Mid City DC Magazine November 2016

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NOVEMBER 2016



MIDCITY neXt IssUe! december 10

contents noveMber 2016

16 06 08 42

what’s on washington calendar classifieds

out and about 16 18 20

on tHe cover:

your neighborhood 22 26

Photo: Stefan Karl as The Grinch with Seth Bazacas as Young Max. Photo: PAPARAZZIBYAPPOINTMENT.COM. See Kids and Family Notebook on page 36.

REI Opens In NOMA • Stacy Peterson Insatiable • Max Moline Depeche Art • Phil Hutinet

28 30 32 34

Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner The District Beat: Anita Bonds, Renters’ Gladiator • Jonetta Rose Barras The Numbers: Welfare Time Limits Hurt Children • Kate Coventry Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann East Side News • Max Moline Bloomingdale Buzz • Max Moline

kids and family 36

Notebook • Kathleen Donner

at home 41

34

Changing Hands • Don Denton

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Thomas Landscapes REDEFINING BEAUTY ONE CLIENT AT A TIME!

Over 20 Years of Experience

EST.

1976

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Member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers

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Joel N. Martin Licensed in DC, MD & VA Since 1986 DC resident since 1970 / Shaw resident since 2002

202-274-1882 office direct 202-338-8900 office main

“honesty, integrity, service & market knowledge” each office independently owned & operated

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com

PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com • Copyright © 2016 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

Editorial Staff

Real Estate

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

Don Denton • DDenton@cbmove.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment A��: D�����: L���������: M�����: M����: T������: T�� W��� G���:

Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • steve@jazzavenues.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Lilia Coffin • lilia@cellar.com

VALET PARKING Reliable and friendly staff are always ready to take care of our customers’ cars while they are dining at restaurants or visiting shopping centers in the area. Our sister company, Mikey’s Pet Care, is also providing pet care services with its professionally certified and experienced staff. We are the best people for pet care and dog training in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Whenever you approach us for valet services, you don’t have to worry about your pet. Dog walking or pet care services are available right here on the spot.

CALL MIKE TODAY! 202. 718. 9219

Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

Homes & Gardens Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com

Commentary Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com T�� N��� • thenose@hillrag.com T�� L��� W��� • editorial@hilllrag.com

Calendar & Bulletin Board

Production/Graphic/Web Design

C������� E�����: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

A�� D�������: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Design: Lee Kyungmin • lee@hillrag.com W�� M�����: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com

General Assignment

MIKEY’s

Kids & Family

Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.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 Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Dr. Charles Vincent “Mickey Thompson Vincent

Beauty, Health & Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com

Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Laura Vucci, 202.543.8300 X22 • laura@hillrag.com Account Executive & Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • Carolina@hillrag.com

Distribution M������: D�����������: I����������:

Andrew Lightman MediaPoint, LLC distribution@hillrag.com

Deadlines & Contacts A����������: sales@hillrag.com D������ A��: 15th of each month C��������� A��: 10th of each month E��������: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com B������� B���� � C�������: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

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

Capital Community News, Inc. Publishers of: 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20003 • 202.543.8300 • capitalcommunitynews.com

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MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL


A NEW STAR TAR EMERGES QUALITY LIVING WITHIN YOUR REACH. FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL OUR LEASING TEAM AT ( 844 ) 309-0188 OR VISIT THEAPOLLODC .COM

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Photo: Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art

1 1 NGA Ice Rink Opens for Season

The National Gallery of Art Ice Rink is scheduled to open for the season on Friday, Nov. 18, weather permitting. If temperatures are too warm, the opening will be delayed. In celebration of the beginning of the skating season, visitors who purchase skating time on November 18 and 19 will receive a coupon for a complimentary cup of hot chocolate on those dates. Rink hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Skating fees for a two-hour session beginning on the hour are $8.50, adults; $7.50, seniors, students with ID and children 12 and under. Skate rental is $3. nga.gov.

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2 Mosaic’s Milk Like Sugar at the Atlas

It is Annie Desmond’s sixteenth birthday and her friends have decided to help her celebrate in style, complete with a brand new tattoo. Before her special night is over, however, Annie and her friends enter into a life altering pact. When Annie tries to make good on her promise to her friends, she is forced to take a good look at the world that surrounds her. She befriends Malik, who promises a bright future, and Keera, whose evangelical leanings inspire Annie in a way her young parents have not been able to do. In the end Annie’s choices propel her onto an irreversible path in this story that combines wit, poetry, and hope. Winner, 2012 Obie Award for Playwriting. Milk Like Sugar is at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, through Nov. 27. mosaictheater.org/milk.


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The cast of Lookingglass Theatre Company’s production of Moby Dick, which runs Nov. 18 to Dec. 24 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Photo: Liz Lauren

((L to R) Ghislaine Dwarka, Kashayna Johnson, and Renee Elizabeth Wilson. Photo: Teddy Wolff

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Runners are encouraged to come in costume. Photo: Courtesy of So Others Might Eat

3 Arena’s Moby Dick at Arena

Set sail on the holiday season’s biggest adventure! Innovative staging fused with bold trapeze and acrobatic work turn this seafaring classic into a death-defying experiment in aerial storytelling. Climb aboard with Captain Ahab and the crew of the good ship Pequod in this harrowing and intoxicating quest for the great white whale. Moby Dick runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 24, at Arena Stage. Arena Stage’s Family Fun Pack offers four seats for $125. Orders must include a minimum of two patrons between ages 5 and 17 and cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previously purchased tickets. There is a limit of two Family Fun Packs per household. arenastage.org.

Photo: Courtesy of the US Botanic Garden

4 Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K

Please join So Others Might Eat (SOME) in supporting the hungry and homeless in DC by participating in the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger at Freedom Plaza, at the corner of 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Proceeds from the 5K benefit thousands of homeless families and single adults, including the elderly and people suffering from mental illness, by providing much-needed food, clothing and healthcare. The only “turkey trot” in the District, the Trot for Hunger is a tradition for thousands of area residents and a meaningful way to remember people in need on Thanksgiving Day. The kids one mile fun run is at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K run/walk is at 9 a.m. Register at soome.convio.net.

