENTER 920 I ST NW #1004 925 H ST NW #414
RLA (SW)
472 M ST SW #2 266 G ST SW #104 851 3RD ST SW #101 800 4TH ST SW #S-101
$700,550 $607,000
1 1
$630,000 $629,000 $469,000 $350,000
2 2 3 1
Realtor, Coldwell Banker Residential
Check out my blog for a weekly Capitol Hill open house update.
RealEstateOnTheHill.com
5-Star Premier agent
FOR SALE 3-level Historic Cap Hill classic brick Row-house with original woodwork, and HWF’s ~ Beautifully maintained ~ 3BR/ 2.5 BA ~ front porch ~ Finished basement Front and Rear Entrance ~ Walking distance to Eastern Market, H Street Corridor and the US Capitol. Bring all offers!! Shown by appt. only - $650,000
Call Donna Burriss 202-398-2979 or 301-785-4119
Capitol Hill – 609 Massachusetts Avenue NE: 4BR 3Bath Victorian Grand Dame with deep front yard just steps from Stanton Park with a high walk score and close to metro, shopping, schools, coffee and endless eats. 3 Sep electric meters allow for possible condo conversion and/or multi unit. Sep English bsmt provides rental income potential. True beauty in the brick detailing, original wood floors, moldings, double panel entry door, & 3 fireplaces. Sold for $1,075,000
D
L SO
View Our Marketing Online at www.JTPowell.com
202.957.2947
605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE office: 202.547.3525
Capitol Hill - 1639 Potomac Avenue SE: Renovated 2BR 1.5Bath Federal only 3 bks to metro, Harris Teeter w/ high Walk Score, Excellent Transit” score, 6 bks to Eastern Market. Stainless & granite kitchen w/ 42’ cabinets, gas stove, open island for entertaining & super counter space. Enjoy a main level half bath, fireplace, plantation shutters, skylight, attic storage. Sold for $560,000 Capitol Hill - 634 Morton Place NE: 3BR 2.5bath recently renovated Federal w/ sep dining room, main level half bath, new chef’s granite & stainless kitchen w/ sweeping counters & grand cabinets space, updated systems, replacement windows, & recessed lighting, hard wood floors, rear deck off master bedroom, secure off street parking, new roof in 2013, all located just blocks to Metro, H Street shopping & Union Market. $585,000
Testimonial provided by my clients’ reviews on Zillow See more at: Zillow.com/profile/TopherAndDare
DARE JOHNSON WENZLER
JT POWELL!
the lights are much brighter here...
JT Powell – Coldwell Banker 1606 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-465-2357 Direct 202-478-0347 Fax info@JTPowell.com 202-387-6180 Broker
Stately Waterfront Colonial
Charles County, MD
Enjoy 7000+ sqft of grand waterfront living on 5.72 acres. This stately 6 BR, 5.5 BA Colonial is just 1 ½ hours south of Washington D.C. and is perfect for year-round entertaining! Whether you’re taking in expansive views of the Wicomico by boat, fitting in some R&R by the pool or late night stargazing on your private pier, you won’t be disappointed! And when it gets too cold for autumn bonfires, come inside and warm up by any of the 4 fireplaces and watch the snow fall from your balcony. From the dramatic dual staircase to the generous walk-in closet of the main floor master suite, this property has everything imaginable. Priced as-is for a quick- sale, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by! $999,000 for sale / $4,000 for rent #CH8432739
Bonnie Baldus Grier Broker bonniegrier@gmail.com
301.807.1400
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Advertising Special for Non-Profits, CFC & Charitable Giving October, November, December 2014
To place your order, Call Your Sales Rep at
240 M ST SW #E201 350 G ST SW #N-620 1425 4TH ST SW #A213 700 7TH ST SW #418 800 4TH ST SW #N-805
SHAW
1605 7TH ST NW #2 1719 5TH ST NW #B 1512 MARION ST NW #305
TRINIDAD
1227 MORSE ST NE #2 1245 18TH ST NE #1
U STREET CORRIDOR 1815 6TH ST NW #2 2120 VERMONT AVE NW #414
202.543.8300
WAKEFIELD
Carolina x12 • Kira x16 • Andrew x19
WATERFRONT
4740 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #703 4740 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #210 4600 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #827 300 M ST SW #N309 700 7TH ST SW #410
WESLEY HEIGHTS
3291 SUTTON PL NW #3291D 4200 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #719 4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #920E
WEST END
2555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #818 1140 23RD ST NW #805 2555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #211 2555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #305 2201 L ST NW #204 2301 N ST NW #212 421 11th St, NE / SOLD
25 16th St, SE / SOLD
1539 C St, SE / SOLD
WESTEND
1140 23RD ST NW #1006
WOODRIDGE
2504 22ND ST NE #2
$340,000 $340,000 $248,000 $185,000 $265,000
2 1 1 0 0
$685,000 $610,000 $270,198
3 2 1
$485,000 $247,000
2 4
$742,500 $355,000
2 1
$440,000 $279,900 $246,000
2 1 1
FOGGY BOTTOM
2700 VIRGINIA AVE NW #1101 730 24TH ST NW #803 2500 VIRGINIA AVE NW #905-S 730 24TH ST NW #208
GLOVER PARK
3900 TUNLAW RD NW #118
HARBOUR SQUARE 560SW N ST SW #N610
HILLCREST
2710 29TH ST SE #B-227
KALORAMA
1835 PHELPS PL NW #51 1901 WYOMING AVE NW #34 2122 CALIFORNIA ST NW #356
MASSACHUSETTS AVE HTS 2700 CALVERT ST NW #315
MOUNT PLEASANT $258,970 $235,000
1 1
$606,000 $290,000 $280,000
2 2 1
$750,000 $645,000 $570,000 $505,000 $273,000 $406,500
2 2 1 1 0 1
$598,000
2
$122,000
1
1661 CRESCENT PL NW #606 2605 ADAMS MILL RD NW #31 1736 COLUMBIA RD NW #104 3060 16TH ST NW #203 1801 CLYDESDALE PL NW #321
NAVY YARD
1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #1207 1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #409
OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 2720 Wisconsin AVE NW #204
SW WATERFRONT
375 O ST SW #T-375 1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #S826/S827 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #N205 429 N ST SW #S-707 520 N ST SW #S-226 530 N ST SW #S610
WATERGATE
2500 VIRGINIA AVE NW #609-S ◆
COOP 629 Constitution Ave, NE / SOLD
333 6th St, SE / COMING SOON
B
velyn R
E
A
ranic L
T
Y
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1375 Emerald St, NE / SOLD
Evelyn Branic, Realtor, GRI
410 11th St, NE #5 /AVAILABLE
Thinking of selling your home? I can bring the right buyer to you. Over 25 years of experience on the Hill and in the DMV. Let’s talk. Call today!
202.741.1674
w w w. c b m o v e . c o m / e v e l y n . b r a n i c 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, WDC 20003 | 202.547.3525 Licensed DC, MD & VA
ADAMS MORGAN
1669 COLUMBIA RD NW #311 2853 ONTARIO RD NW #208
BRIGHTWOOD
6445 LUZON AVE NW #207
CAPITOL HILL 516 A NE #306
CHEVY CHASE
5112 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #304
CLEVELAND PARK 3028 PORTER ST NW #102
DUPONT
1701 16TH ST NW #517 1701 16TH ST NW #250
$380,000 $360,000
2 1
$165,000
1
$378,000
1
$320,000
2
$290,000
1
$355,000 $374,500
1 1
$2,200,000 $275,000 $220,000 $210,000
3 1 1 1
$214,900
1
$320,000
1
$64,000
1
$415,000 $404,448 $280,000
1 1 1
$1,800,000
3
$643,000 $550,000 $342,000 $299,000 $140,000
2 2 1 2 0
$405,000 $330,000
2 1
$189,000
1
$431,000 $280,000 $135,000 $520,000 $145,000 $340,000
3 2 0 2 0 1
$340,000
1
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
October 2014 H 107
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{arts & dining}
Dining Notes by Celeste McCall
D
C Dosa, a South Indian food stand operated by Mumbai native Priya Ammu, has popped up at Union Market. Dosas, a sort of crepe, are rolled around a variety of vegan fillings like curried potatoes, roasted cauliflower and peas; eggplant and sweet potatoes, all topped with assorted chutneys. Ammu has another DC Dosa in the Foggy Bottom Whole Foods.
DC Harvest Opens on H In keeping with the season, brothers Jared and chef Arthur Ringel—both seasoned restaurateurs--have unveiled DC Harvest Kitchen & Bar in the Atlas District. Located at 517 H St. NE, their stylish culinary enterprise showcases local, seasonal ingredients and other products including an alldomestic beer and wine list (perhaps quaffed at the handsome, marble-topped bar). This sustainable restaurant also serves Saturday and Sunday brunch. The ever-changing weekend menu might include oysters on the half shell spritzed with watermelon mignonette; fruit and nut granola with sheep’s milk yogurt and honey; “Jared’s Breakfast”—a healthy combo of steel cut oatmeal with flax, walnuts, blueberries, banana and skim milk. Organic “scrambles” include house-made spicy lamb sausage with peppers and caramelized onions; Chesapeake blue crab with heirloom tomatoes; spelt buttermilk pancakes with fruit and sorghum syrup; grilled lamb burger with sal-
Owner Priya Ammu Making dosas at DC Dosa in Union Market. Photo: Andrew Lightman
October 2014 H 109
host your next dinner party in
www.ChefNeilW ilson.com
301.699.2225 ChefNeilWilson@aol.com
202.549.7422 ChefJasonLawrence@hotmail.com
sa verde snuggled in a multi-grain roll; smoked turkey hash with organic eggs and Swiss chard. DC Harvest suppliers troll local waters for invasive species including snakeheads, blue catfish and lion fish, and “by catch” from scallop boats like rockfish, tilefish, and flounder. DC Harvest “Daily Plates” might be fried chicken one day, Chesapeake bouillabaisse the next, then brisket and so on. Pastas are home made, and vegetarians have myriad options. A kids menu presents healthy choices like whole grain pasta, blue catfish and a petite steak. Washington area natives Jared and Arthur bring 40 years of experience to their new restaurant. During high school, the brothers worked together at Ledo Pizza. Later, they cooked at Vermillion, Vidalia, and Hank’s Oyster Bar (they know their seafood). Open for dinner Sunday -Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday brunch goes from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Reservations are available through Open Table. Call 202-629-3296 or go to www.dc-harvest.com.
Ornery Fish at District Fishwife Speaking of ornery fish, Union Market’s District Fishwife seafood market sells snakeheads and blue catfish. A mean-looking snakehead, shot with a bow and arrow in Maryland’s Mattawoman creek, is prominently displayed. The whole fish (bone-in) is $7.50 per pound; filets are $15 per pound. According to Fishwife’s Sean Moran, snakehead’s texture is similar to swordfish, and the flavor is “fairly fishy.” (As you might recall, a few years ago, snakeheads, native to Asia, got loose in area ponds, terrorizing local species.) Priced at $10 per pound, blue catfish filets are also available. Blue cats are not bottom feeders like regular catfish (they eat other fish instead!), so their taste is not “muddy.” Located 1509 Fifth St. NE, Union Market is openTuesday through Sunday. Call 202-547-1309.
A Catered Affair A few aisles over, Ris@Union Market now offers catering for any type of event: formal dinner party, wedding, cocktail reception or downhome get-together. Although the gourmet fare
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is prepared at Ris’ West End flagship restaurant, customers may pick up orders at Union Market or have them delivered. Call 202-730-2507 or emailevents@risdc.com.
New at Hill’s Kitchen Hill’s Kitchen, 713 D St. SE, is swinging into the autumn mode with new products, plus a lineup of cooking classes. Now seven years old, Leah Daniels’ popular kitchenware shop carries ultra-sharp knives: Wusthof, Mac, Messermeister, and Lamson Sharp knives. Emile Henry items (I love their royal blue ramekins, a present to myself), have been moved to make room for Emile’s Natural Chic line. Among Leah’s edible additions are Chouquette chocolate caramels, ‘Chups fruit ketchups, and Xocolata chocolate jams. And, due to popular demand: Uncle Brutha’s hot sauce, Gordy’s Pickle Jar pickles, 2 Armadillos crispy chickpeas, and Glover’s Pepper Sauce. As usual, Marta Mirecki will teach fall classes: knife skills, sauces, pies, etc., plus a new class on cookies, to get a jump start on the holiday season. For the class schedule and to reserve a space, email events@hillskitchen.com, indicating which class you want (in the subject line), number of attendees, email address, and phone number. Leah will get in touch to confirm, and will require prepayment (cash, gift certificates, Visa/MasterCard). She will refund your payment if you cancel more than 72 hours before the scheduled class; later cancellations will not be refunded. Hill’s Kitchen is closed Monday; call 202-543-1997.
Wild Life Wine Tasting Coming up Oct. 15: Wild Life Wine Safari’s Fifth Annual South African Wine Tasting. Held at 123 D St. SE, the sampling starts at 6:30 p.m. and will last “until the bottles run dry.” Many selections are not normally available in the U.S. Founded by Phyllis Stebbins, Wild Life Wine Safaris is a boutique firm specializing in travel to South Africa. To RSVP call 1-888-558-5221 or visit www.wildlifewinessafaris.com. Please respond by October 12.
Shaky Situation From husband Peter: Now we know why so many patrons line up for burgers, hot dogs and
opian g a H e th Family frozen custard shakes at Nationals Park or Union Station. A tour guide buddy and I found the line somewhat shorter on a recent visit to Union Station’s Shake Shack, which opened last summer in the space vacated by America. Lunch was worth the short wait. For only $4, I munched on a savory Chicken Dog, comprised of chicken, apple and sage sausage (with onion and mustard) wrapped in a bun. My colleague went for the hefty Shack Burger, a cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and a special “Shack” sauce, accompanied by a root beer float (I had blueberry lemonade). Stronger potables, beer and wine are available. Shake Shack is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; call 202-684-2428.
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Spot Deli on H Chef Troy Williams, who runs food service at Howard University Hospital, is unveiling The Spot Deli at 701 H St. NE, the building used to house Grace’s Deli. Williams has also cooked at Georgia Brown’s, J. Paul’s and Old Ebbitt. The Deli serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends for now. Coming early next year: The Spot on H Restaurant and Bar. Troy and wife Yvette, along with business partner, Adolfo Briceno, own the building and are converting it from an existing clothing store into a three-level establishment with an “American regional” menu and a 40-seat rooftop lounge.
Gone 32 Below, the Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt shop at 703 Eighth St. SE, has closed. ◆
October 2014 H 111
{arts and dining / at the chefs table}
In the Chef’s Kitchen:
Y
article by Annette Nielsen, photos Andrew Lightman
ou’ll probably see the long line before you see the proprietor and chef, Toyin Alli, through the window of her food truck. While she’s parked in different places each day, people search her out for the Southern food offerings like gumbo, shrimp and grits, po’ boys or her legendary brown butter bourbon bread pudding. While there are a number of restaurants in the DC area serving Southern fare, there aren’t too many food trucks in the District that specialize in Southern comfort food. The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, has licensed 305 food trucks since October 2013 (licenses are for two years) and they estimate that the number of food trucks currently operating is somewhere between 175 and 200, as some go out of business or are sold. Alli didn’t start in the food business with a truck, though. “I began selling as one of the food vendors at Eastern Market back in 2005, and I gave away lots of samples of bread pudding.” It was slow going almost a decade ago. Alli decided to take a break and pursue a graduate degree at New York University’s Wagner School. In 2010 she returned to DC and went for a job as a financial auditor at Amtrak while simultaneously applying to be a vendor at Eastern Market. She received a ‘yes’ to both.
Always with an easy smile, Toyin Alli shares the Wild Blue Catfish Po’ Boy with the author before the lunchtime rush begins. Here, she’s parked at 400 12th St SW, about a block from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
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Toyin Alli
“I loved my job in the Inspector General office (at Amtrak), and I also needed to make sure I covered my student loans – so I was working both jobs,” she says. “Finally, I made the decision to take this opportunity and follow my passion.” Around the same time that she left her position at Amtrak in 2010, the farmers’ market scene was really picking up, from Eastern Market to the FreshFarm markets, to Georgetown. Alli purchased a used truck in 2011, but didn’t want to incur any further debt, so she bought the necessary equipment to assemble the interior components, piece by piece. Finally, in early 2014 she had the truck on the road. “I was so happy to be out in it, even in the winter weather!” Like a number of top chefs, Alli cooks to order and pays attention to sustainability in the products she sources. Whether purchasing fresh produce from farmers and producers or using wild blue catfish for her fried fish po’ boys and fried fish and grits, she is aware of the benefits to the environment, as well as giving a superior product. “The wild blue catfish is a great option for the fish – it’s not a bottom feeder, so the flavor is light, the texture is firm and it’s easy to cook with.” The wild blue catfish has been an invasive species in the 1980s that spread into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Through programs from agencies and organizations like the Chesapeake Bay office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Sustainable Fisheries, and the Wide Net Project, the fish has gained popularity among area chefs and institutions like George Washington University, where it’s used in the cafeteria. Alli has had a great response to the fish, and says that she typically uses between 250 and 300 pounds of it a week. While she didn’t pursue a formal culinary education, Alli says her mother has always encouraged her – and she works hard to develop her recipes, testing and re-testing until they become part of her regular menu. “When I was a teen, I moved from California to Michigan with my family. It was around the time the Food Network came out. I didn’t know many people, so I would watch cooking shows and try things out on my mom – she was so supportive and really nurtured my interest in food. I learned so much from her – our family always gathers and cooks together, too.” In terms of having a permanent location,
Gourmet Cream Style Corn!
100% All Natural Sweet Corn No Added Sugar, Additives, Coloring, or Preservatives!
Better Tasting than Corn on the Cob!
available at: Toyin Alli’s Wild Blue Catfish Po’ Boy, made from a locally sourced fish. The Wild Blue Catfish has been an invasive species since the 1980s, spreading into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It has now been adopted as a sustainable option for many chefs and institutions throughout the region.
P Street Georgetown Foggy Bottom Tenleytown
Silver Spring Alexandria Friendship Heights
www.larrysweetcorn.com
Brown Butter Bourbon Pumpkin Bread Puddin’ by Toyin Alli
For bread puddin:
15 ounces of mashed (cooked) pumpkin preferably fresh 2 cups half and half 1 cup light brown sugar 2 eggs 1/4 teaspoon mace 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla 10 cups cubed day old French bread Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, spices and salt until fully incorporated. Combine pumpkin and half and half into egg mixture. Gently fold the bread into the batter and pour into a greased shallow baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes.
For bourbon sauce:
1 stick of butter 1 cup brown sugar, packed 2 cups of bourbon 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 teaspoon salt Over medium heat, melt butter and keep heating until it is light brown. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Return to medium high heat until sauce begins to gently boil and then reduce to low heat for 5 minutes. Pour the hot bourbon sauce on top of the puddin’ and serve with a dollop of fresh cream.
October 2014 H 113
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Alli says, “I know the brick and mortar will happen at some point – the demand is there, I just want to make sure everything’s ready to go.” Alli claims she’s been really lucky, “I have family here, and some really dedicated staff, and my mom helps out a lot. I’ve also had some great mentors, like Dan Donohue who sells at Eastern Market – who has been a great coach. At the markets where I sell – whether it’s Eastern Market or Greenbelt – it’s like a family, and you have a real sense of community.” Here’s a seasonal variation of Toyin Alli’s very popular Brown Butter Bourbon Pumpkin Bread Puddin’ – you can use canned pumpkin as a substitute for the cooked, but your local farmer will have a number of great varieties that can be used here, too. DC Puddin’ can be found most weekends (Saturday and Sunday) at Eastern Market, and at other locations throughout the district during the week. To find Toyin Alli in her food truck, call 202.725.1030, follow on Facebook and Twitter; or visit dcpuddin.com. Annette Nielsen has been engaged in food, farming and sustainability issues for nearly two decades. The food editor of the Hill Rag, Nielsen’s experience includes coordinating artisanal and farm-based food events and teaching cooking classes. She’s the editor of two Adirondack Life cookbooks, and is at work on an Eastern Market cookbook. Nielsen heads up Kitchen Cabinet Events, a culinary, farm-to-fork inspired event business. annette@hillrag.com. ◆
a taste of
Old Havana!
Banana Cafe & Piano Bar Brunch All Weekend Saturdays & Sundays
10 AM TO 3 PM REGULAR MENU ALSO AVAILABLE
Where Every Customer is Family! Serving the Finest Cuban, Puerto Rican and Latin Cuisine. 202-543-5906 500 8th Street, SE www.bananacafedc.com Rated One of the Best Wine Shops by Washingtonian Magazine July “Best & Worst” Issue Listed in the Wall Street journal as one of the most enjoyable places to shop for wines nationwide. “Best Website Award”, 2008 by the Wine Spectator’s Market Watch
Voted “Best Liquor Store” and “Best Wine Selection” an unprecedented FIVE years in a row by the City Paper
T H I S M O N T H!
Our Mixed Case of the Month Club features hand selected wines from across the world that change according to the seasons and are priced up to 50% off the regular retail price. Purchase as many assorted cases as you like and get additional wines as the listed sale prices. This month’s case features seven reds and five whites at 53% OFF!
Regular Price: $426.88 | At Sale Prices: $317.88 | Mixed Case Club Price $199.99 Purchase as many mixed cases as you like. Additional wines are available at the listed SALE prices.
wine
reg.
2010 2009 2011 2010 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2012 2011 2011
Amicus Quercus Block Syrah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proulx Merveille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nugan Estate Shiraz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calstar Cellars Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chateau de Cordes Minervois Rouge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mazzocco Zinfandel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Argot Origami Chardonnay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Champy Bourgogne Chardonnay Stelvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haut Pasquet Entres-deux-Mers Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremiah Sonoma Chardonnay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ovum Riesling Memorista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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sale.
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“One of the Best Wine Stores in the Country is Right Here on Capitol Hill” SELECTION The country’s most complete range of spirits, beer & wine. Our old and rare wine list is the most extensive anywhere, and it’s in your neighborhood. PRICING We will not be undersold. Come see for yourself. SERVICE Second to none, with seven full time wine specialists to assist you. Come in and be treated like family!
View descriptions of the wines at www.cellar.com
300 Massachusetts Ave., NE • www.cellar.com 1-800-377-1461 • 202-543-9300 • fax: 202-546-6289 October 2014 H 115
{arts and dining / the wine guys}
Rye Whiskey
An American Tradition by Lilia Coffin
T
he most overlooked and under-appreciated of all the whiskies, rye has yet had an illustrious place in American history. Despite being nearly wiped out by Prohibition, rye is currently experiencing a well-deserved revival. Forever overshadowed by its cousin, bourbon, the spicier, savory whiskey has always had a dedicated, if small, fan base. With the renewed passion for rye whiskies created by a loving, artful distiller, the fan base, along with the number of ryes worth raving about, grows. Rye whiskey, according to US regulations, must have a mash bill (grain recipe) of at least 50% rye, with smaller percentages of corn and barley. A straight rye whiskey indicates that it was aged in oak for at least two years. American ryes are the only true rye whiskeys, and should not to be confused with Canadian rye whiskeys. Canadian whiskeys were traditionally made with rye, but have no such regulations for their recipes, and now are usually ryes in name only. Rye, the same caraway grain that makes the bread for your pastrami sandwich, grew quickly and easily in Pennsylvania and Maryland for the primarily Scotch and Irish families that settled there in the 1700s. It was certainly much easier to grow than barley, the traditional grain used in Scotch and Irish whiskeys. As a commodity, rye was much more profitable, easier both to transport and sell, as a whiskey than as a grain. It was so profitable that in postRevolutionary ‘frontier’ towns, like Pittsburgh, they used it as currency. Meanwhile, the new government of the young nation had assumed the combined war debt of the 13 colonies and needed to pay it down. Alexander Hamilton proposed, and Congress passed the very first nationwide internal revenue tax in 1791, an excise tax on distilled goods. Under the tax, all stills needed to be registered, and any transported whiskey was taxed up to double its worth. This was a drop in the bucket for large producers but for the small farmers, it was crippling. The settlers of Southwestern Pennsylvania, home to 25% of the nation’s stills and the most celebrated producers of rye, saw it as an attack on their livelihood. Attacks on tax collec-
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tors led to the law’s modification, and attempts at peace treaties, but not the repeal that the farmers wanted. Rebellions against tax offices, Federal enforcement officers, and their local counterparts did not cease, and only became more organized until George Washington finally led in militia troops to quell the rebellion after three years of negotiations. The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of Federal power for a burgeoning government, the first attempt of the government to tax and control alcohol, and the first and only time a sitting President led troops into battle. All because of rye whiskey. President Washington apparently had no hard feelings, however, as he went to work on his own rye still upon moving back to Mount Vernon after his time in office. With a special recipe that consisted of 60% rye in the mash bill and gypsum added to soften the water, George Washington sold 11,000 barrels of his own whiskey in 1799, making him the largest producer at the time. Just recently, the Mount Vernon estate started distilling and selling the historical recipe in his original still. Rye continued its popularity for the next 150 years until Prohibition. Thomas Handy developed the first rye cocktail inside his saloon, the Sazerac Coffee House in 1869. Even during Prohibition, it was a favorite drink of Al Capone, who favored the Templeton recipe out of Iowa, also now back in production. The 13 years of illegality destroyed the industry with only a handful of rye distilleries, including Old Overholt, surviving the crunch. After Prohibition’s repeal, the demand for rye was gone. For years, rye was considered the drink of choice for hard drinkers and the poor. It was the bottle in hand of the main character in Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend. The industry as a whole took decades to bounce back after Prohibition, and, when it did, the drinkers of the 60s and 70s generally chose quantity over quality. The push for responsible drinking pioneered by groups like MADD had the residual effect of switching this trend. If people were going to drink less, then they wanted to drink something they could actually enjoy. After watching wine and fine Scotch both make comebacks in America, the whiskey industry caught on. Especially now, with aged bourbon’s supply nowhere close to meeting demand, straight rye is back in a big way. For our purposes, at least, truly excellent ryes tend to organize neatly into one of three categories. There are an ever-growing number to choose from but below are just a few you should know:
The Big Names (that are almost impossible to find) • Sazerac Rye,, a favorite since that Coffee House in 1869, and, its brother, Thomas Handy Rye • Willett Rye, a well-aged classic
The Mash Masters (Small producers, big flavor, actually attainable) • Catoctin Creek Organic Roundstone Rye $39.99, a fantastic local brand out of Virginia. • Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye $39.99, a traditional recipe, they also release one aged in Port barrels. • Jefferson’s 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey $49.99 • Templeton Rye $45.99, using Al Capone’s favorite recipe. • E.H. Taylor Rye $75.99 • Angels Envy Rye Whiskey $69.99, aged in rum casks for a distinct touch of vanilla. • Lock Stock and Barrel 13 Year Old Straight Rye Whisky $139.99 • Whistlepig 10 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey $69.99, a consistent best seller. • Reservoir Rye Whiskey $99.99 • Smooth Ambler 7 Year Old Scout Straight Rye Whiskey $43.99, an aficionado favorite. • Few Barrel Aged Rye $69.99 • Filibuster Rye $42.99 • High West Double Rye $39.99, a blend of a 2 year old rye and a 16 year old rye that brings out the best elements of both. • Breuckelen 77 Rye Whiskey $49.99 • Redemption 6 Year Old Rye Whiskey Barrel $89.99 • Wasmund’s Copper Fox Rye Whiskey $44.99, a new arrival making a lot of noise • Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye $39.99
Whiskey, A+ Value All of these are very good whiskeys at even better prices; good for sipping, better for rye cocktails. • James E. Pepper Rye $29.99 • Old Overholt Rye $15.99 • Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof $26.99 Lilia Coffin is a wine consultant at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill. ◆
w w w. d c l i b r a r y. o rg
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L iterary h iLL B ook F est
Reading Series A series of talks at Capitol Hill libraries by local authors inspired by the Literary Hill BookFest and based on Karen Lyon’s Literary Hill column in the Hill Rag
Northeast Neighborhood Library
October 27th 7 p.m. at the Northeast Neighborhood Library Tim Krepp, author of Capitol Hill Haunts In addition to Capitol Hill Haunts, Tim Krepp is the author of Ghosts of Georgetown and part owner of Walking Shtick Tours, a Capitol Hill-based tour company. He graduated from George Washington University with a degree in history, served as a naval officer, and gives tours in D.C. and New York to schools, professional associations, and other tour groups. He especially enjoys delving into tales of ghostly lore.
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{arts and dining / at the movies}
Best on Current Screens
An Aussie Trek and a Twin’s Train Wreck by Mike Canning Tracks “Tracks” is based on the true story of a young Australian woman, Robyn Davidson (Mia Wasikowska) who decided in 1977 to undertake a solo trek from her base in Alice Springs to the western town of Uluru and on to the Indian Ocean, a journey of over nine months that saw her cover some 1,700 miles of spectacular yet unforgiving Australian plains and desert accompanied only by her loyal dog and four unpredictable camels—the latter serving as her bearers. (Now in theaters, the film runs 102 mins. and is rated “PG-13.”) Why does Robyn take on such a trial? Because it’s there? To find herself? Because she needs a challenge in her life? Because she wants to get really fit? Her motivation is left vague in the film, just a feeling it is something she must do, though one motive the movie strongly suggests is Robyn’s almost fierce desire to be alone, to go it alone, aiming to show one can be without people and live a solo life. To be able to finance the trip, especially training the necessary camels, Robyn reluctantly agrees to be covered at intervals by a visiting photographer from National Geographic magazine, which funds her trek. The photographer is New Yorker Rick Smolan (Adam Driver), an ebullient shutterbug who turns her off and looks to ruin everything the journey means to her. Over time, however, and with Rick’s coming to value Robyn’s commitment, their uneasy relationship develops into an unlikely and enduring friendship. For viewers who want a vicarious introduction to the expanses of the Aussie Outback, with all its grit and glories, this is the film for you. Set against one of the wildest and most forbidding backdrops on the planet, “Tracks,” tenderly directed by John Curran (“The Painted Veil”), could leave you with sore feet, gasping for some water, and carrying a virtual coating of dust over every pore. Wasikowska goes through these tests for you, of course, and she does it with a dogged, unvarnished presence. Among her trials are unremitting sun, limitless desert sands, and even the attacks of feral camels. Among her respites are stays with decent and hospitable aboriginals and a touch of civilization provided by an isolated older couple in the middle of nowhere. With “Tracks,”
Bill Hader and Kristen Wigg in “The Skeleton Twins.”