5 Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden

“Season’s Greenings” at the Botanic Garden opens on Thanksgiving Day. Visit it through Jan. 2, 2017, daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Remember that the best things in life are free: the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree; the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations; and the delight of a child discovering the make-believe world of model trains. Parking is actually easy, especially on the weekends. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov.

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NOVEMBER

Calendar Downtown Holiday Market

Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, noon to 8 PM, daily. More than 150 exhibitors and artisans (rotating on a weekly basis) selling an array of high-quality gift items including fine art, crafts, jewelry, pottery, photography, clothing, tasty treats, and hot beverages. The market is at F St. NW, between Seventh and Nineth. downtownholidaymarket.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Diverse Market Management

VETERANS Veterans Day 10K and Walk. Nov. 13, 8 AM. There’s no better place to celebrate Veterans than in the Nation’s Capital, and, fittingly, the course runs near several of the city’s great war memorials. runpacers.com/race/veterans-day-10k. Veterans’ Voices: Life and Spirituality after War at Hill Center. Nov. 17, 6:30 to 9 PM. Come listen as Veterans and Active Duty Service Members share their stories, focusing on themes of health, wellness and spirituality after war. Join

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them the third Thursday of each month for conversation and connection. VetsVoices DC is a story-telling series focusing on the intersection of military service, the transition to civilian life, faith and spirituality. Free. Register at hillcenterdc.org.

THANKSGIVING Food & Friends Thanksgiving Pie Sale. Pie sale supports the Slice of Life Pie Selling Campaign, which funds nutritious, home-delivered meals and groceries to the critically ill. During Pie Day, Food & Friends will be distributing information about Slice of Life and giving away free samples of their delicious pies. Online pie sales close on Nov. 17. Order at foodandfriends.org/pie. Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger. Nov. 24, 8:30 AM, Little Turkey Fun Run; 9 AM, 5K timed race; 9:15 AM, 5K untimed race. Proceeds from the 5K benefit thousands of homeless families and single adults, including the elderly and people suffering from mental illness, by providing much-needed food, clothing and healthcare. Register at soome.convio.net. Thanksgiving Day Holy Eucharist at the National Cathedral. Nov. 24, 10 AM. In the Cathedral adorned with the beauty of God’s abundance, give thanks for the year’s blessings, offer prayers for the world, and celebrate the Holy Communion, The Great Thanksgiving. All are welcome. cathedral.org. A Celebration of Community at Community Forklift. Nov. 25 (Green Friday) and Nov. 26 (Small Business Saturday), 9 AM to 5 PM. After Thanksgiving, shop green, shop small, or don’t shop at all--here’s your excuse to stay away from the mall. Community Forklift will have live music, free gift-making workshops, local artists, and free photos with Santa for all ages. Community Forklift, 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD. communityforklift.org. Small Business Saturday. Nov. 26. This day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. americanexpress.com.

EARLY CHRISTMAS Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Visit

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National (White House) Christmas Tree. Lit by President Obama on Dec. 1, 5 PM. Visit the tree any time after that. There is nightly live entertainment and an extensive model train display. Parking is tricky. thenationaltree.org.

See the Zoo in a whole new light! As a holiday gift to the city, ZooLights is free! Photo: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian’s

Christmas Concert for Charity at the National Shrine. Dec. 2, 7:30 PM but arrive earlier. This annual Christmas Concert for Charity features the voices and sounds of the Basilica Choir and the Catholic University of America Choir and Orchestra. There will be a free will offering to benefit a charity. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com. US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” American Holiday Festival. Dec. 2, 8 PM; Dec. 3, 3 PM and 8 PM; Dec. 4, 3 PM. The annual kickoff concert for the Washington, DC, holiday season will be at DAR Constitution Hall. Free tickets online at usarmyband.com. If “sold out,” there are usually empty seats on stand-by. usarmyband.com.

Zoolights

Nov. 25 to Jan. 1, 5 to 9 PM nightly, except Dec. 24 and 25. Don’t miss your chance to meander through the Zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks, and enjoy live entertainment. Free. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu. pickyourownchristmastree.org for farms and directions. Then follow the prompts. A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Nov. 17 to Dec. 31. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org. Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park. Nov. 22 to Jan. 1, 5 PM to 10 PM, nightly. $15 per car. Enjoy from your car. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East College Pkwy., Annapolis, MD. visitannapolis.org. Silver Bells at Signature. Nov. 22 to Dec. 24. This is a world premiere production of a new holiday musical. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave. off I395 at the Shirlington exit (#6). signature-theatre.org. Black Nativity at Anacostia Playhouse. Nov. 23 to Dec. 31. Langston Hughes chronicles and celebrates the birth of Jesus, while also celebrating the birth of Blackness. This classic story told through gospel, blues, funk, jazz, and dance asks you to look inward and find the wonder in life. $40 to $50. All ages. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. 202-2902328. theateralliance.com. Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden. Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 2, 2017, daily, 10 AM to 5 PM. Botanic Garden

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invites you to remember that the best things in life are free-the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree, the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations, and the delight of a child discovering the make believe world of model trains. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225--8333. usbg.gov. Christmas at Mount Vernon. Nov. 25 to Jan. 6, 9 AM to 4 PM. Holiday visitors will enjoy themed decorations, chocolatemaking demonstrations, and 18th century dancing. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. $20, adult; $10, child (six to eleven); five and under, free. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org. City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony. Nov. 25, 6 to 8 PM. At this kickoff to the holiday season, the mayor and Santa Claus will light the city tree in Market Square. Entertainment features a visits from Santa, live performances, caroling and a community sing-along. Market Square, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA. visitalexandriava.com. The Second Shepherds’ Play at the Folger. Nov. 27 to Dec. 21. Folger Consort performs festive medieval English tunes against the backdrop of this engaging mystery play. Set in the English countryside, The Second Shepherds’ Play beautifully weaves together the stories of the shepherds, a sheep thief and his cunning wife, and the miracle in a humble manger in Bethlehem. Folger Theater, 201 East Capitol St. SE. 202-5447077. folger.edu.

Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church “Living” Christmas Tree. Dec. 2, 7 PM; Dec. 3, 4:30 and 7 PM; and Dec. 4, 4:30 PM. This unique worship experience is highlighted by a replica Christmas tree that stands over six tiers tall. Among the “decorations” adorning the tree, will be 50 men and women from area churches who will sing the best of the season’s sacred music while standing within its structure, thus bringing the tree to “life.” $15. Purchase tickets at the church office or eventbrite. com. Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-581-1500.

Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market. Dec. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18. Fridays, 6 to 9 PM; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM to 6 PM. Market features handcrafted work from local artists; handmade ornaments to benefit Del Ray Artisans; plus a bake sale to benefit Alexandria Tutoring Consortium. Nicholas A. Colasanto Center Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA. TheDelRayArtisans.org. Christkindlmarkt at Heurich House Museum. Dec. 2, 4 to 9 PM; Dec. 3 and 4, 11 AM to 5 PM. This holiday shopping event will feature goods from over 40 local artisans, including jewelers, ceramicists, chocolatiers, makers of housewares, and more. Guests are invited to visit the market and tour the seasonally decorated historic house. Heurich House Museum, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW. heurichhouse.org. Smithsonian Holiday Festival at American History Museum. Dec. 3 and 4, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Get in the holiday spirit with free festive musical performances, book signings, crafts, special foods and more. The Muppet Christmas Carol will screen throughout the day in the Warner Bros. Theater. Complimentary gift-wrapping will be available. The free Circulator bus will transport visitors to the other festivities around the National Mall. For a full schedule of events across the Smithsonian visit americanhistory.si.edu. Torpedo Factory Art Center Holiday Open House. Dec. 3, 4 to 9 PM. As Alexandria kicks off the holiday season, the


Torpedo Factory Art Center will stay open late for visitors who want to buy handmade, one-of-a-kind unique and artful gifts. Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. torpedofactory.org. Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Concert. Dec. 3 (rain or shine), parade 11 AM; massed band concert, 1 PM at Market Square. The parade begins at St. Asaph and Wolfe Streets and concludes at Market Square. Alexandria, VA. campagnacenter. org/scottishwalkweekend/parade. Festival of Lights at Mormom Temple. Dec. 3 to Jan. 3. Lights are on from 5 to 11 PM. A different performing artist or group is showcased each night, including bell ensembles, choirs and orchestras. Each performance is presented at least twice nightly. Concert tickets are handed out at the Visitors’ Center 60 minutes before each performance. 9900 Stoneybrook Dr., Kensington, MD. 301-587-0144. dctemplelights. lds.org. Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long. Dec. 3, 4 PM. “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and members of local choirs and vocal groups perform. Free. wolftrap.org. Logan Circle Holiday House Tour. Dec. 4, 1 to 5 PM. The 2016 house tour will take participants through some of Logan Circle’s most inspiring interiors and will feature a variety of musicians and singers lending holiday cheer, as well as the always warm and welcoming Wassail Reception at Studio Theatre. Advance tickets, $30; day of, $35. Buy tickets at logancircle.org/house-tour. Jingle All The Way 5K. Dec. 4, 8 AM. Prance, dance, or just be a vixen. The running of the Jingle All the Way is complete with holiday spirit, costumes, hot coffee, and photos with Santa. Race starts at Freedom Plaza. Discount for early registration. Register at runpacers.com/race/jingle-allthe-way-5K. Capitol Christmas Tree. Lit on Dec. 6, 5 PM. All are welcome to attend the lighting. The tree will be up through New Years Day. Considered by many to be the most beautiful tree in town. Visit anytime. Daughters of the American Revolution Christmas Open House. Dec. 7 (always the first Wednesday in December), 5:30 to 8 PM. Live holiday music, tour 31 period rooms, cider, hot chocolate and cookies, Santa (bring a camera). DAR Memorial Continental Hall, 17th and D Streets NW. 202572-0563. dar.org. Winternational. Nov. 7, 11 AM to 2 PM. Winternational is a celebration showcasing the cultural and culinary traditions of Washington’s diplomatic community. This festival

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has the atmosphere of a bustling global marketplace with each embassy promoting their country through vibrant displays of visual art, food, handcrafts as well as travel and tourism exhibits. Atrium at The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. itcdc.com. A Vintage Evening: Yuletide at Anderson House. Dec. 8, 6 PM. Celebrate the holiday season at this Vintage Evening, featuring tastings of eggnog punch based on 100-year-old recipes. Tour the festively decorated mansion while learning about early 20th-century Christmas traditions and the historic inspirations for their decorations. $15. Reservations required. Attendees must be at least 21 years old. Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. societyofthecincinnati.org. “Naughty and Nice” by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. Dec. 10, 7 PM; Dec. 17, 2 amd 7 PM; Dec. 18, 2 PM. $25 to $65. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolndc.com. Spirit of the Season Holiday Concerts. Dec. 10, 3 PM and 8 PM. Join the Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants for their Annual Holiday Concert Series, Spirit of the Season. Enjoy classic and modern holiday music and a surprise visit from the North Pole. Free tickets are online and there are stand-by seats. DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St NW. usafband.af.mil. A Nordic Winter Celebration by The Christmas Revels. Dec. 10 to 18. Join them on a journey into the wonders of Nordic winter traditions. Get into the holiday spirit with haunting melodies, breathtaking dance, epic folk legends, and plenty of carols. Lisner Auditorium at GWU. revelsdc.org. Capital City Symphony Annual Community Carol Sing Concert. Dec. 11, 4 PM and 7 PM. Presented with the Congressional Chorus, the American Youth Chorus and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. $8.50. capitalcitysymphony.org. Thomas Circle Singers “The Wonder of Christmas”. Dec. 11, 4 PM. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4900 Connecticut Ave. NW. thomascirclesingers.org.