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Adam Driver and Mia Wasikowska star in “Tracks.” Photo: Matt Nettheim © 2014 The Weinstein Company. All rights reserved.
this young actress (“The Kids Are All Right,” “Jane Eyre,” Alice in Wonderland”) shows she can carry a movie on her sunburnt shoulders.
The Skeleton Twins Over many decades, “Saturday Night Live” alumni have often “graduated” to the movies, with varied results. Some duos from the show have had their successes, e.g., Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, Chris Farley and David Spade, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. However, none of the above pairs has, in my view, combined such comedic and dramatic chops as the newest team of Kristen Wigg and Bill Hader in “The Skeleton Twins,” which offers an exemplar of acting symbiosis (now in theaters, the film runs a live-
ly 92 min. and is rated “R” for language). Twins Maggie (Wiig) and Milo Dean (Hader), after ten years of estrangement, are thrown together when Milo, an LA actor in crisis, tries to commit suicide just as his sister, across the country in Nyack, New York, contemplates the same. After his attempt, Milo comes East to stay with Maggie and her husband Lance (Luke Wilson), forcing both the siblings to contemplate their troubled pasts. This means Maggie must confront the self-destructive tendencies in her own marriage, and Milo must face the pain of early heartbreak that has never left him. Maggie cannot be honest with her sweet Lance (“a big Labrador retriever” according to her), while Milo unwisely seeks out a beloved teacher (Ty Burrell) who once spurned him. With this kind of summary, where are the laughs? Well, there are plenty it turns out, as the twins show both their injured and resentful sides with caustic barbs, as when their clueless mother (Joanna Gleason) makes an unwanted appearance. But the laughs come especially when they exhibit their antic and joyful sides as twins who once shared everything (including a set of matching “skeleton” dolls) and who harbor unique insights into each others’ psyches. You agonize with them as they lie and prevaricate to each other yet exalt and laugh when they reconnect with a common memory. The film, deftly written and directed by Craig Johnson, doesn’t move to an easy, “feel-good” ending, but does show an ending with feeling. The thrill in the film is to watch two actors so thoroughly in sync. Their years on SNL prepared them well for the rapport they so easily display in word, gesture, and mood. In a movie full of high points, one particular scene shows that rapport in the most euphoric and triumphant way: when Milo starts lip-syncing to a record of their youth, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship, and urges the reluctant Maggie to join him in a rapturous song-and-dance. It is as uplifting and memorable a scene as I have seen in a movie this year.
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them Ned Benson is a young American writer/director (b. 1977) who launched his feature film career with an ambitious project in two parts
called “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him” and “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her,” the two full-length films aimed at capturing the nuances of a troubled relationship, with each film being told from a different perspective. Apparently not satisfied with that tandem, Benson decided to combine the two projects into one, subtitled “Them,” which interweaves their complex stories (rated “R,” the film runs 122 min. and is now at selected theaters). Once happily married, Eleanor Rigby (Jessica Chastain) and Conor Ludlow (James McAvoy) suddenly find themselves strangers in the wake of a family tragedy. Eleanor’s desolation leads her to attempt suicide, and she lands back at the home of her flighty sister Alexis (Nina Arianda) and her distant parents (William Hurt and Isabelle Huppert), struggling to regain her equilibrium (the folks were evidently Beatles’ fans). Conor, also devastated but cooler, falls back into working at his restaurant in the shadow of his similarly distant father (Ciaran Hinds). The film mingles the scenes of the estranged couple trying to cope on their own with flashbacks of their once easy and glowing love affair. The intricate script is often thoughtful, and the acting ensemble attains some truths (Viola Davis shines as a tough-minded professor), especially when Chastain and McAvoy show real affinity and spark in their early-days love scenes. Yet there is a sodden moroseness overlaying the whole enterprise. The “tragedy” itself is barely mentioned, so it is that much harder to believe the profound effect it supposedly has on the two principals. In a script that aims to be literate, the lines of Elizabeth strain, again and again, to explain her mood and temper without any clarity or point. It makes it too hard to care what really moves her. Finally, the film is just enervating; it wears you down and leaves you with “all the lonely people.” 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. u
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23 Years on Capitol Hill October 2014 H 119
{arts and dining / art}
D
o you know the story behind the paint? Frager’s, the revered hardware and paint store on Capitol Hill, burned down last year. Everything went up in very thick smoke. Almost everything. Some of the latex paint remained fluid in the blackened cans. Hill artist Greg Weismantel salvaged as much as he could. Then his dreams began: Utah. With cliffs that look like fire, heat that rises from the canyon depths, and winds that have carved the canyon walls for eons. He had to go…felt the calling. He bought an old station wagon, loaded it up and headed out to Bryce and Zion Canyons. The paintings he did there reach for the spirits of the canyons, but they are just as much about the paint itself. In his mind, there was no separation: “Strange connections developed between the landscape and the medium that I pulled from the remnants
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by Jim Magner
of the fire…beauty from destruction.” He befriended a member of the nearby Southern Paiute tribe, Joe, who shared his timeless Paiute stories and provided the names for Greg’s paintings. He didn’t use brushes. He poured the pigments onto a solid panel and then tilted it, letting the paint ooze on to the prepared canvas as he manipulated the flow to capture the feel of the shifting patterns and intensities of the rock faces. It was also a way to control the balance of the composition. Greg majored in art at the University of Texas and his life has always been about paint. In the end, it is the freedom of this paint, recovered from the ashes, that allows his canvases to shimmy with the light of the sheer rock walls and soar with the timeless spirits. You can see the series this month through January 4 at the Hill Center. (See, At the Galleries.)
Ask anyone who lives around there— the cliffs and canyons are alive—the home of living spirits who emit not just light, but sound. Voices. I heard those voices as a child growing up in Arizona, and when I handled land issues for an Arizona senator, and then later representing towns and counties in the area. You can’t just drive by the Vermillion Cliffs…or through Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Brice, Zion, or Sedona…as spectacular as they are. You have to stand in the middle, isolated, away from the visual clutter and noise of today. And the pure power… Wow. Greg Weismantel, (see Artist Profile), had never been there, but he dreamed about it. He had to go. Not to just see and paint the rock formations, but the wondrous things that live and grow, like the Bristle Cone Pine—a tree as enchanting as the “hoodoo” formations in Bryce. The oldest living organisms on earth (the oldest are over 5000 years old), these trees have survived in the highest elevations and most extreme conditions for thousands of years to perform their strange and gnarled dance with
Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art From Southwest Utah, down through central Arizona, the light comes from inside the immense cliffs and giant monoliths, with reds and pinks so intense, so bright, you have to stand there in awe. You almost cast a shadow. Of course it’s only sunlight reflecting off the surface of ancient deposited silt that was cemented by infiltrated carbonates and colored by red iron oxide and bluish manganese and uplifted thousands of feet. Sure.
artandthecity
Artist Portrait: Greg Weismantel
Poured paint creates these luminous canvases by Greg Weismantel
the clouds, high among the voices and spirits of the canyons. It doesn’t take an artist to become overwhelmed by the scale, light, color and shifting tones and patterns. But every painter, writer or musician who stands out there, for even a little while, is lifted to some magical realm. You soar so far above the mundane, the practical, that you don’t ever want to come back.
Captain Linnaeus Tripe to get there for, and before, everyone else with that amazing new invention, the camera. Tripe, (1822 – 1902) was among the first to record some of the most spectacular and celebrated religious and secular sites in India and Burma (now Miramar). This is an exhibition of about 60 photographs taken between 1854 and 1860. They are still entrancing.
Museums and Galleries
At the Galleries
“Untitled: The Art of James Castle” American Art Museum 8th and F St. NW 2nd floor South - Sept. 26 – Feb. 1 James Castle (1899-1977) was born deaf, couldn’t read or write and stayed pretty much to himself. But he made art of some kind every day with anything he could get his hands on— scrap paper, soot, string. He created his own colors, and made books—writing in his own language of his visions and understandings. The art of this simple man deserves to be observed simply. It can take you back to your earliest years before everything got complicated.
Hill Center Galleries 921 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Oct. 2—Jan. 4 Reception: Oct 7, 6-8 Seven artists, working in a wide range of styles, each tell a personal story that comes from their experiences and hearts. Greg Weismantel’s new works, the dynamic and spiritual series, “From Ash,” have a special meaning to those who live on Capitol Hill. (See Artist Profile). Also showing: Ric Garcia, Sandi Martina, Tex Forrest, Tim Eggers, Carol Phifer, JoEllen Murphy, Kristen Herzog.
Prints and Drawings from the Kainen Collection National Gallery of Art – West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW - Sept. 1 – Feb. 1 “Modern American Prints and Drawings from the Kainen Collection” fills two galleries with 37 prints, drawings, and watercolors that give you a virtual visual map, tracing American art as it zoomed off in various directions from 1904 to 1976. It traces the path from Realism to more abstracted forms and compositions…from Childe Hassam to Stuart Davis, Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock. “Captain Linnaeus Tripe: Early Photographs of India and Burma” National Gallery of Art – West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW - Sept. 21 – Jan. 4 It’s hard for us to imagine now how little was known about the “Third World” a hundred years ago. Few people from our neighborhoods got that far, and there was no way of knowing what “those places” looked like. It took photographer/adventurers like
Material Madness Zenith Gallery Presents 1429 Iris St., NW - Oct 25 With “Material Madness - Re-Utilize, Re-Invent and Re-Create,” Zenith Introduces three new artists. Patrick Collins, both musician and painter, creates high impact mixed media art. Jennifer Wagner is well known for her large-scale community murals, and gallery works that emphasize the narrative. Gavin Sewell reconstructs both materials and images. The Iris St. gallery is open Fri. and Sat. and daily by appointment. 202-783-2963 www.zenithgallery.com. Maruka Carvajal Foundry Gallery 1314 18th St. NW - Oct 1 - Nov 2 The name of this show pretty much says it all: “Dramatic Color Feeling.” These are abstracts, mostly in red tones, and… “conceived using warm colors as the structural element, building forms that remind me of urban spaces.” Carvajal wants them to “awaken the gallery and everyone who enters the room.” They will. u
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the
LITERARY HILL
A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events
used that it has achieved drinking-game status, but the current favorite of politicians is, hands down, the f-word. “‘Frankly’ has become the politicians’ most popular verbal crutch,” they write, “(although ‘at the end of the day’ appears to be gaining ground.)” “Dog Whistles” is an indispensable guide, especially for those of us who want to figure out what the heck is going on here on the Hill. Or, as Jeff Greenfield writes in his foreword, it’s “a machete with which to cut your way through the jungle of rhetoric.” At the end of the day, let me be clear: this one is Two political writers a slam dunk. hack their way through Chuck McCutcheon is the jungle of political co-author of “National Jourrhetoric for our benefit. nal’s Almanac of American Politics,” co-editor of “CQ’s PoliHacking Through Newspeak tics in America 2010,” and author of the young Local writers Chuck McCutcheon and David adult book, “What Are Global Warming and CliMark have spent hundreds of hours watching Cmate Change?” David Mark is editor-in-chief of SPAN (so you don’t have do), and years interview“Politix,” former senior editor at “Politico,” and ing officeholders, candidates, spinners, flacks, and author of “Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Camother political animals. The result is an enormouspaigning.” For more, visit dogwhistlebook.com. ly entertaining and informative new book, “Dog Whistles, Walk-Backs, and Washington Handshakes,” in which, per the subtitle, they promise nothing less than “Decoding the Jargon, Slang, and Bluster of American Political Speech.” It’s a daunting prospect, but McCutcheon and Mark are up to the task. Drawing on their extensive experience and calling out examples from both sides of the aisle (the book is nothing if not bipartisan), they puncture the pretense of politico-speak. “Deeply concerned,” “I misspoke,” “I’m sorry if I offended anybody”: they’re all here, complete with translations and recent histories. RINOs and Sherpas make an appearance, as do swift-boating and astroturfing. The authors report that “The American People” has become so over-
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Gillibrand the Firebrand
In a new political memoir, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand exhorts others to make their voices heard.
If all you’ve heard about Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s new political memoir is the part about the old Senator squeezing her waist and advising her not to lose any more weight because “I like my girls chubby!” then you’re missing the story. A firebrand with a message, the junior senator from New York has not only written a compelling account of how she got to the Senate, but has also scattered
breadcrumbs for others to follow. In “Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World,” Gillibrand credits the strong women in her life—her grandmother, mother, and high school squash coach—for giving her the drive and confidence to succeed. But it wasn’t until she heard an address by Hillary Clinton (who wrote the foreword to the book) challenging women to become part of the Washington decisionmaking process that she finally stepped up to ask, “How can I help?” It took years of hard work, perseverance, and the courage to risk failure, but she has realized her goal of becoming “a voice for the voiceless,” standing up for the 9/11 first responders, and for men and women sexually abused in the military and on college campuses. Now she’s asking for some company. “This is my Rosie the Riveter moment,” she writes, “a plea to all women to get more involved.” She not only provides a roadmap to political activism, but she also reminds us of the potential impact. “If women were fully represented in national politics,” she writes, “do you think we’d be wasting so much time debating contraception?” Gillibrand’s official residence is Troy, New York, but during Congressional sessions, she and her family reside here on the Hill where, like the rest of us, she sometimes gets the La Loma and La Lomita restaurants mixed up.
New from The History Press The History Press in Charleston, SC, specializes in books on regional history and has published the work of many Hill authors. They have three new titles of interest to local readers: “A History of Rock Creek Park: Wilderness & Washington, D.C.” by Scott Einberger provides a look at the history of 1,754 acres that serve as our capital’s backyard; “Meridian Hill: A History” by Stephen R. McKevitt focuses on the
story of a neighborhood indelibly tired to the fabric of Washington; and Janet Sims-Wood examines an important figure in the preservation of African-American history in “Dorothy Porter Wesley at Howard University: Building a Legacy of Black History.” Einberger and McKevitt will be at Politics & Prose, Oct. 18, 1 p.m, and Sims-Wood will be at the Hill Center, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.