MUSIC Music at Hill Country. Nov. 16, 23, 30 Hill Country Live Band Karaoke; Nov. 10, The Walcotts, Rivvrs; Nov. 11, The Highballers; Nov. 15, Zach Schmidt; Nov. 17, Jaime Wyatt; Nov. 19, Dibbs and the Detonators, Rock-A-Sonics; Nov. 25, Scott Kurt & Memphis 59; Nov. 26, Jonny Grave & the Tombstones; Dec. 4, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club; Dec. 10, Chamomile and Whiskey. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Music at Sixth and I. Nov. 20, Magik*Magik. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org. Music at Black Cat. Nov. 12, MEWITHOUTYOU and Twirly Whirly Burly-Q; Nov. 15, Helmet; Nov. 16, Exit Vehicles; Nov. 19, Right Round; Nov. 21, The King Khan & BBQ Show; Nov. 23, Sound of Ceres Brothertiger; Nov. 26,The 9-Songwriter Series; Nov. 28, Calm & Crisis; Nov. 29, David Dondero; Dec. 1, Windhand Ilsa; Dec. 3 Time is Fire; Dec. 6, Curtis Harding; Dec. 7, Rainbow Kitten Surprise; Dec. 9, Flasher; Dec. 10, Reverend Horton Heat. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Music at the U Street Music Hall. Nov. 12, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Ekali; Nov. 13, Kool Keith; Nov. 14, Swet

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Shop Boys; Nov. 15, Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour; Nov. 16, CRX; Nov. 17, The Paper Kites and Epilogue: The Gaslamp Killer; Nov. 18, Kiiara and Billy Kenny; Nov. 19, Trevor Hall and Pleasurekraft (open to close); Nov. 20, DZ Deathrays & Dune Rats; Nov. 21, Dizzy Wright; Nov. 23, RDGLDGRN and Sweater Beats; Nov. 25, Drumstix 8; Nov. 26, Sonny Fodera; Dec. 1, Space Jesus and Yheti; Dec. 2, Ripe & Lawrence and Breach; Dec. 3, Lizzo and Jody Wisternoff; Dec. 6, Cam’ron; Dec. 8, Futurebirds and Anjunadeep North American Tour; Dec. 9, Dragonette; Dec. 10, Emancipator. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Nov. 12, Sunflower Bean; Nov. 13, Lydia Loveless; Nov. 14, The Living End; Nov. 15, Gavin James; Nov. 16, Kings Kaleidoscope and Citizens & Saints; Nov. 17, Hiss Golden Messenger; Nov. 18, Sloan “One Chord to Another” 20th Anniversary; Nov. 19, Kingsley Flood; Nov. 20 K.Flay; Nov. 21, PWR BTTM; Nov. 28, Sam Roberts Band; Nov. 29, Digitour Winter; Dec. 1, Red Fang; Dec. 3, Pig Destroyers; Dec, 5, Jezabels; Dec. 6, Shy Girls. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at 9:30 Club. Nov. 12, St. Paul & the Broken Bones; Nov. 13, SoMo; Nov. 14, Atmosphere; Nov. 15, Nicolas Jaar; Nov. 16, JOHNNYSWIM; Nov. 17, Wet and DIIV; Nov. 18 and 19, Elle King; Nov. 20, Chris Robinson Brotherhood; Nov. 23, Twerksgiving w/ Mathias. & Friends; Nov. 25, Keller Williams’ Thanksforgrassgiving; Nov. 26, White Ford Bronco: DC’s All 90s Band; Nov. 28, The Sounds; Nov. 29, Niykee Heaton; Nov. 30, STRFKR; Dec. 2 and 3, Dark Star Orchestra; Dec. 4, Animals As Leaders; Dec. 8, Jai Wolf; Dec. 9, Turkuaz & The New Mastersounds; Dec. 10, O.A.R. & The Sports Junkies: 20 x 20 - Celebrating 20 Years to Benefit Heard the World. 815 V St. NW. 877-435-9849. 930.com. Music at The Howard. Nov. 12, Iliza: The Confirmed Kills Tour; Nov. 13, Gerald Albright; Nov. 16, Todos Tus Muertos; Nov. 18, Stephanie Mills and The Greatest Rappa Alive Birthday Bash feat. Northeast Groovers, What Band and Project 71; Nov. 19, Heather McDonald and Machel Montano feat. Angela Hunte & DJ Stephen; Nov. 20, Mago de Oz + Rata Blanca; Nov. 23, An Evening w/ Peter Hook & The Light, Performing “Substance” - Joy Division & New Order; Nov. 25, Bilal; Nov. 26, Chante Moore; Nov. 27, Harlem Gospel Choir and Sebastian Bach; Nov. 28, RAWDC Presents: MOTIF; Dec. 2, Ronnie Laws; Dec. 4, Damien Escobar; Dec. 8, Los Van Van; Dec. 9, Etana & The Raw Soul Rebels. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Music at the Lincoln. Nov. 12, Chris Isaak; Nov. 13, El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe; Nov. 15, The Naked and the Famous; Nov. 16, Whitney Cummings; Nov. 17, A Drag Queen Christmas; Nov. 18, David Gray; Nov. 19, Loretta Lynn; Nov. 21 and 22, Ingrid Michaelson; Nov. 25, Andra Day; Nov. 29, Mike Gordon; Dec. 8, Marcel, Rami and Bachar Knalife in Concert. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolndc.com. Blues Night in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Nov. 14, Memphis Gold Blues; Nov. 21, Queen Aisha Blues; Nov. 28, Danny Blew & the Blues Crew; Dec. 5, David Cole & Main Street Blues; Dec. 12, Robert Penn Blues Band; Dec. 19, Ursula Ricks Project; Dec. 26, The Nighthawks. $5 cover. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I, south side of intersection). westminsterdc.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Nov. 15, Third Practice; Nov.22, Jeremy Filsell, organ’ Nov. 29, James Rogers, baritone and Michael Shepherd,