This Month on the Hill The Literary Hill BookFest Reading Series presented by the DC Public Library features a pre-Halloween talk by Tim Krepp, author of “Capitol Hill Haunts,” Oct. 27, 7 p.m., Northeast Neighborhood Library, northeastlibrary@dc.org, 202-698-0058. The Hill Center presents Talk of the Hill with Bill Press: Robert Siegel, Senior Host of NPR’s All Things Considered, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. www.hillcenterdc.org or 202-549-4172. The Folger Shakespeare Library offers An Evening with the Virginia Quarterly Review, a PEN/ Faulkner event featuring Ann Beattie and others, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., and Graywolf Press 40th Anniversary, an O.B. Hardison Poetry reading with 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner Vijay Seshadri and others, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. www.folger.edu, 202-544-7077. The Library of Congress features three poetry events: a birthday reading for Wallace Stevens, Oct 2, noon; Robert Pinsky, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m.; and Dana Gioia, poet and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Oct. 14, noon; and two Books & Beyond lectures: Harry Katz, author of “Mark Twain’s America: A Celebration of Words and Images,” Oct. 22, noon, and John Hessler, Daniel DeSimone and Chet Van Duzer, co-authors of “Christopher Colum-
bus Book of Privileges: 1502, The Claiming of a New World,” Oct. 28, noon. www.loc.gov. The Smithsonian Associates presents talks by Karen Abbott, author of “Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War,” Oct. 2, 6:45 p.m.; Dave Broom, author of “World Atlas of Whiskey,” Oct. 28, 6:45 p.m., and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas on Life as an Undocumented Immigrant, Oct. 20, 6:45 p.m. Also on offer is a four-session course, A Novel Quartet: Winners of the Man Booker Prize, starting Oct. 20, 6:45 p.m. www.smithsonianassociates.org.
The Lyon’s Share Dear readers, I had the privilege this summer of serving on a review panel for literary fellowships awarded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. As always, I was blown away by the depth and breadth of talent in our nation’s capital. I was also impressed to find that all of the applicants whose work we reviewed—from poets and memoirists to novelists and spoken word artists—were not only creative and energetic, but were also committed to making a difference in the lives of their fellow Washingtonians. Recently, I’ve seen signs that another local writer is hoping to make a difference. You may have seen the signs, too, posted in yards all over Capitol Hill. The Hill’s own Tim Krepp—writer, tour guide, and Navy veteran—is running for Congress. “Seriously?” ask the placards, which are adorned with a caricature of his exuberant eyebrows. The answer: “Seriously.” According to his campaign website (krepp2014. com), the candidate’s platform includes a renewed push for Statehood, a drive to redefine the role of the DC Delegate, and a call for the Federal government to be a better neighbor. Krepp has been writing for years on education, history, transportation, neighborhood issues, and tourism, and is also the author of two books. Now he is taking a page from Kirsten Gillibrand’s book and putting his pen—and his voice—to work for political change. Seriously. u
THE POETIC HILL P.S. Perkins is a writer, actor, and motivational speaker who is the author of “The Art and Science of Communication: Tools for Effective Communication in the Workplace,” as well as a featured poet in the 2012 “World Healing, World Peace Poetry Anthology.” She is a columnist for several e-magazines, writing on the art and science of word power, and is the founder and CCO of the Human Communications Institute, LLC. Heels on the Hill Heels on the Hill, clicking loudly down the halls of change bringing forth the names deserving a voice behind darkened double doors. Heels on the Hill, healing disenfranchised souls, the countless voices tangled within the mangled masses of messages. New voices echo on the Hill awakening minds to compassion, camaraderie and co-opetition on a mission to heal the nation. Michelle, Hillary, Nancy, and the rest provide the true litmus test of a Democracy designed for all. Audacious voices, powerful voices, willing voices, Heels on the Hill restoring America for ALL! If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) u
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Boutique Exercise Studios Flourish on Capitol Hill
{health & fitness}
by Pattie Cinelli
I
love to see new gyms open in my neighborhood. It means there are more choices to fit individual tastes and budgets and less excuses for not exercising. Recently, four boutique exercise studios have opened within walking distance of Eastern Market. Niche players in the fitness industry like Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio, Pure Barre,
BMarchai Studio and Jade Fitness represent one of the hottest trends in the $21.8 billion fitness field dominated by big box gyms like Washington Sports Club, Vida, Results and Gold’s Gym. But for people who eschew crowds and feel uncomfortable navigating several floors full of equipment and a multitude of class choices, specialty fitness studios fit the bill. Boutique fitness studios have come full circle. Their resurgence gives credence to the adage, “What’s old becomes new.” In the 80s when I began my journey in the fitness world we had few choices on the Hill – jazzercising Drew McNeil and Ellen Heier, owners of Jade Fitness barefoot in a school gym and Capitol Hill Squash Club that converted a Pure Bare DC squash court into a high impact aerobics studio. Pure Barre DC, open since March, sits atop MetThe crème de la crème location for exercise was ro Mutts at 407 8th Street, SE, just up the street Somebody’s in Georgetown – a lovely, plush exfrom Momentum. It is Michelle Davidson’s secercise studio that catered to a somewhat elite and ond DC location of this nationwide franchise. dedicated exerciser. Thirty years later, boutique Michelle first experienced Pure Barre in Manhatstudios have evolved. High impact is no longer an tan where she fell in love with the technique. “I option. Safer, more effective and creative workwas practicing law which I enjoyed, but I missed outs have taken their place. having passion for my work. Then, I guess the stars aligned – my husband got a job offer in DC, we moved here, I became pregnant and applied for my first Pure Barre franchise (which is in Dupont Circle).” The Pure Barre technique is low-impact with strength and stretch portions of class that use light weights, a ball and tubing. “It is a total body workout that lifts your seat, tones your thighs, abs, and arms and burns fat.” Pure Barre contains elements of Pilates, ballet and core exercises. Purebarre.com/dc-capitolhill
Jade Fitness
Top: Abbey Brandon teaching at Pure Barre DC; Below: A class at Pure Barre DC
Jade Fitness is just up the street from BMarchai at 1310 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Its inception came from collaboration between co-owners Drew McNeil and Ellen Heier. “I lived on the Hill since 1999 and selfishly wanted a place near my home where I can work out and get personalized atten-
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classes that include jazz, ballet, Bollywood, Zumba, Pilates and Barre Fitness as well as a children’s dance class. “We cater to people who want to learn to dance but also want to work out,” said Roberta Rothstein, owner of Momentum. “We want to keep students moving in dance classes as well as learn technique and patterning. We want students to use their body and their brain.” Roberta, who is also licensed clinical social worker with a private psychotherapy practice, has lived on the Hill for 30 Momentum Dance and Fitness owner Roberta Rothstein (in pink) and staff. years. She emphasizes one doesn’t have to be a dancer or any age to ention as well as group classes,” said Ellen. joy classes at Momentum, but “has to want to work, Jade offers both group classes that include have fun and learn something new.” She has been Zumba, yoga and Jade’s own, “ABC workout” (abs, butt and core) and its signature class, “Correctfit” a class that Drew describes as “getting your body back to function – it’s functional training with a little physical therapy, but it’s a total body workout.” Class numbers are small and Drew said often another instructor assisting in class provides personalized attention to students. Jade also offers small group personal training sessions that Drew said, “offers the benefits of one-on-one personal training at an affordable price.” Jadefitnessdc.com
Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio, at 534 8th St. SE among the many trendy Barracks Row restaurants, offers residents a unique opportunity to kick their heels, pump their hearts and strengthen their cores in a variety of dance and fitness BMarchai Studio
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teaching dance and fitness classes for much of her life and has had a hip replacement. She personally knows what it is like to have to return to exercising after an injury. “Our classes are for people of every age and physical ability.” Momentumdancetheatre.com
BMarchai Studio BMarchai Studio moved from Capitol Hill Fitness on 8th Street and opened its doors at 1451 Pennsylvania Ave, SE last January. Breelaun Marchai, owner, created a low impact circuit workout with 15 different exercises each week designed to be done in 30 minutes. “Our clients can come in any time during our three time slots, jump into a station and start working out. There’s no waiting.” Convenience is the key at BMarchai. If you pushed the snooze button one too many times or if you worked overtime you can still get your full workout between 6:00 and 9:30am, 11:00-1, 4:30 to 8:30 five days a week. Saturdays it is open from 7:30 until 3p.m. Breelaun has an eclectic background that includes working as a sculpture model for 17 years, practicing martial arts, doing a stint in the Air Force and working as an EMT. Bmarchai.com
Pricing Boutique fitness studios can be pricey. However, packages can be purchased to lower the cost. One class at Momentum costs $17/class; at Pure Barre $25/ class or $125/month for new students; BMarchai is $20 per class or $80/month and Jade Fitness is $23/class ($79/month unlimited classes for new students). Opportunities to learn new ways to move your body abound on the Hill. You can get effective, unique and fun workouts and a social connection in an intimate setting in a boutique fitness studio. Be adventurous. Take a class. See what you like. Pattie Cinelli is a fitness consultant and personal trainer who has been exercising and teaching exercise on the Hill for more than 25 years. To contact Pattie with column ideas or with fitness questions email her at: fitness@pattiecinelli. com. u
It’s time to do something good for yourself. Get moving! Partner with Pattie Cinelli to get in shape • Feel and look good • Learn how to lose weight without dieting • Find an exercise program you enjoy and that works • Learn techniques to release stress • Schedule a wellness consultation to learn your options • Schedule a single, partner or group session in your home, office, Results the Gym or Lavender Retreat
Pattie has 30 years in the fitness business. Her knowledge, her experience and her caring will help you meet your health and fitness goals.
Call Pattie at 202-544-0177 or email her at fitness@pattiecinelli.com
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Fall Bloodsuckers By Dr. Noon Kampani
F
leas, ticks, and mosquitos--if you’re like me; you’re not a fan of any of them. They bite, irritate, cause itching and spread disease. As pet owners, we tend to hate fleas the most because they can invade your home and become a chronic problem. Often, by the time you notice the first flea, it is too late and fleas have infiltrated your house, causing an infestation. They are living on your dog or cat. Their eggs and larval stages are hatching and maturing between your floorboards, in your rugs, upholstery, and bedding. At first, you may notice an increase in scratching by your cat or dog. You also may notice a small red itchy bump on your body, different from a mosquito bite because the swelling usually stays small. As soon as you see one flea, there might be hundreds. What are they? Where did they come from? How can you get rid of them? And how do you prevent them in the future? Fleas are flat, brown to black insects, average 1-3mm in length, that live on mammals, rodents, dogs, cats and even humans. They feed on blood from their host. They can eat up to 15 times their weight in blood and can jump as much as two feet in one jump. The adults spend their lives on a host and can live more than a year in ideal
conditions. However, the average lifespan is about 30-90 days. Females may lay 5000 eggs in that time. The lifecycle is three weeks to three months depending on conditions; warmer conditions mean a shorter lifecycle. However, eggs can stay dormant for long periods of time and hatch when conditions improve. Fleas in your house can come from a pet, the yard, your neighbor’s apartment, a flea egg brought in on a guest’s shoe or even a flea catching a ride on you. Here on Capitol Hill, the warm and humid Labor Day weekend increased the number of flea cases seen by AtlasVet relative to the rest of the more mild summer. However, it is also very common for us to see an uptick in fleas when the weather first turns colder and the pesky fleas look for warm bodies to huddle up next to. Getting rid of them involves integrated flea control: vacuuming carpets, rugs and floorboards, washing and drying bedding and upholstery, and using flea preventatives on your
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pets. Additionally, spray insecticides that contain insect growth regulators (IGRs), such as methoprene, can be used in your house around furniture to kill eggs and pupae before they mature to adulthood. Once fleas are living in your house, it may take months, possibly a year of active flea control to rid your house of these pests. The best way to avoid this problem is by prevention. There are different ways to protect your cats and dogs from fleas. Some are topical and some are oral. Some require a prescription, while others do not. Below is a table to help sort through the myriad of products. This list is not meant to be inclusive. There are nuances on how each of these products work and whether they are fast kill (immediate) or whether they work to prevent flea reproduction (long term management). It is best to discuss which product or combination of products is right for your pet with a veterinarian as skin type, age, indoor or outdoor lifestyle, and quantity of other pets in the house all can make a difference. Best of luck in your fight against our least favorite fall bloodsucker!
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Dr. Noon Kampani is a veterinarian at AtlasVet. She is the chairperson of the DC Veterinary Medical Board. She has her veterinary degree from Virginia Tech and is also is a graduate of Cornell University and Georgetown University. She lives in DC with her dog, Hobbs, cat, Kaya and boyfriend, Joel. u
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DC Celebrates Local Foods – wand Our Very Own State Fair! Article and photos by Catherine Plume
W
hile DC residents await voting representation in Congress, a group of residents is ensuring that we have other important state-relevant icons in place when we achieve such status. On Saturday, September 20, the 5th Annual DC State Fair was held at the eclectic Old City Farm and Guild in the District’s Shaw neighborhood. This year’s DC State Fair was the largest to date and featured 17 contests including photo, newborn hat, knitting and sewing, pies, kid’s art, kid’s poetry, fermented vegetables, pickles, jams and honey competitions. In response to popular demand, both an ice cream contest and a flower-arranging contest were added to this year’s docket. There was even a “Funkiest Looking Vegetable” contest.
According to Cristina Perez, a DC State Fair Board Member, the purpose of the Fair is to give DC’s gardeners, cooks, bakers, photographers, and artists a venue to showcase their talents. The Fair also seeks to highlight DC neighborhoods by holding the annual event in different places across the District. The 2013 event was held in conjunction with Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row Fest. According to the organizers, the pie contest is by far the most popular. Food safety is an important consideration for the competition, especially for the jam and jelly, pickled foods and fermented vegetable contests. A list of ingredients must be submitted for all food competitions and all foods must be no more than a year old. Ingredients that could easily spoil – such as raw eggs in pies - are prohibited. Organizers also work to maintain a “cottage”
Ward 6 Councilmember Candidate Charles Allen was just one of the judges in this year’s pie contest.
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The DC State Fair in action.
aspect to contests and licensed baker/caterers; professional food preparers and other food industry professionals are banned from some competitions. Contest judges include members of the community with relevant expertise, as well as local business owners and community leaders. Charles Allen, a Ward 6 Councilmember candidate was one of this year’s pie judges, and as an observer of the judging, your writer can ascertain that he had his fill of pie! Contest prizes consist of ribbons, and sometimes small items and gift cards, along with the much coveted social status of being a DC State Fair winner! Winners may also have an opportunity to share their recipes and stories. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells has been a fan of the DC State Fair since its inception and has helped foster the event. “The DC State Fair is a wonderful opportunity to promote DC among its residents. I’d like to see this event get even bigger and eventually evolve into a full blown State Fair complete with game arcades and rides. The grounds at St. Elizabeth would provide an excellent venue for such an event!” As in any State Fair competition, you must be a DC resident to enter any DC State Fair contest. However, while the “Funkiest”, “Heaviest” and “Longest” vegetable contests require that the ingredients be grown in DC, for other food contests, ingredients can be sourced anywhere, though auxiliary prizes may be awarded for DC grown ingredients. With media coverage from The Washington Post, DCist and the Hill Rag, the popularity of the DC State Fair is sure to grow while the competitions will become stiffer. While the DC State Fair annual September Event is the group’s most popular, they plan to hold a Homebrew
“Even Witches Deserve Good Hair.”