piano; Dec. 6, Washington Bach Consort. 1317 G ST. NW. 202347-2635. epiphanydc.org. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Nov. 18, Vince Evans Quintet; Nov. 25, Bobby Felder’s Big Band. $5 cover. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I, south side of intersection). westminsterdc.org. Music at the Atlas. Nov. 12, Gay Men’s Chorus of WashingtonLet’s Misbehave; Nov. 20, Capital City Symphony: A Night in Paris; Dec. 2, Eldar Trio; Dec. 3, Cecily: Cecily Salutes DC; Dec. 4, Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra: A Bohemian Christmas; Dec. 10, Holiday Cheers: A Night of Live Music, Champagne & Interactive Fun for Grown-Ups. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org. The Outcasts of Poker Flat (A New American Opera) at CUA. Nov. 17 to 20. In the wilds of California’s snowy mountains, six characters from different worlds are thrown together and face a common danger. How they respond reveals their true natures. Having experienced rejection and betrayal, the members of this isolated band of travelers form friendships that provide love and acceptance. Ward Recital Hall at Catholic University of America. music.cua.edu. Opera Lafayette presents Menu: Plaisirs. Nov. 18 and 19, 7:30 PM. US Premiere Production from Théâtre de la CroixRousse in Lyon with support of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy – An evening of staged cabaret featuring Jean-Paul Fouchécourt. $25, up, can be purchased at OperaLafayette.org or 202-546-9332. La Maison Française at the Embassy of France. Goyescas, by Enrique Granados at GALA. Dec. 7 to Dec. 18. The In Series proudly presents a new framing of this renowned Spanish classic, inspired by the dramatic paintings of Francisco de Goya and infused with Spanish dance. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org.

THEATER The Year of Magical Thinking at Arena. Through Nov. 20. Based on Joan Didion’s award-winning memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking follows the iconic American author, portrayed by Kathleen Turner, as she learns to reconcile the natural instincts that drive us to bargain with the universal forces that giveth and taketh away. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org. freaky friday at Signature. Through Nov. 20. When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before mom’s big wedding. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave. off I395 at the Shirlington exit (#6). signature-theatre.org. The Welders: Girl in the Red Corner. Through Nov. 20. When Halo signs up for mixed martial arts lessons, she thinks it might make a good hobby. Her trainer thinks she’s a lightweight. $15 to $30. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Six Degrees of Separation at Keegan. Through Dec. 3. A splendidly funny, often disquieting, exploration of the way human beings define themselves and classify each other.


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Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. 202-265-3767. keegantheatre.com. WSC Avant Bard’s TAME. Through Dec. 11. A wildly creative and spirited young poet named Cat returns to her hometown grieving the suicide of her lesbian lover. Her religious parents are dead-set on forcing her to submit and conform. Gunston Arts Center, 2700 South Lang St., Arlington, VA. avantbard.org. Straight White Men at Studio. Through Dec. 18. Three brothers and their father gather for Christmas to drink eggnog, play video games, and wrestle. But when one brother seems to buckle under the pressures of achievement, it becomes clear that these men are wrestling with something larger than each other. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org. Carousel at Arena. Through Dec. 24. When Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan fall in love, little do they realize that his rebellious ways will lead to tragedy. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org. The Second City Black Side of the Moon at Woolly. Nov. 12 to Jan. 1. In Black Side of the Moon, a cast of Chicago’s funniest and most audacious African American sketch and stand-up artists deconstructs and reconstructs Blackness through comedy, illuminating the challenges of the past and the promises of the future. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net. The Christians at Theater J. Nov. 16 to Dec. 11. Backed by a live choir, The Christians is both an epic and unexpectedly intimate drama. Each night of the play, Theater J will feature a local choir to bring a diverse and unique voice to the stage as they perform four classic songs. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800-494--8497. washingtondcjcc.org. Moby Dick at Arena. Nov. 18 to Dec. 24. Set sail on an epic adventure this holiday season with a dramatically reimagined production of Moby Dick. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202488-3300. arenastage.org. The Second Shepherds’ Play at the Folger. Nov. 27 to Dec. 21. Folger Consort performs festive medieval English tunes against the backdrop of this engaging mystery play. Set in the English countryside, The Second Shepherds’ Play beautifully weaves together the stories of the shepherds, a sheep thief and his cunning wife, and the miracle in a humble manger in Bethlehem. Folger Theater, 201 East Capitol St. SE. 202-5447077. folger.edu.

SPORTS AND FITNESS Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Public ice skating is on Nov. 12, 19, and 26, 1 to 3 PM; Nov. 13, 20 and 27, 2:30 to 4:30 PM; Nov. 18 and 25, noon to 2 PM. $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org.

BicycleSPACE Free Weekly Group Rides. All the rides originate from one of three locations: (1) Adams Morgan, 2424 18th St. NW. Nice & Easy Ride, Saturday, 10 AM and Sunday, 10 AM; Hills of Rock Creek, Sunday, 8 AM. Downdown, 440 K St. NW. Hills of Anacostia, Saturday, 8:30 AM; City Explorers, Sunday, 11:30 AM; and Cupcake Ramble, Saturday, 11:30 AM. Rides very with the seasons. Read more at bicyclespacedc.com.

sa. All Ways is a citizen’s association primarily for the tenants of the larger apartment buildings of Mount Pleasant. 3166 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. aass.org.

Canal Park Ice Skating. Through Feb. 26; Monday and Tuesday, noon to 7 PM; Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 PM; Friday, noon to 10 PM; Saturday, 11 AM to 10 PM; and Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM. Open all holidays but with different hours. Adults, $9; children, military and seniors, $8; skate rental, $5. Canal Park Ice Rink, 200 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org.

Convention Center Community Association. Last Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Kennedy Rec Center, 1401 Seventh St. NW. facebook.com/pages/Convention-Center-Community.

MARKETS AND SALES Downtown Holiday Market. Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, noon to 8 PM, daily. More than 150 exhibitors and artisans (rotating on a weekly basis) selling an array of high-quality gift items including fine art, crafts, jewelry, pottery, photography, clothing, tasty treats, and hot beverages. Market at F St. NW, between Seventh and Nineth. downtownholidaymarket.com. H Street NE FRESHFARM Market. Saturdays, through Dec. 17, 9 AM to 12:30 PM. Located at H St. and 13th St. NE. freshfarmmarket.org. Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or shine), year round, 8:30 AM to 1:30 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. Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com. Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8 AM to 4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW.

CIVIC LIFE

Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Nov. 16, 18, 20, 23, 25 and Dec. 1. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com.

Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202-7835065. norton.house.gov.

Washington Wizards Basketball. Nov. 17, 19, 21, 26 and 28. Verizon Center. nba.com/wizards.

All Ways Mount Pleasant. First Saturday, noon to 2 PM. LaCa-

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Chinatown Revitalization Council. Fourth Monday, 7 to 8 PM. 510 I St. NW. Chinatown Revitalization Council promotes the Chinatown renewal and the preservation of its cultural heritage. The public is welcome.

Downtown Neighborhood Association. Second Tuesday, 7 to 9 PM. US Naval Memorial Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. miles@dcdna.org. dcdna.org. East Central Civic Association of Shaw. First Monday, 7 PM. Third Baptist Church, 1546 Fifth St. NW. Contact: Al Hajj Mahdi Leroy J Thorpe Jr, 202-387-1596. Eckington Civic Association. First Monday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Harry Thomas Recreation Center, 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. eckingtondc.org. Edgewood Civic Association. Last Monday, 7 to 9 PM. Edgewood senior building, 635 Edgewood St. NE, ninth floor. Logan Circle Citizens Association. Visit logancircle.org/calendar for meeting dates and times. logancircle.org. Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association. Third Tuesday, 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Yale Steam Laundry, 437 New York Ave. NW. lifein.mvsna.org. U Street Neighborhood Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Source (second floor classroom), 1835 14th St. NW. ANC 1A. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Harriet Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th St. NW. 202-588-7278. anc1a.org. ANC 1B. First Thursday, 6:30 PM. DC Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW. 202-870-4202. anc1b.org. ANC 1B11. Second Monday, 7 PM. LeDroit Senior Building (basement community room), 2125 Fourth St. NW. 202-4813462. anc1b.org. ANC 1B04. First Thursday, 6:30 PM. Banneker Recreation Center, 2500 Georgia Ave. NW. LaKisha M. Brown Commissioner. 202-503-4605. groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ANC1B04/ info. ANC 1C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Health, 2355 Ontario Rd. NW. 202-332-2630. anc1c.org. ANC 1D. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. 3166 Mount Pleasant St. NW. 202-4628692. anc1d.org. ANC 2C. First Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Watha T. Daniel/ Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. 202-682-1633. anc2C.org. ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at Watha T. Daniel/ Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. anc6e.org. u


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OUT and ABOUT

REI Opens In NOMA

Bringing Community and Outdoor Adventures Together

T

by Stacy Peterson, MS, MA, CHHC, CSCS he newest REI’s coop flagship store has arrived in historic Uline Arena at the corner of Third and M streets NE in NOMA. Located just steps away from Union Station and with easy access from Metro’s Red Line, it trumps any other REI store in the DC area, from its substantial square footage and numerous activities to its wide range of

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product sizes and models. REI’s first store opened in the 1980s. Over the past two decades REI has expanded to eight stores in the DMV area, providing a place for DC’s outdoor enthusiasts to come together and enjoy the beauty of nature. In the new store, the 25,000 square feet of space, which is twice as big as a standard REI store, is sure to have an outdoor activity for your liking. When you walk in you are greeted by a REI store member

who can guide you and answer questions on product location. The wide-open spaces and ample room allow you to meander just as you would on a hike in the wilderness. Instead of walkways there is open terrain to wonder around as you shop or view the noteworthy aspects that are particular to the store and Uline Arena. Directly to your right as you enter the building is a full service, open-air shop that can repair your


bike, skis, or snowboard. You can chat with other customers while watching the repair specialists fix a bike or equipment. To the left is a coffee shop, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, which offers the option of grabbing a cup of joe while walking around the store, relaxing on one of the many couches located throughout, or sitting outside in the open-air courtyard with fire pit while listening to a band play or watching a film screening. As you walk through the store you will find a tribute to women who have hiked the Appalachian Trail, as well as structural columns covered with posters of the original bands that played at Uline Arena and stadium seats hanging on the wall. Becky, the general manager of the DC flagship store, stated that her favorite aspect is “the tribute to women who have hiked the AT. It brings a sense of togetherness within the outdoor community.” In the back left of the store is the Adventure Station, where you can research and ask questions about activities in national, state, and local parks. No matter where you want to go or what you want to do, the station has information to help you organize an outing that will suit your needs and desires. In addition to a well-educated ranger answering questions, there are also laptops, digital resources, take-home maps, books, and adventure project apps (such as Mountain Biking Project and Hiking Project), among other resources. “DC is a very outdoorsy town, so offering trips and classes that provide the community the option of leaving directly from the DC flagship store to an outdoor area, such as Shenandoah, will give people more options to get outdoors,” explained Matt Liddle, the mid-Atlantic manager for REI outdoor

programs and outreach. In the back of the store is a footwear loft equipped with a wide range of shoes from running to hiking to everyday use. In the backright corner of the store is the Patagonia shop-inshops section, which is only the second national location where REI has Patagonia located within a store, the other being Seattle. As you move back toward the front of the store you will see the ski and snowboard section with its own lodge-feeling lounge. With the different fitting options around the store you can see how REI devised a one-stop shop for so many outdoor activities. Each department has experts within their field, so you’ll be sure to speak to a professional who knows about your equipment and outdoor activity. The options for being fitted for boots for hiking, skiing, or snowboarding, or for your bike on either a mountain or road bike, or for a pack that is adequate for your hiking needs – you’ll be sure to find many possibilities under one roof. Anna, who works in customer service, lives on the Hill. “I’m excited for people to have outdoor options right here in the city,” she explained. “I feel empowered and equipped to have the opportunity to enjoy the love of the outdoors with my local community.” REI continues to use United Outside’s main hub of daily activities at the Wunder Garten on First and L streets NE, where neighbors and friends can meet, socialize, and enjoy food and drinks in a casual, safe, and inviting atmosphere. REI hosts classes on recreational and outdoor activities such as bike repair, camping, and more at the Wunder Garten and in the newly opened store. There is no time like the present to get outdoors and enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage and cool crisp air. Whether it’s going for a hike, riding your bike, enjoy-

ing our many waterways, or engaging in other funfilled, heart-healthy activities, you can choose from plenty of options surrounding our beautiful city. REI flagship store is located at 201 M St. NE. For more information about the many outdoor events visit United Outside: www.rei.com/unitedoutside. To find an REI class visit www.rei.com/ learn, where you can sort by interests and Zip Code. Stacy Peterson, MS, MA, CSCS, CHHC, is a functional nutrition educator, holistic health coach, and strength and conditioning coach practicing whole-foods nutrition and physical training for individuals of all ages and activities on the Hill – an integrative aspect to everyone’s healthcare and performance team. For recipes, nutrition, and exercise tips sign up for the monthly newsletter at www.accelerationsports.net. To see how we can help you achieve your health and/or fitness goals contact Acceleration Sports by emailing stacy@accelerationsports.net or calling 805-704-7193. u

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OUT and ABOUT

Insatiable

ANXO’s pintxos menu offers a number of tapas-like small plates.

Art & Craft

A

by Max Moline

t the ninth of 10 stops on a publicity tour for the second season of its series “Raw Craft with Anthony Bourdain,” The Balvenie (bal-vee-nee), a Speyside Scotch distillery, screened a recent episode of the show at Chinatown’s Landmark E Street Cinema on Wed., Oct. 26. The screening was accompanied with a tasting of four of The Balvenie’s whiskeys and a question-and-answer session with the distillery’s brand ambassador, Gemma Paterson, and Raul Ojeda, a Hollywood cobbler and the focus of the screened episode. Located in Dufftown, Scotland, The Balvenie is one of the few distilleries that has refused to transition to the use of advanced technology to mass-produce its product. It initiated “Raw Craft with Anthony Bourdain,” the celebrity chef, to highlight and appreciate the work of Ojeda and others, who still do things with their hands. As the event began, each of us received a tray with three glasses and a fourth spot for the one we’d been given as we entered. We also got a bag of Poppy salted caramel popcorn. The label showed that Poppy is handcrafted, leading one attendee sitting behind me to exclaim, “Geez, even the popcorn here is handmade!” Attendees of An Evening of Raw Craft tasted four of The Balvenie’s popular, hand-crafted Scotches.

As the program went on, Paterson suggested the ideal moment to enjoy each whiskey. Our first dram was The Balvenie’s Doublewood 12. A sweet, honeyed taste opened our pallets up for the rest of the tasting. Next we tried the Caribbean Cask 14, which had been finished in rum barrels and tasted closer to rum than to whiskey. As Paterson put it, “This is the one I suggest to people who say they don’t like whiskey.” With the Doublewood 17 an initial hint of mild vanilla gave way to a complex spiciness, followed by a sweet aftertaste. We finished up with the Portwood 21, a fruity, nutty Scotch with a very smooth taste, which Paterson described as “precious liquid.” The episode we watched featured Bourdain visiting Ojeda’s Hollywood Haute Shoes. It took us through the process of making a pair of shoes, which, Ojeda told the audience afterwards, usually takes four months or more in his workshop. According to Paterson, the best food to pair whiskey with is cheese, as the fattiness brings out the flavor of the liquor. She said she especially likes the Portwood 21 paired with blue cheese. For Ojeda the best pairing is a spicy soup. In particular, he enjoys drinking the Doublewood 12 with pozole, a traditional Mexican hominy stew made with pork, chiles, and vegetables. He also enjoys using The Balvenie Doublewood 12 to make cocktails. “For me, it doesn’t get much better than a hot toddy with the 12,” he said. To view “Raw Craft with Anthony Bourdain” and browse The Balvenie’s products visit at www.thebalvenie.com.

A Lively Debate

Bar Pilar, in conjunction with local newspaper the Weekly Standard, has introduced a series of president-themed cocktails to its menu and has begun

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ANXO’s cider flight is an opportunity for “the cider noob” to try different variations of the beverage.


a contest (done through the Weekly Standard) to create drinks based on candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, to win a regular spot on the bar’s cocktail menu. The bar hosted watching parties for each of the three presidential debates. The idea was the brainchild of senior editor Vic Matus and managing editor Eric Felten. “With the recent cocktail renaissance, this is the best time to do it,” Matus said. For the first phase of the project, the pair researched the history of cocktails and discovered that some of the more ancient recipes included ingredients that were not only unappetizing but often poisonous, such as phosphate. “They felt like suggestions rather than recipes,” Felten said. “They incorporated tastes based on the time and what was available,” rather than making a good, lasting drink recipe, he added. The editors worked with the team at Bar Pilar to adjust the recipes and make them safe to drink and delicious. They were looking for drinks that were creative but simple. “Once you get more than three or four ingredients, you get overelaborate,” Felten said. Felten’s favorite selection was the Taft, a Creole cocktail whose combination of rye and vermouth with Benedictine and a sugared rim was a perfect sweet-savory mix. Matus’ choice was the Harrison, a light and easy cucumber-flavored drink that reminded him of one of his personal favorites, a Pimm’s Cup. That drink was also the favorite of Bar Pilar GM Stephanie Juen. Each debate night party featured bingo, with the winner receiving a free drink. The newly added cocktails will be on the menu through Election Day (Nov. 8), at which point some of the regular drinks, as well as the winning drinks from the Weekly Standard’s contest, will be put on the cocktail list. “Everyone here was definitely here to watch the debate,” Juen said of the watching parties. The lively conversations overheard throughout the bar dropped silent as soon as the debates started. Juen was proud of the atmosphere the promotion created. “This is the first time we’ve really gone this all-out for the debates,” she said. With the bar open on election night, she anticipates another big crowd. “We just want to provide a laid-back environment for people to watch the results roll in,” she said. Which new cocktails will make the menu? A difficult choice awaits Bar Pilar and the Weekly Standard. Bar Pilar is at 1833 14th St. NW and www. barpilar.com. The Weekly Standard is online at www.weeklystandard.com.

ANXO-ious?