IN MEMORIAM Contest this fall. Meanwhile, the group’s annual early summer seedling swap promotes home gardening and provides an opportunity to swap any plethora of tomato or other seedlings you may have on hand for other seedlings and diversify your garden. To learn about these events, sign up for the DC State Fair Newsletter at http://dcstatefair.wordpress.com/ state-of-the-fair-newsletter/. The group is always looking for volunteers, and urges you to sign up on their website. And stay tuned to their website next summer when rules and categories will be announced for the DC State Fair 2015 event. The DC State Fair is just one more venue promoting local food in DC. Glen’s Garden Market located in Dupont Circle at 2001 S Street, NW showcases seasonal foods grown and/or created by farmers and artisans in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed that includes DC, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York year round. Offerings also include local wines and brews sold by the bottle or served up at a hip bar as well as local crafts. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Eastern Market’s “Fresh Tuesday” features crops grown in or processed by folks in the greater DC area and operates outside Eastern Markets Main Hall from 3 to 7pm through at least mid-November. Finally, check out The Washington Post’s comprehensive interactive map of farmers markets around the city including the dates, times and seasonal operation. Eating local is getting easier all the time! Catherine Plume is the blogger for the DC Recycler. www.dcrecycler.blogspot.com. Twitter: dc_recycler u
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N O T E B O O K
by Kathleen Donner Maury Fifth Graders Fundraising for Space Camp Maury ES fifth graders want to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, AL in June and they want all of their classmates to attend together, regardless of ability to pay. They are working hard to raise the $24,000 needed for the excursion. They’ve been making and selling crafts and snacks, doing chores for neighbors and busking at Eastern Market. Space Camp is a wonderful learning environment where the children will meet astronauts, complete simulated missions and live in International Space Station type dorms. Any person or organization interested in supporting the kids’ efforts can get more information from Vanessa Ford (Think Tank and STEM teacher) at vanessa.ford@ dc.gov. Monetary donations can be made directly to the Maury PTA “space camp”, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE. 20002 Maury 5th grader busking at Eastern Market. (Busking means playing music on the street to elicit t. Kids’ Day will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both inside Verizon Center donations.) Photo: Elizabeth Nelson
Ward 6 State Board of Education Candidates Forum On Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6:30-8 p.m., come to Eastern High School to learn about the Ward 6 candidates for DC State Board of Education, and ask questions about their views on policies and standards that affect DC schools. The candidates are Mark Naydan and Joe Weedon. The forum is sponsored by Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization, the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council, and Ward 6 Democrats. Natalie Wexler of Greater Greater Education
is the moderator. Eastern High School, 1700 E. Capitol St.
Kids’ Music: ¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! at Ebenezers On Saturday, Oct. 18, 10:30 a.m., come sing, shake, and sound out rhythms while trying regional Latin dances and practicing Spanish words. Children will dance to La Bamba and the Mambo, and fun new tunes while learning mucho Español along the way. Dancers of all ages should come prepared to jump and wiggle in this fun, high-energy show. Suggest-
ed age range is 3-8. Tickets are $6 in advance; $8 at door for everyone 1 year and older. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-5586900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com
Trick-or-Treat (for the first time) at Mount Vernon On Friday, Oct. 31, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Mount Vernon opens its doors for the first time to trick-or-treaters. Join the costumed cast of interpreters for a special opportunity to trick-or-treat in the historic area. A special scavenger hunt is available for their more ad-
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venturous guests. All trick-ortreaters are invited to join in the children’s costume parade around the Mansion at 6 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the best “George” and “Martha” costumes. Participate in a Halloween craft activity in the greenhouse. Special trade demonstrations, like 18th-century wool spinning and laundry washing, will take place in the historic area. Listen to Halloween-themed stories in the straw bale amphitheater, enjoy colonial games and dance demonstrations, and take a wagon ride. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and close at 6 p.m. mountvernon.org
Saturday Morning at the National Free Performances for Children
fiction novel Stories Untold, helps students and families prepare for college by lifting the voices of high-achieving, middle-class, African American students who have leveraged supportive school, community, and family networks to be admitted into the college of their choice. An ultimate goal of the book profits is to begin a scholarship to offset college costs for high achieving students. Dr. Brown, became passionate about helping others to plan for college after graduating debt-free from her undergraduate and graduate institutions as a first generation college student and working over 18 years in the field. Her book is based on college students reflecting on how they prepared for college during the early elementary years through their high school years. Read more and order copies at lulu. com/content/paperback-book/ stories-untold-college-preparation-through-the-experiences-of-high-achieving-students/15101376. Dr. Brown resides in Washington, DC’s Ward 7.
Julius Caesar On Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. there are free live performances for children in “Beware the Ides of March” Family Program at the Helen Hayes Gallery. Tickthe Folger ets are required and distributed On Saturday, Nov. 1, 10-11 a.m., explore Julius Caesar and learn how Shakefirst come-first seated 1/2 hour speare helped translate historical events into thrilling dramas. Recommended prior to performance. One tickfor ages 6-12. The event is free, but make sure to reserve a spot. Folger Shakeet per person in line. The Naspeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu tional Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Here’s The Case for a More the line-up: Oct. 18, Molly Joyful Christmas Moores’ Midsummer Nights a.m.-5 p.m. join the Museum for a festival for “Christmas is too wonderful a celebration to give Dream; Oct. 25, Tom Doughtery--Classic Clownthe whole family that celebrates the accomplishup on, too precious a time simply to repeat the ing; Nov. 1, Paul Hadfield--Spats the Lost Vaudements of American inventors and the spirit of insame empty gestures from year to year.”--Bill villian; Nov. 8, Lesole’s Dance Project; Nov, 15, novation that has led to so many of today’s techMcKibben. Michael Shwedick--Reptile World; Nov. 22, Mary nologies. Smithsonian National Air and Space On Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m., at the NaAnn Jung--Feasting with the Queen; Dec. 6, VirMuseum, Independence Ave at 6th St. SW. aitional Cathedral, the Cathedral’s Environmenginia Ballet Company and School Selections from randspace.si.edu tal Advocacy Group hosts a book discussion on The Nutcracker; Dec. 13, Bright Theater--Christ“Hundred Dollar Holiday” by Bill McKibben, mas with Santa. Read more at thenationaldc.org. Stories Untold: College Preparaprolific writer and thinker on the environment. tion Through the Experiences Attendees are encouraged to read the 96-page Innovation Festival at Air of High-Achieving Students book (available online for as little as $.01) in adand Space Book Released vance and come exchange ideas and traditions. On Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2, 10 Stacey Price Brown, Ph.D., author of the nonThe event is free and all are welcome. Sign-up
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Friends Community School Progressive Quaker Education Kindergarten - Grade 8 Experience the Joy of an Extraordinary Education!
OPEN HOUSES
is requested. Go to nationalcathedral.org/events.
Fall Family Festival at the American Art Museum On Saturday, Oct. 11, 11:30 a.m.3 p.m., celebrate the changing seasons with stilt walkers, ghost stories, and a performance by the Banjo Man, Frank Cassel. Enjoy fallthemed craft activities or a scavenger hunt to find autumn scenes in the museum’s galleries. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. americanart.si.edu
Library of Congress Announces Interactive Student Discovery Series for Tablets As the new school year begins, the Library of Congress invites students everywhere to touch, draw on and explore some of its most valuable treasures--all via a new set of free interactive ebooks for tablets. The new Library of Congress Student Discovery Sets bring together historical artifacts and one-of-a-kind documents on a wide range of topics, from history to science to literature. Interactive tools let students zoom in for close examination, draw to highlight interesting details and make notes about what they discover. The first six Student Discovery Sets are available now for the iPad, and can be downloaded for free on iBooks. These sets cover the US Constitution, Symbols of the United States, Immigration, the Dust Bowl, the Harlem Renaissance, and Understanding the Cosmos. loc.gov
Air and Scare Family Day at Udvar-Hazy On Saturday, Oct. 25, 2-7 p.m., see the spooky side of air and space at this annual Halloween event. Arrive
in costume for safe indoor trick-ortreating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. The tiniest visitors can check out the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story, or pose for a photo with their favorite Star Wars or Ghostbusters character. Free admission, parking until 4 p.m. is $15. Event takes place throughout the UdvarHazy Center in Chantilly, VA. airandspace.si.edu
New Planetarium Show “To Space & Back” at Air and Space “To Space & Back” takes viewers on an incredible journey from the far reaches of the known universe to Earth. The technology that transports astronauts through space is paving the way for the devices and apps used in every day life. To Space & Back helps viewers understand how space exploration is shaping this world. It was produced in 8K, which showcases the planetarium’s new full dome digital capabilities. 8K refers to the ultra-high image quality, which is 16 times the resolution of HD, providing an exceptional level of detail, clarity, contrast, brightness, and color saturation. National Air and Space Museum, Independence Ave. at 6th St. SW. airandspace.si.edu
9:00 a.m. sharp - 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 16 Saturday, November 8 Tuesday, November 18 Friday, December 5 Saturday, January 10 Thursday, January 15 Application Deadline -- Jan. 16, 2015 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 Tel: 301.441.2100 www.friendscommunityschool.org Only 15-20 minutes up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway!
Reading Stories with Ranger Steph: Our Native American Indian Heritage Every third Monday of the month, 9:30-10:30 a.m., come listen to stories, sing songs, and enjoy other activities at Oxon Cove Park. This month, find out about the contributions of the first Americans. Many people don’t know that the Piscataway People were expert farmers as
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well as hunters! This free program is for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Meet Ranger Steph in the Visitor Barn. For more information, call 301-839-1176. Oxon Cove Park is at 6411 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD.
National Gallery of Art Launches Interactive “NGAkids Art Zone App” Inspired by the Collection The National Gallery of Art has released a new children’s app, NGAkids Art Zone, now available for free on iTunes at nga. gov/content/ngaweb/education/ kids/kids-app. Echoing the style of the NGAkids online interactives, this dynamic app contains eight new hands-on activities inspired by works in the collection, as well as a sketchbook for freehand drawing and a personal exhibition space where users can save and display art they create with the program. The child-friendly interface emphasizes creativity, discovery, careful observation, and artistic self-expression, making the NGAkids app educational and fun for the whole family. Each activity offers various levels of complexity, making the app suitable for all age groups. It is optimized for ages 9-11, but younger children, as well as teens and adults, will find the program enjoyable and artistically motivating. These activities are designed for children to use, unassisted, in a recreational context (although teachers do use them as an entertaining addition to a traditional curriculum). This absorbing, selfdirected interaction creates a personal connection to art that often lasts a lifetime.
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Kids’ Day at the Washington International Horse Show WIHS Kids’ Day is a free, family-friendly event created to introduce and share horses with the local community and give children and their families a chance to learn about horses and equestrian sporand on a closed city street just outside the arena. Rain or shine. wihs.org
Ride Simulators at the American History Museum Take an exciting virtual trip on board one of four simulators. Experience the thrill of careening through an action-packed rollercoaster course or racing in futuristic high-speed hovercars. Choose an adventure: Cosmic Race, Bermuda Triangle, Solar Coaster, Grand Prix Raceway, Astro Canyon, or Glacier Run. Simulators accommodate up to 8 people per ride. Children must be 42” tall unless riding with an adult. $7 per person. Rides lasts 5 minutes and are open the same hours as the museum. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW americanhistory.si.edu
Saturday Art Workshops at the Kreeger Museum On Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.noon, young artists (ages 5-7) use wooden twigs and sticks to create 2D and 3D compositions. They learn visual and additive sculptural techniques while discussing the natural environment and the importance of trees in our landscape. On Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.noon, following a walk through
THE POTOMAC SCHOOL Preparing Students To Lead Exemplary Lives
the woods, participants (ages 8-12) build constructions with found natural objects--acorns, pine cones, twigs, magnolia pods and other items discovered on the museum grounds. On Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-noon, after viewing The Lure of the Forest and observing Brzezinski’s passion for trees, young artists (ages 8-12) inspect cross sections and wood grain and create hand-pulled linoleum prints. Participants will receive instructions on the safe use of carving tools. Kreeger Museum Saturday art workshops are a fun and educational way for children to explore art and art-making in a unique museum environment. The registration fee per child is $20. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 202-338-3552 or emailing visitorservices@kreegermuseum.org. The Kreeger Museum is at 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW. kreegermuseum.org
Kids Euro Festival Kids Euro Festival, the popular annual children’s performing arts festival, returns to the Washington area Oct. 24-Nov. 9, with over 100 free, family-friendly, European-themed events. Designed for children, ages 2-12, and their families, Kids Euro Festival, now in its seventh year, unites the 28 embassies of the European Union and over 20 American cultural institutions, such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Millennium Stage, DC Public Library, Strathmore, Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre, PG County Center for the Visual and Performing Arts and AFI Silver Theatre. All of the embassies and organizations work together to transform the capital region into a Europe-inspired ac-
tion-packed cultural adventure for young people and their families, with no passport required. kidseurofestival.org
US Youth Soccer Obesity Prevention Training for Coaches US Youth Soccer is taking a stand against childhood obesity with Coaching Healthy Habits, a new training to help coaches teach players to make healthier decisions on and off the field. Sugary drinks and calorie-dense snacks are commonly served to young athletes, often due to mistaken assumptions about how many calories kids burn during practice. Studies show that in a typical youth sport training session, children may be active less than half of the time. The Coaching Healthy Habits training module is the first of its kind to equip youth soccer coaches to target these risk factors for childhood obesity with three simple principles: Drink Right (hydrate with water instead of sugary beverages); Snack Smart (snack on fruits and vegetables); and Move More (increase physical activity during practice). Healthy Kids Out of School works with leaders around the country to promote the Drink Right, Move More, and Snack Smart principles for healthy out-of-school time. The program’s Healthy Kids Hub website (HealthyKidsHub.org) provides resources to support the implementation of these principles. u
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School Notes Susan Braun Johnson St. Peter School Embracing the Spirit of Service The spirit of service is palpable at St. Peter School. The eighth grade student council leaders are organizing school wide community outreach projects, the sixth-graders are earnest members of the safety patrol; the fourth-graders are enthusiastically embracing the daily challenge of delivering milk during lunch and the first-graders are eager participants in their student family-led service projects. Every student has embraced the St. Peter School vision – the pursuit of academic excellence, spiritual growth and community service. Fortunately, they are surrounded by role models at home and at school. School counselor Meghan Keller dedicated her summer to teaching English in Ethiopia as a Vincentian Lay Missionary (VLM). The American VLM program sends lay young people committed to serving the poor to cities and villages in Kenya and Ethiopia. Ms. Keller chose to spend her summer teaching second grade and lived with the Daughters of Charity (Vincentian sisters) for five weeks in the city of Jimma, Ethiopia. The Daughters of Charity serve the impoverished population in the Ginjo and Tulema communities which have limited access to clean drinking wa-
St. Peter School’s Ms. Keller with her class in Ethiopia.
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ter, food, clothing, and other basic needs. Children often walk two, three, or even four miles in the rain and mud without shoes to get to the local K-4 Catholic School, Pope John Paul II. In Ethiopia, high school and university are taught exclusively in English so Ms. Keller and her fellow volunteers provided an important opportunity for students and teachers to improve English pronunciation, reading, and writing skills with native English speakers. Calling the experience transformative, Ms. Keller is looking forward to sharing her experience with the students and further inspiring each to give back to their community at home and across the world.
St. Peter School Open House St. Peter School Fall Open Houses will be held on November 5th from 6 – 8 p.m. and November 7 from 9–11 a.m. Prospective families are invited to tour the school and meet with faculty and parents. If you are interested in learning more about the school, please contact Mrs. Deirdre Schmutz at dschmutz@stpeterschooldc.org;202-544-1618 or www.stpeterschooldc.org. –Sally Aman. St. Peter School, 422 Third St. SE.
Amidon-Bowen School Donorschoose.org & Google Gift Art Supplies Google surprised art teacher Greta Schorn in her new classroom by grating her a wish list of art supplies she had wanted for her class. Google arrived with supplies including glue sticks and canvases. Ms. Schorn said that she always felt bad when a child would come to her for a glue stick and she did not have one to give. Donorschoose. org is an educationfunding site that takes teacher’s requests for supplies that they need in the classroom. Google had elected to
McGruff the crime dog with Commander Brown of the First District escort students to school.
fund this effort. This surprise followed a successful first day of classes that played host to appearances from McGruff the crime dog, one of the Washington Nationals Racing Presidents, Commander Brown of the First District, Charles Allen, Naomi Mitchell, Jane English (EBFSC), Thelma Jones (SWNA) and members of the Armed Services from Fort McNair. Backpacks, notebooks and other supplies were given to the kids as they arrived. In addition, names were collected to disseminate baseball tickets donated by the Washington Nationals for a game day that had taken place on September 6th.
Extended Day Amidon-Bowen adopted an extended day this year, allowing room to implement the new Engineering is Elementary (EIE) program into the schedule. The school day now ends at 4:15p.m. Everyone took a moment to remember former ANC 6D Commissioner Ron McBee, who spearheaded opening day for years before his death last year. Bruce DarConte, Near Southeast Community Partners. Amidon-Bowen Elementary.401 Eye St SW, http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/amidonbowen+elementary+school
School Within School at Goding New Community playground at Sherwood Recreation Center Students, staff and parents at School Within School have been excitedly watching construction of the Sherwood playground adjacent to the school, a new state-of-the art play space that will
serve the school and the community. The space between the school and the Sherwood Recreation Center had been underutilized for years, prompting the school and DCPS to collaborate with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of General Services on the beautiful new playground. The city organized a ribbon cutting late in September with food, a moon bounce, cotton candy and more.
School Within School’s Art instructor to present at National Art Education Association National Convention School Within School’s early childhood Atelierista, Marla McLean, was accepted to present at the National Art Education Association’s National Convention in New Orleans in March. She will be representing SWS at the convention with her presentation, “What does curious mean? Curious is wonder!”
School Without School Students Featured in Art Exhibit: Nonuments Three of School Without School’s kindergarten artists were selected to be featured in the exhibit Nonuments in Southwest Washington. The exhibit aims to broaden the idea of monuments to people and concepts not reflected in traditional monuments. Lance Fung’s Nonuments is part of the DC Commission on the Art and Humanities citywide public arts initiative, the 5x5 Project. Nonuments is open through October 6th at 990 4th St SW. All are invited to stop by to experience the exhibit.
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graceful like a ballerina, helpful and fair, athletic, silly and serious (and knowing when to be which).
CHDS Open House
CHDS Second-Grader writing her hopes & dreams. Photo: CHDS Teacher Jill Rosenthal-Harry
-- Allison Klein, School Within School, 920 F St NE, Schoolwithinschool.org
Capitol Hill Day School Capitol Hill Day School’s Hopes and Dreams: Lions and Tigers and . . .Mice? It is a CHDS September tradition for students to record their hopes and dreams for the new school year. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten children share their hopes and dreams with the class, and discuss how their peers and teachers can help everyone achieve their goals. Some of the children’s dreams focused on reading, nature, field trips and making new friends. Others were quite specific, with children wanting to know about seals, sharks, dinosaurs, ninjas, baseball, cheetahs and driving a train. One child’s exhaustive list includes learning about “ponies, zebras, tigers, pigs, wild flowers and wild trees and wild mushrooms, and mice”! In second-grade, students developed academic and personal hopes and dreams. Academic hopes included learning about Queen Marie Antoinette, being a poet, Native Americans, car and truck parts, dangerous weather, space, clothes from 1600-1900, and lions hunting. The personal goals focused on the kind of person each student wants to be: creative, caring about nature,
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CHDS will hold its first admissions open house of the school year on October 14th, at 9 a.m. Please RSVP to Sara Catherine Corbett (scorbett@ chds.org) if you are interested in learning more about the School’s diverse, experiential, and nurturing curriculum, supported by a unique and comprehensive field education program. Look for CHDS at the October 19th Ward 6 Fall Safety Festival and at Hilloween on Halloween! - Jane Angarola, Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Ave, SE; jangarola@chds.org.
Payne Elementary School The 8-Week Miracle at Payne ES! By definition, a miracle is “a surprising and welcome event” and this summer, the Department of General Services (DGS) delivered! Payne Elementary School underwent what DGS calls an “8-Week Miracle”, where what used to be known as a Phase I moderniza-
Payne students receive a warm welcome!
tion is actually a major overhaul of the building that happens during summer break. Payne’s West Wing (C St to the side that is along 14 St) has earned U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification Platinum with features including two levels of modernized classroom spaces, updated auditorium, state-ofthe art Library/Media Center and “cooking kitchen”! Beautiful murals were installed in the entry and auditorium, with more to come for the cafeteria, hallways and student bathrooms. Payne has the distinction of being a DCPS cluster school serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to full-time audiologists and services, the building was looped with conduits that run throughout to channel sound directly to assistive hearing devices of students who wear them. Phase II of the project calls for modernization of the East Wing and installation of a much-needed elevator. The estimated 8-million dollar cost of this project is not included the current approved FY 15 capital budget. Payne needs community support in rallying behind this project and to ensure that funds are allocated to complete modernization in Summer 2015. The Payne School community would like to thank Marshall Moya Design, Coakley Williams and the countless others who have helped (and are helping!) make this possible. - Rakecia Whitaker Hanna, Payne, 1445 C St, SE, www. dcps.dc.gov. www.facebook.com/PayneES.
Eliot-Hine Middle School Companies for Causes (thanks to Joe Weedon) joined with the Aeronautics Industry Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) to launch of rocketry programs at Eliot-Hine and Eastern. Students from both schools, in teams of three to 10, will work with mentors from NAR to design and build rockets to compete in the Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC) 2015 (rocketcontest.org). TARC rockets must carry a raw egg to 800 feet and back safely in 46-48 seconds, along with other parameters. The teams will design and test their rockets throughout the fall and win-
Eliot-Hine students get hands-on training from rocket scientists.
ter before attempting to qualify for the TARC National Finals which will be held on May 9 in The Plains, VA. More than $60,000 in scholarships will be split among the top 10 teams and Raytheon will send the national winner to the Paris Air Show to compete against teams from the UK and France during the International Rocketry Challenge. Eliot-Hine offers classes and clubs that support these partnerships. Robotics class blends both robotics and automation with design and modeling engineering courses. Students are learning how to program and engineer robotic machines. The design and modeling curriculum allows students to explore the design cycle while investigating solutions to everyday issues. The class fits in perfectly with IB as it incorporates technology to help propel student’s abilities beyond the textbook and into several of the IB learner characteristics: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, reflective. Robotics Club meets Mon/Tues from 3:30–4:30 and Rocketry Club meets Tues from 3:30-4:30 at Eastern, and launch rockets one Saturday per month at the Virginia Rocketry Club. - EH parent Heather Schoell. Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Const. Ave. NE. eliothinemiddleschool.org, @EliotHine, and facebook.com/ EliotHineMS.
in the slot on the office door. If you have any questions concerning this fundraiser, please do not hesitate to contact the school. October 31st will close out with a school Pumpkin Patch at the Wee Care Playground presented by Wild Willy Woo Woo. There will be hay, animals to pet, a magic show, and the children will make a scarecrow! Every child will receive a pumpkin. The children will also be dressed in their costumes and trick or treat at neighborhood stores and the National Capitol Bank before arriving at their pumpkin patch. - Valerie M. Carroll, Executive Director, The Hill Preschool, 337 N. Carolina Ave. SE. 202-543-5372.
Tyler Elementary School This school year marks a revival of Tyler’s Arts
Integration focus. All three programs - Creative Arts, Spanish Immersion and Special Education - will experience a renewed focus on the arts with additional professional development offered for teachers, weekly Arts Integration hours for all students, and Parent/Teacher led arts clubs after school. Research has shown that the arts provide students with tools for creativity, communication, comprehension, and making critical choices. We are excited about the impact the arts will have on our Tyler Tigers. In addition to the school-wide emphasis on the arts, all of Tyler’s Creative Arts and many of the Special Education students will begin their 8-week Fall Resident Artist Workshops on September 19th. Each Creative Arts class will be working with a performing or visual artist every Friday afternoon. Some of Tyler’s esteemed local participants include the Corcoran Art Gallery, Step Afrika!, Capoeira Spot, and the Shakespeare Theatre.
The Tyler Mosaic: A Celebration of Learning through the Arts The work of Tyler students will be showcased during two events that will be open to the community on Tuesday, November 25th. Music will be provided by Saxophonist BJ
Hill Preschool The Hill Preschool is anticipating an exciting academic year with many specialized programs that emphasize literacy, math, creativity and the arts. Themes include: All About Me; Getting to Know You and I Like Myself. The HPS Fall fundraiser has begun. Forms were placed in the children’s cubbies and extras can be found
HPS students celebrate Halloween and furry animals.
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Simmons, and there will be a silent auction of art created by both students and local professional artists. More information about “The Tyler Mosaic: A Celebration of Learning through the Arts” will be forthcoming. To learn more, share your talents with our students, or to make a tax-exempt contribution, please email the committee at growingdc@ gmail.com. Tyler Elementary,1001 G St, SE. For www.visit TylerElementary.net, Anika D. Wilson at anikacd@yahoo.com.
Friends Community School
Friends Community School is a small Quaker kindergarten to eighth-grade school that educates children of all beliefs. It has a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 12 in kindergarten and about 18 in other grades. More information about the school and the Fall Fair is available by contacting Connie Belfiore, Director of Admissions and Outreach, at connie@friendscommunityschool.org or 301-4412100 x129 or at www.friendscommunityschool.org. - Eric Rosenthal.
Friends Community School to Celebrate the Season at Annual Fall Fair
Capitol Hill Cluster School
Students, families, alumni and friends will celebrate the annual Friends Community School Fall Fair on October 26th, from Noon – 4 p.m. All are invited, especially families who are considering sending their children to Friends and want to learn more about the school community. The Fall Fair will include student-run oldfashioned games, a moon bounce, a toy and book sale, entertainment and plenty of good food prepared by local restaurants and school families. The fair will take place rain or shine. Last year at the Fall Fair the community celebrated the expansion of its LEED Silver Certified building that included a lower school science lab, an art studio and a performing arts space, as well as additional classrooms, offices and much-awaited student lockers. Students began to use the space this past year with great success.
The new additions at Peabody this year start at the top, with the assistant principal, Scott Harding, coming to the school from Maury Elementary School. Mr. Harding was the recipient of the Rubenstein Award for highly effective teaching in 2012. Two popular programs also now have brand new spaces. The Food Prints program, Peabody’s cooking and gardening class led by Christy Przystawik, has a new dedicated space in the basement and the music program, led by Luke Hoffman, now has its own space on the fourth floor. Also new this year; Peabody has been invited to join the DCPS Family Engagement Collaborative and will be expanding the number of teachers doing home visits for school families.
Peabody Primary Campus
Watkins Elementary School
Watkins welcomed the Playworks program, which aims to encourage creative, inclusive play at recess. Coach Brian Carter is introducing new recess games and activities to the students. The school is reopening its Science Lab for grades three to five. The kids will be using new FOSS (Full Option Science System) kits. Grades one and two will be experimenting with “Engineering is Elementary.” Watkins has also been chosen as a Math Focus School because of its advancStudents play outside Friends Community School, which will hold its annual Fall es in math scores. The Fair Sunday, October 26, 2014. All are welcome to attend. Photo;Sharon Natoli
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Luke Hoffman, Peabody’s music teacher, now has his own dedicated space at the school.
school will receive coaching, professional development and materials to further improve math education. Math scores increased in every statistical category last year. The school has new art and PE teachers. Art teacher Claire Reintgen was a graphic designer for the Humane Society before getting a master’s in arts education from the Corcoran School of Arts + Design. PE teacher Ryan Deak is a longtime runner from Florida who studied at George Mason.
Stuart-Hobson Middle School Stuart-Hobson has a new assistant principal, Steven Miller. He came from Madison High School in Fairfax County, where he was an assistant principal. Originally from Kentucky, Miller graduated from the University of Florida. The school’s renovation continues. Students have a new exhibition center, cafeteria and all new windows. A dance studio, weight rooms, auditorium and TV production studio are expected to be completed in October. Students are expected to return from Winter Break to a completed three-story addition with an art and museum-prep room on the bottom floor, a band room on the second, and drama and choir room on the third. The school is also participating in the Hochman Writing Program, which is aimed at helping students improve reading comprehension, sharpen their analytical thinking, and express themselves with more clarity. --Cluster School PTA Communications; Peabody: 425 C St NE; Watkins: 420 12th St SE; Stuart-Hobson:10 E St NE; www.capitolhillclusterschool.org.
Van Ness Elementary School DCPS First Meeting with Navy Yard Community about Van Ness opening On September 23rd, DCPS officials including Dr. Nathaniel Beers and Monica Liang-Aguirre came to a well-attended meeting by invitation of the Van Ness Parent Group. They described plans for the Van Ness School at 1150 5th St SE, which will open for the 2015-2016 school year. With a renovation budget of 15 million dollars, design of the building will begin this fall and a Phase I renovation is scheduled to begin in January, 2015. Dr. Beers stated that the school would only serve 3 and 4 year olds for the first year (adding a grade per year after that) and have an “executive director” instead of a principal. DCPS presented no overarching vision for the school’s programming or focus, was unable to present a timeline of action items for the next year (including formation of a SIT team or LSAT), and was unable to verbalize any concrete plan for student recruitment or involving the community in planning. The DCPS plan met with widespread community disapproval. Residents of the Navy Yard area as well as other Capitol Hill parents argued that the school needed a planning year principal and kindergarten. Unsatisfied with the “guesstimates” and old statistics from the 2010 census which were presented, parents asked repeatedly for DCPS to show the demographic data, surveys, or research they used to determine the grade levels they would serve at Van Ness. Navy Yard residents and friends showed great
passion and will continue to push for an excellent school with high quality leadership. And while DCPS initially dismissed Brent ES staff who offered to help with the Van Ness launch (both feed into Jefferson MS), Dr. Beers stated at the meeting he may be willing to partner with Brent for planning. DCPS pledged to communicate about Van Ness through the VNPG, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress. Kelly Stormer, President, Van Ness Parent Group; Van Ness Elementary, 1150 5th St SE. @VNPG2015 and facebook/VanNessParentGroup
Maury Elementary School Blasting off to Space Camp This past June, Maury Elementary’s Think Tank and STEM teacher, Vanessa Ford, was chosen to be part of the Honeywell Educator @ Space Academy program in Huntsville, Alabama. This professional development opportunity allowed her to experience life as an astronaut and learn from experts and scientists currently working in the field. She was so inspired by her experience that she decided that going to Space Camp should be a yearly event for Maury’s 5th grade students. While at Space Camp, students will complete simulated missions, meet real astronauts, learn about the history of the space program and experience 1/6 gravity. They will stay in International Space Station style dorms and complete teambuilding activities. This experience will truly be life changing. The students are working hard to raise the funds necessary to send the entire class. Any person or organization interested in supporting their efforts is encouraged to email vanessa.ford@dc.gov. Monetary donations can be made directly to the Maury PTA.
More Science News Maury students are fully implementing the Next Generation Science Standards, exploring science and engineering in new and exciting ways. September and October mark the 4th Annual Maury Monarch Madness (raising and releasing butterflies); 3rd and 4th grades are partnering with Toni Burnham and DC Beekeepers for the first of two 6-week beekeeping sessions; and many grades are collecting data about life cycles and weather. You can follow the learning on Twitter @maurythinktank. Elizabeth Nelson. Maury, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE. mauryelementary.com.
Eastern High School District Students Lead the Charge for Healthier Food Straight from the Garden On September 17th, Eastern Senior High School students showcased their teaching gardens where they grew vegetable, herbs, and flowers for their school and community. The teaching garden was established through a partnership between the school, the American Heart Association and CareFirst. The program is ongoing and features a robust curriculum that integrates learning from the garden and the classroom setting. “Studies show that this is the first generation of children who may be survived by their parents due to the early onset of diseases like high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. It is our hope that we can help to reverse this trend one school at a time,” said Maria Tildon, Senior Vice-President of Public Policy and Community Affairs from CareFirst. The event kicked off with student-led tours in the garden. Eastern Senior High School teachers and garden coordinators, Rickita Perry and Cassandra Bell, gave opening remarks. CareFirst’s Tildon, and D.C. Councilmembers Tommy Wells and Yvette Alexander shared the importance of teaching gardens to the students and the community. Students then led demonstrations on how to maintain and harvest the garden. The event concluded with a Simple Cooking with Heart demo on how to make a simple, 30-minute, $3 hearthealthy lasagna. The recipe included vegetables right from the garden and was a big hit. In a recently published report issued by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, obesity in youths ages 10-17 in the District of Columbia is at an alarming 21.4 percent which ranks DC as the third most obese state in the nation for that age range. The teaching gardens program was created by the American Heart Association as part of an established garden program at Eastern Senior High School and funded by a $25,000 grant from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region’s largest health insurer. The goal of the program is to help lower childhood obesity rates by teaching children good eating habits that they also can share with their families. Eastern HS, 1700 East Capitol St, www.easternhighschooldc.org. Hannah Ross. u
Maury’s Vanessa Ford at Space Camp
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{home & garden} Growing Indoor Edibles
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Article and photos: Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA
irst, a confession: I kill houseplants. More than one visitor has suggested I put a suffering plant out of its misery, saying, “You’re a landscape architect – it’s bad advertising.” When my indoor plants have a purpose, like being edible, I do better. Not only that, but recent advances in indoor growing methods and technology are making this type of gardening, even year-round, more affordable than ever before, though not necessarily less complicated.
How to Think About Indoor Edibles There are three considerations involved in indoor growing: the growing system, what plants you grow, and what those plants need to thrive. For most people, some combination of cost, available space and time will guide choices in growing systems, which range from fairly simple to fantastically complex. If you search online you will find many cool DIY ideas for creating shallow, attractive planters for sunny windowsills. This simple, low-tech option is great if you have a sunny windowsill, no cats, and you want to grow wheat grass, lettuce, and other greens that do not need
more than a few inches of soil or other growing media. If you’re home often enough to water you won’t need to irrigate. Start here if you are not looking for a serious new hobby and want to spend under $100 for your winter micro-greens. Online resources abound, including www.insideurbangreen.org, with its long list of topics and videos. See especially, articles on SIP, or sub-irrigation planting, where you can recycle yoghurt containers and straws to create watering wells below your soil, evening out the watering cycle and making out-of-town week-ends possible without needing irrigation or an apartment sitter.
Growing Systems – Cash or Credit If you don’t have a sunny windowsill, you will need to purchase grow lights and possibly reflectors and circulating fans. If your temperature is uneven, you may want to purAn inexpensive, energy-efficient florescent light and simple shelves for indoor growing
micro-greens grown in an unheated greenhouse in winter
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chase electrically heated mats to place below your plant trays. You can purchase Gro-Block plant starter cubes made of spun fiberglass or other soilless growing media made of spun cotton or recycled soda bottles, or designer soil mixes with names like Ancient Forest or Happy Frog. You can purchase liquid fertilizers with names like Buddha Grow or Buddha Bloom, or bags of bat guano imported from Mexico. According to Chris Hauser at Capital City Hydroponics in Petworth, which sells all these products, this is the “craft micro-brew equivalent of soil media.” When I look at the trade names of these products, I feel like Diane Keaton’s character in Annie Hall who famously said, “I love being reduced to a cultural stereotype.” As I write this, a bottle of Buddha Grow by Roots Organics sits on my desk, and a 60 pound bag of Happy Frog soil mix rests in the back of my Prius. I wasn’t kidding about Annie Hall. Do you have to spend a fortune? No. For a system with lights you can get one generic set of shelves from a place like the Container Store, plus one set of fluorescent lights (under $90) and start small. If you want to take a dip into hydroponics you will spend more. These systems have reservoirs, pumps, growing trays, water purifiers and lights. Think of it as a hobby akin to salt water aquariums, which is very satisfying, but demanding and potentially pricey. If you are not growing hydroponically, you will either use a soil media or a soilless media. Chefs like growing micro-greens in soilless media because they can pull up entire plants without having to painstakingly wash soil out of them. This is where the liquid fertilizer comes in. If you have kitchen counter space, consider installing fluorescent grow lights below your cabinets, and place soilless growing trays below them for a conveniently located and attractive source of greens, or leafy herbs like basil parsley and tarragon. One trip to Capital Hydroponics (http:// capcityhydro.com/) will make all this quite clear, as they are a full range organic gardening supply store, and the only retail and wholesale hydroponic supplier in the region. Founded by Mike Bayard three years ago in the up and coming Petworth neighborhood, they are already scouting around for a second location. The store has a speakeasy feel. When you go to their street address at 821 Upshur Street, NW,
Go around the alley and buzz to enter Capital City Hydroponics
you find Domku, (http://domkucafe.com/) a Scandinavian and Eastern European restaurant . Capital City Hydroponics is down the alley behind the street, with a metal door and buzzer. Once you are buzzed in, go downstairs for the basement level shop. You will find everything there except plants.
Lights The biggest reason indoor growing has become easier, less space intensive, more affordable and energy efficient than before is the dramatic advance in lighting technology over the past five years. This will continue, ultimately making large scale indoor growing economically viable. For example, you can purchase one LED fixture, the SolarFlaire 220, by California Lightworks, for $500. It lasts forever, lights a 4’x4’ area, emits almost no heat, costs pennies to run, and offers complete spectrum illumination. Four years ago the same fixture cost $2,000. Prices are still falling. Florescent lighting has also seen vast improvements both in energy efficiency and light quality. According to Hauser at Capital City Hydroponics, two American companies are “the Ford and Chevy of indoor lighting.” They are Hydro Farm, out of Petaluma, California, and Sunlight Supply from Vancouver, Washington. These light options replace the old ubiquitous high pressure sodium lights that are costly to run, heat emitting, and cumbersome with their fixtures and ballasts.
What Indoor Plants Want Planting a radish seed outdoors is simple. Nature determines light intensity and duration, humidity, moisture, and temperature. Planting in-
Thomas Landscapes Over 20 Years of Experience doors requires you to consider and control all these factors as well as nutrients which must be managed indoors or out. Some plants like it hot, like peppers and tomatoes. Others like it cooler, like lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, parsley or arugula. Greens are shallow rooted. Tomatoes, peppers, and carrots need more root depth. Radishes are in between. The company, Mighty ‘Mato (http://mightymato.com/) sells grafted fruit and vegetable plants, including cherry tomatoes that are great for growing indoors. The root stock of one plant variety are grafted with the body of another, offering greater disease resistance and bigger yields. Hauser claims they offer a one foot tall cherry tomato with incredible yields, suitable for indoor growing. That might make it worth paying $12 for a single tomato plant . Finally, I have grown salad greens in a small free-standing greenhouse, available from Costco for under $800. If you have the yard space, this is another option. To harvest the greens, I cut or tear off selected outer leaves of each plant and never pull any plants out entirely. My greenhouse stayed above freezing all winter, even though it was not mechanically heated. By opening and closing the door and window, I could control the temperature well into May, when it became too hot and I moved the operation outdoors again. As autumn begins, so does a new gardening season. Cheryl Corson is a licensed landscape architect who works on Capitol Hill and beyond. She is an avid gardener and fermenter, and just happily re-launched her web site, www.cherylcorson.com. u
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{home and garden}
Green Seed Garden Growing Up
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Photos and Story by Rindy O’Brien
all is a bittersweet time of year for gardeners. The tomatoes are dwindling on the vines, and the fresh vegetables enjoyed in salads, tarts, and soups are gone. Visits to the garden that became such a big part of our summer routine are now less frequent. If lucky, the squash, pumpkins, and gourds are coming into their own and will be ready for Halloween. For many Hill gardeners, their summer gardens were not steps out of their backdoors, but a few blocks walk to a community garden. Some gardeners may have tended their gardens for a decade and for others it may have been the first time they tried planting seeds and tending growing vegetables through all the different stages. Some of the fun of community gardens is in the diversity found in the gardeners and the enthusiasm that each gardener brings to his or her plot.
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ABOVE: The water shed at the garden holds a large barrel for watering the garden, and has been given the nickname of the Taj Mahal of Hill East.
BELOW: The Green Seed Community Garden is an interior gem of space between 17th and 18th Streets, SE.
According to DC’s Field to Fork Network, Ward 6 has ten community gardens, more than any other ward in the city. The gardens can be found alongside public parks or tucked in alleys between blocks. Gardens like the Hilton Community Garden and King’s Court Community Garden have been around for many years. Others like Hill East Community Garden and the Green Seed Com-
est community gardens in Ward 6. It is also the biggest one. The garden has developed in different stages. It was first created in 2008, and was known as Green East. Neighbors decided that the empty lot behind their houses could be so much more than weeds and abandoned boats. The garden was designed to include space for families to picnic and children to play and over time the gar-
Dan Fitzgerald is President of the Green Seed Garden finding that the garden gives his family more than just healthy vegetables.
munity Garden are newer and building on the success of the older ones. Community gardens fill a very important need by providing places for people to produce their own food and teach their children the fundamentals of caring for plants and enjoying their produce. They are also a place for urban residents to spend time outdoors and build community.
The New Kid of the Block The Green Seed Garden is located between 17th, 18th, E Street, and D Street, SE. It is one of the new-
den won over reluctant neighbors. By 2010, the second half of the alley space became available to develop a second garden, and the Green Seed Garden was born. The garden now has 75 plots and has gardeners that can just stroll out their back steps to tend their plants and others who come from all over the city to enjoy the garden. Dan Fitzgerald, the President of the Green Seed Garden, says that many of the gardeners involve their children in tending one of the 4x12 foot raised beds. “We don’t have specific
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Even cats enjoy the serenity of the Green Seed Garden.
programs for children,” Dan went on to say, “but by having such a large space, we have been able to design the gardens with gathering spaces. Green Seed Garden is probably the only community garden around that has room for an inflatable Moon Bounce in the community garden space. Many garden families plan their kids’ birthday parties at the garden. And we are informal enough to be able to deal with the impact of kids in the garden.”
Maintaining the Garden Dan has been President of the Green Seed garden for three years and says while no one seeks out this job, he has found the longer he does it, the easier it gets. The Green Seed Garden is a 501C-3 organization, which means it owns and operates the garden, itself. “We have five Board members and right now we spend a lot of our time working on our long-term goals. This fall the garden board is finalizing steps to purchase the land under city foreclosure procedures that the non-profit has been pursuing for several years. We are very hopeful that we will have raised the necessary funds to finish this important goal by the end of this year,” Dan noted. Other gardens are part of DC’s Depart-
ment of Parks and Recreation, or part of the Capitol Hill Community Garden Land Trust, whose mission is to create, acquire, own, preserve, manage and sustain community garden areas, principally on Capitol Hill. The Trust currently holds leases to or owns three of DC’s community gardens, and helps garden managers of Capitol Hill gardens coordinate their efforts. Green Seed Garden charges gardeners fifty dollars a year to rent one of the plots, which is a little more than other gardens charge. The funds help cover the cost of water, pays for hoses and mulch for the walkways between the plots, and helps build a reserve for future projects. One project the Green Seed Garden has completed is the building of a shed that contains a very large barrel to hold water that is then distributed to the plots through an intricate hose system around the garden. Dan laughs, “The water shed is the envy of many other Hill gardens, and we know some gardeners call it the Taj Mahal of Hill East.” In the future, beyond finishing the process of purchasing the land, the garden would like to have a water meter put in, which would cost up to $15,000.
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Gardeners Line Up Even with ten community gardens on the Hill, there are waiting lines to get one of the plots. There are urban legends of people waiting a lifetime to get a plot, but big gardens like Green Seed Garden turn over plots yearly. Submitting your name to your favorite garden is your first step to becoming a community gardener. Fall is a good time to do this. Green Seed Garden actually has a process that gives an advantage to its neighbors. It prepares two lists of interested gardeners that distinguishes those who live within several blocks of the garden from those farther away. It alternates between the two lists as plots become available. “As time goes on, it seems that gardeners who live near the garden use it more than others who have to take time getting here,” Dan says, “so we think over time the gardeners will come even more from the Hill East neighborhood.” Building community is important, and the garden hosts Easter Egg hunts, Halloween parties, and chili bake offs over the course of the year to keep growing the community as gardeners wait for the spring thaw. If you are interested in helping the Green Seed Garden reach its funding goals this year to make the final purchase of land, or want to put your name on the list for next year’s season, contact Dan Fitzgerald at dbfitzgerald@yahoo.com
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Rindy O’Brien is a photographer and community gardener. She can be reached at rindyobrien@gmail.com u
October 2014 H 151
{home and garden}
Living
LARGE in a Small Space by Mary Lynn Stevens
E
ight-hundred forty square feet? What was I thinking? But it was a well-sited, two-level row house, built nearly 100 years ago for Navy Yard employees, with a fireplace and a 76-footlong garden. It became mine.
Loving a Small Space What seems daunting at first can turn liberating. • Small spaces use less energy. Fresh air and sunlight penetrate further into the house, and coupled with less area to heat and cool, energy costs are lower. • Small spaces take less time to clean. Fewer square feet equals fewer hours cleaning. And who wants to scrub more toilets? • Small spaces are cozier. Who needs that vestigial formal living room? With compact spaces, parties have no lonely cul-de-sacs. • Small spaces force you to be smarter. In a well-designed compact kitchen, it’s no more than two to three steps to anything in the triangle of sink-refrigerator-cooktop/oven. Everything has a place; if it doesn’t, it’s gone. Treasured are items with multiple uses.
Remodeling a Small Space My row house kitchen, renovated on the cheap side in the mid-1970s, was going downhill: loose floor tiles, unhinged cabinet doors, a leaky dishwasher, an intemperate oven, no insulation in the
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The compact, yet luxurious, kitchen in a small Capitol Hill townhouse. Photo: Anne Rokus
north wall and a free-standing pantry prone to falling. But I wasn’t ready yet to redo it. The moment came on the 2013 Capitol Hill House Tour. I walked into a small kitchen and our eyes met –“he” was a two-foot wide, 79 ½ -inchtall, sleek and handsome refrigerator, the answer to my space problem. I was in love. So I contacted Phil Campbell of Traditions General Contracting who brought Myron Ward, architect, onto the team, with myself as designer. “The main design challenge was to create a space, in a 145 square-foot area, that could be used in a variety of ways. It had to function as a working kitchen with ample storage and counter space. Additionally, it had to serve as a private sitting and entertainment area” noted Ward.
1. Every Inch Counts A laser level was used for precise measurements. One-half-inch wall board was replaced with ¼-inch so the refrigerator door could close. Better to know beforehand then to find out when the refrigerator was being moved into place. Before the remodel, the soffit along the kitchen wall dropped 18 inches from the ceiling. Campbell discovered it could be trimmed to six inches by repositioning pipes and wiring, allowing an extra foot for cabinets. The back door, which opened inward, was removed. The new door, with impact glass eliminating the need for the security gate, opened out-
ward, clearing the four inches needed for the refrigerator door to open completely.
2. Planning is Key All furniture and equipment on the first floor was stored to make room for staging construction materials, equipment, casework and appliances. Explained Campbell: “working in a small space has a huge management impact. You can’t order all the materials at once since there’s no place to store them. You have to stage who can work on a particular day. Some trades you can’t combine. Others have to work to a certain point and stop so another skilled workman can pick up their portion. In a small space, there is no room for multitasking.” Every surface has to be usable. In addition to the three countertops, the reclaimed-cherry-wood bar complete with knot hole, from Treincarnation, provides an eating area. The island sports a cutting board from Eastern Market on a cantilever. Out of the way when not in use, it can be flipped up for chopping or as a landing place for pans. The television is wall-mounted so it opens up the space below. An outlet in the pantry allows use of stored appliances and keeps them off counters.
3. Make it Look Larger The back window was enlarged and fitted with impact glass, eliminating its security bars. Ward noted that it “paired with the full-sized glass in
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the door to wash the space with light and a garden vista. Opening up the visual field took the space from cramped nook to a room with a view.” To keep an open look, materials were repeated throughout the room. Ward noted that “because we were using a variety of materials and textures in a small space, we had to take steps to counterbalance this. The same slab of granite was used on all three countertops and thought was given to the placement of the striations. The pattern runs across the countertops and up the wall at the back splash (taking the eye upward) and serves to knit the space and the different elements together. Also, the floor tile in the kitchen, the tile on the wall around the fireplace and the stone jamb and window sill all share common tones and serve to complete the weave. ” Now my space feels large. I don’t regret at all that initial decision to “live small.” Mary Lynn Stevens appreciates the input on this article from Phil Campbell, Traditions General Contracting and Myron Ward, Architect. u
Dear Garden Problem Lady, by Wendy Blair Our Nandina plant has no berries. What’s wrong? Nandinas thrive and produce berries in shady as well as sunny spots. They do not need another plant to fertilize them. If your plant’s flowering stems were cut off this past spring, by human hands or by frost – either before or after blooming – it would be unable to make berries this year. But otherwise, I can think of nothing, unless you happen to have a cultivar that does not produce berries. This is unlikely. I have a problem with the fact that you listed Goldenrod as a good choice for a perennial that will bloom all autumn. Don’t you know how invasive it is? A butterfly asked me to list it. Goldenrod (Solidago) is a native plant treasured by our rapidly disappearing songbirds, which eat Goldenrod for its nectar. Pollinated by insects, not by wind, Goldenrod is easy to pull out by the roots. For humans, its tall height, strength and golden beauty should count for a lot! I think we have Mahonia in too shady a spot. After two years, only one of our plants flowered, and that flower – so chartreusely gorgeous on a February day – was very very small. Could you tell me what kinds of shade are good for shade-loving plants, and what kinds of shade are too shady? We do learn only by trial and error in these matters. Mahonia adapts, of course, but generally full shade is a tad too shady for it. You probably should move it to a spot that has “partial shade” (also known as “partial sun”!). Here are the agreed-upon limits – and of course these things change as surrounding shrubs, trees and tall flowers grow up around. Full shade is only two hours of sun – or less. Partial sun (partial shade) is four to six hours of sun. Full sun is six or more hours of sun.
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I have just fallen in love with dahlias. How much work are they to grow? Lots. First, dahlias cost big money to buy. Second, you need to protect them all winter, best done by digging up the roots, drying them, and storing in a cool dry place until after all danger of frost is over. Then you replant. Love is blind. Love involves suffering. But oh, love makes the world go round. Do go for it. Dahlias are gorgeous. Almost every state has a dahlia society. Ours in DC is 75 years old. http://nationalcapitaldahlia.org The Capitol Hill Garden Club’s October 14, 2014 program on the Benefits of Green Roofs convenes at 7 pm at the NE Library, corner Maryland Ave. and 7th St. NE. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to the Problem Lady c/o The Capitol Hill Garden Club at andrew@hillrag.com. Your problems might prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. u
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October 2014 H 159
{the last word}
If you knew Paul and wish to honor his memory, please contribute to Capitol Hill Village. Noris Weiss Malvey – nwm823@yahoo.com
Dr. Paul Malvey: In Memorium
O In Memory of Paul F. Malvey
P
aul F. Malvey died on August 28, 2014. He leaves behind family and friends who love and miss him, as well as treasured memories of laughter, generosity, and compassion. Paul possessed an endlessly inquisitive mind, adventurous spirit, and larger-than-life persona. Paul was a financial economist who retired in 2003 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he was the senior career official responsible for U.S. government finance and debt management policy, and the Treasury’s primary liaison with major financial market participants. For seven years he also chaired an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Committee (OECD) committee of sovereign debt managers from the thirty largest industrialized countries. He received a B.A. in mathematics from Merrimack College and an M.A. in economics from the University of Notre Dame. Paul loved being a mentor and teacher – prior to his service at Treasury, he taught economics at Catholic University of America for ten years. While volunteering at the VA Hospital in Washington, DC he taught residents how to play chess and coached others in photography and computer skills. He was an active volunteer and Board member for Capitol Hill Village, an organization so close to his heart – providing him many friends and an opportunity to give back to his neighbors and community. At heart, Paul was a sailor. He was never happier than when sailing, be it the Chesapeake, the British Virgin Islands, or as an award-winning navigator-tactician with a team of friends in offshore races during the 80s. He passed on that passion to his son Ryan, nephew Chris, and to me. I’ll always treasure those times with him.
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September 16, 1946–August 28, 2014 ur friend Paul Malvey died Thursday August 28, 2014, at 10pm at Sibley Hospital. Paul underwent successful back surgery Thursday, August 21, to relieve unrelenting pain. However, the next day on August 22 Paul suffered a heart attack while still at the hospital. According to his own medical directive, he was taken off life support on the 27th. He had been unconscious since the attack, only occasionally opening his eyes without focusing. He died 36 hours after being removed from his breathing apparatus. Paul was from suburban Boston and was baptized a Red Sox fan. He received his doctorate in economics from the University of Notre Dame after completing his baccalaureate at Merrimack College in Massachusetts. He was unique in sharing alumni status of both colleges attended by Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yaztremski. However, his baseball passion drifted away from the BoSox and became anchored with the Nats. Paul came to Washington to teach at Catholic University. Among his students was Maureen Dowd who became a New York Times columnist. Yet she does not write about economics. He left teaching to work nearly a quarter century at the U.S. Treasury Department. He was proud that he was the official who determined each Monday morning how much the government needed to borrow in the credit markets. In his youth Paul was a baseball catcher and a hockey player which contributed to the double digit number of concussions he received in his life. As an adult he thrived as a sailor. He was a teammate on several championship yachting crews. After retirement in 2003, Paul spent time pontificating, using his classical Greek training to discuss the etymology of words, telling stories, laugh-
ing and tasting beers at the storied Hawk’n’Dove and later at its replacement, the new Hawk’n’Dove. His retirement also found him on the board of the Capitol Hill Village where he was dynamic force and a successful fundraiser. He also spent his retirement years getting hip replacements, the third the year before his death. His address is 823 E Street SE, Washington, DC. He is survived by his wife Noris and a son Ryan who lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Paul Meagher – pmeagher43@aol.com
The District Needs a Rail Plan
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uring the Joint Public Oversight Hearing regarding CSX’s proposed expansion of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel, public testimony overwhelmingly opposed the expansion due in part to: (i) the proposal’s grave public health and safety risks; (ii) the detrimental impact the proposal will have on passenger and commuter rail in the District; (iii) the lack of objectivity and accountability by DDOT in overseeing the review process and DDOT’s pre-approval of the project before any environmental review had been conducted; (iv) lack of authority to expand the right of way; and (v) the lack of a meaningful mitigation and benefits package for residents and the District as a whole. DCSafeRail supports the DC Council’s District Rail Plan, and we believe that the Rail Plan will review all rail infrastructure goals in the District in a holistic and objective manner. Part of this review should include whether expansion of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel is in the District’s best interest and whether there are better alternatives. Accordingly, we ask the DC Council to (i) enact legislation prohibiting DDOT from issuing any rail permits, including those required for CSX’s proposed tunnel expansion, and (ii) request a suspension of the issuance of the proposal’s Record of Decision unless and until: The District Rail Plan is complete; and the environmental review is re-performed and/or modified so that it includes a careful analysis of the conclusions and recommendations of the District Rail Plan. There is ample precedent for a local government to reject a proposed private project that threatens the health and safety of its citizens. In fact, just two days after the hearing, news broke that Maryland transportation officials cancelled a longplanned CSX intermodal rail facility in the Morrell Park neighborhood of Baltimore because the proposal, according to Baltimore City Mayor Stepha-
nie Rawlings-Blake, had created a burden “at the expense of our residents and local businesses.” Baltimore and Maryland stood to gain tremendously from CSX’s proposal – both in terms of permanent jobs in the port as well as additional tax revenues. Despite those benefits, Maryland officials determined that the human cost was still too high. Here in DC the analysis is much easier. There is no benefit to the District by expanding the tunnel, and the costs to District residents are significant. And now that the Baltimore double-stacking terminal has been canceled, CSX’s primary rationale for expanding the Virginia Avenue Tunnel is called into question. In response to CSX’s continued disregard for the community here in the District, we are looking to the DC Council to firmly represent the community’s interests in this matter. Maureen Cohen Harrington DCSafeRail.org, cohenharrington@gmail.com
In Response The Value of Historic Preservation
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he article by Norm Metzger in the September issue is very good, and Historic Preservation came late, if anything. We could have saved some excellent buildings like Mary’s Blue Room on East Capital St. and the 200 block of Penn. Ave. SE. The Preservation Act of ‘78 is also a fine document, but it is in its implementation that problems can arise. The Act is silent as to what architectural style is desired, or what in practice contributes to our district. For example, the Act of 78 states “....to assure that new construction in an historic district is compatible with the character of the historic district......” This excellent dictum however is not totally visible in the certain areas. Look at 7th St SE, by our beloved Eastern Market, and there are buildings recently erected that do not seem to fit in with any historic criterion. We have one story buildings that are required to stay that way, whereas you will find five-story buildings going up in a block that is predominantly lower. Greater co-operation between the preservationists and the builders/renovators is needed. Great delays now occur so that working in the historic district has become very costly............or very lengthy, 29 years of eyesore on the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Ave., 15 yrs at the Beau Bogan site, and so on. I hope some consistent guidance could be given to the owners of one-story buildings as to what they can with do them, and also to develop some teamwork between builders, renovators and preservationists so
that we can work with each other to finish out our beloved Capitol Hill. Gerry Dunphy – fgtdunphy@gmail.com. Mr. Dunphy has been working on the Hill since 1962, restoring and building houses.
Opposing DDOT’s Reopening of the SE Freeway
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t a properly noticed meeting with a quorum present, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B voted 9-0 to send these comments to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) on its plans to reopen the SE Freeway segment between Barney Circle and 11th Street SE. The Commission is strongly opposed to DDOT reopening this freeway segment. In fact, we don’t understand why DDOT made a decision to reopen it once it was closed to facilitate 11th Street Bridge project work on Capitol Hill. ANC 6B has several reasons why the reopening is inadvisable: 1. Reopening the freeway undermines the planning and transportation studies underway for this area. The Office of Planning, in conjunction with DDOT and the community, is just now finishing recommendations on design concepts for the old freeway space that will extend the neighborhood grid, facilitate pedestrian connections to the Anacostia waterfront and provide a more neighborhood sensitive vehicle connection between Barney Circle and 11th Street. DDOT’s decision to reopen the freeway undermines this study and will continue the decades-long separation between the neighborhood and the waterfront. 2. Reopening the freeway is a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars. These dollars could and should be used to fund the final product of the ongoing planning and transportation study. 3. Reopening the freeway will not relieve traffic congestion. Instead, it will exacerbate traffic issues in our neighborhoods, particularly as the freeway draws more and more commuters off of I-295 and the 11th Street Bridge and onto 17th and 19th Streets and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. 4. Reopening this limited access freeway will create a constituency for a high speed con-
nection through DC. This is the antithesis of the direction in which the community planning process is moving and, thus, may impact our ability to achieve a more neighborhood friendly alternative. 5. Reopening the freeway will take the pressure off DDOT to complete the Barney Circle & Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study in a timely fashion. We already suspect that DDOT does not have plans to restart this study until early 2015. The Commission has been told that political pressure is pushing DDOT to reopen the freeway and that this pressure results from congestion along I-295. Given that one rationale for the 11th Street Bridge project was to keep traffic on I-295 rather than have it cut through the Ward 6 streets, we strongly urge DDOT to spend time and energy to fix the congestion problems on I-295. ANC 6B would fully support such an effort. ANC 6B seeks timely completion of the Office of Planning Southeast Boulevard Neighborhood Study, followed by incorporation of the study results into a revived DDOT Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study. Lastly, should DDOT continue its ill-advised plan to reopen the freeway, the Commission wants a commitment for a data collection effort, in conjunction with the above transportation planning study, to analyze the changes in travel patterns and volumes that result. Advisory Neighborhood Committee 6B
Vote for Mr. Rabbit
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ttached are four images I took with my smartphone of the write-in campaign currently underway in our front yard for Mr. Rabbit, one of more than a dozen yard animals we have living in our garden at the corner of Second Street and Duddington Place, Southeast. If you would like to know more about this campaign which is becomingly increasing popular with our neighbors, please contact me or my husband, Bert Kubli. We will keep the campaign going--by popular demand--through the election. Mark McElreath – mmcelreath@comcast.net u
October 2014 H 161
H Street Festival
FALL FESTIVALS! Photo: Rhonda Singleton
photos Andrew Lightman
Barracks Row Festival
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Photo: Rhonda Singleton