I’m a little ashamed to admit that, until this past month, I’d never been to a cidery, nor had I tried pintxos, which is a Spanish style of small plates similar to tapas. But there it is, and I’m glad that my first experience with both was at ANXO (ahn-sho) Cidery & Pintxos Bar. Situated on the edge of Shaw, ANXO opened its doors in mid-July. DC’s first cidery offers a number of options, including a cider flight for – as a nearby customer described me – “the cider noob.” The flight changes every day as ANXO rotates its taps. The best among the four I tried were the Collaboration #4, with a robust, crisp flavor, and Viuda de Angelon Brut, the fruitiest yet not overly sweet. Collaboration #2, a tart cider, is a great choice for those who enjoy sour farmhouse beers. The food menu, like the drinks menu, rotates regularly. When choosing from the pintxos menu (which can also serve as appetizers), cauliflower-stuffed piquillo and tortilla de patatas montadito, a potato omelet, make a great introductory combination. And as a starter for meat lovers, the lomo embuchado is strips of house-cured pork loin filled with flavor. The dining menu is made up of Basque food, a northern Spanish style. I suggest starting with the moist, balanced local heirloom tomato salad. The red snapper escabeche makes for a nice flavor profile when mixed with mildly salted rainbow chard. Fried pig ears, served with guindilla peppers, are simply incredible. For the boldest of patrons, ANXO offers the Cider House menu for two: a $125, four-course meal of salted cod fritters, the aforementioned snapper, a 26-ounce ribeye steak, and Idiazabal cheese served with walnuts. The ANXO ambiance can rapidly change from calm and relaxed to packed and bustling with busy evening crowds. A meal can run you anywhere from $25 to $60 or more, but the new restaurant is a versatile destination, perfect for a post-work drink with a snack or a multi-course meal. ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar is at 300 Florida Ave. NW and online at www. ANXODC.com. Max Moline is a communications specialist living in DC. He frequents Nationals Park and enjoys writing about food as much as he does eating it. He’s always looking for new places to try. Rooftops and cigar lounges are a plus! Get in touch: molinecommunications@gmail.com; @MaxMoline425. u

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MidCity DC The Most Up-to-Date Capitol Hill News!

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OUT and ABOUT

DEPECHE ART East City Art’s Mid-City Gallery Exhibitions and News by Phil Hutinet

Foundry

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi, “Across Solemn Distances.” Image: Hemphill

Nathacha Thys, “Transcendence,” Acrylic on canvas, 36x36 cm. Image: Foundry Gallery

Gunjan Aylawadi, “Blissful Mountain,” Archival safe papers and glue, 53 by 53 cm. Image: Long View Gallery

Jill Brantley, “Like No One’s Watching.” Image: Touchstone Gallery

Heather Jacks will present a new series of paintings that fall into one of two categories. The first grouping presents complex textures that prevent the formation of a precise sightline. The second tantalizes the viewer into wanting to touch the surface of the work. Jacks finds inspiration in the formation of patinas over time, particularly the way they change color, texture, and structure. The oil paint, cold wax, powdered pigment, and pastels that the artist pounds into a hard panel represent this passage of time and transformation of structure. In addition to painting, Jacks is also a fine-art photographer whose work is in many private collections. Natacha Thys is a HaitianAmerican lawyer turned artist. She practiced human rights law for many years and began painting in 2011, after seeing her grandmother and flashes of color in a dream. She believes her grandmother and other ancestors provide a living presence in her paintings, adding vision and meaning. She views her work as inherently spiritual and believes spiritual transformation is the key to creating a better world. Her style suggests an intense shimmer of light over the landscape, a reinterpretation of color-field abstraction and impressionism.

Hamiltonian

Camilo Alvarez, “Recombinant.” Image: Hamiltonian Gallery

Joseph Keiffer, “Old Canoe.” Image: Gallery Neptune & Brown

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“[recombinant] fellows: RA” is Hamiltonian’s annual group exhibition where the Hamiltonian Fellows work with an invited guest curator. The exhibition is curated by Camilo Alvarez of Samson, a gallery and artist residency in Boston. Alvarez invited the fellows to

Boston to consider how audiences perceived the “laboratory” in various locations including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Harvard’s Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African and African American Art, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s public art collection, and the List Visual Art Center. The culmination of these perceived experiences produced this year’s group exhibition. Artists are: Nancy Daly, Jim Leach, Christie Neptune, Nara Park, Dan Perkins, Allison Spence, Kyle Tata, and Naoko Wowsugi.

Hemphill Fine Art

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi’s “Everything became nearness and all the nearness turned to stone” is at Hemphill Fine Arts. Inspired by Austro-Bohemian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Ilchi created tableaus of hand-formed imagery from lines of poetry while drawing inspiration from her Iranian roots. Through the movement of Rilke’s works, Ilchi creates Tazhib, the ancient Persian art of illumination employed in various forms to decorate religious, scientific, cultural, and historical books as well as collections of poems. The artist poured running paint on the surface which she allowed to flow uncontrolled until it settled and dried. This contrast between old and new, East and West, represents the tension between Persia’s ancient cultural traditions and contemporary constraints with free expression in contemporary Iran. Ilchi received a BFA with honors from the Corcoran College of Art + Design in 2006 and an MFA from American University in 2011.


Exhibitions on View

Charles Krause Reporting Fine Art 1300 13th St. NW, Suite 105 202-638-3612 | www.charleskrausereporting.com Hours: Sat.-Sun., 1-6pm. Through Nov. 19 Group juried exhibition, “Artists United” Exhibition on view at Busboys and Poets, Fifth and K streets NW: political group exhibition in reaction to 2016 presidential election

Touchstone

Kate McConnell’s solo exhibition “Suitcase Paintings” consists of new work, mostly landscapes, which the artist painted while travelling in Andalucia, Spain, and Cape Cod, Mass. McConnell exhibits her pleinair painted series in gouache and oil in a variety of sizes including more “spontane-

Gallery Neptune & Brown 1530 14th St. NW 202-986-1200 | www.neptunefineart.com Hours: Wed.-Sat., noon to 7pm.; Sun., 1-4pm. Opening reception: Dec. 3, 5-7pm Through Dec. 23 “A Painter’s Perspective,” recent Oils by Joseph Keiffer Foundry Gallery 2118 Eighth St. NW 202-232-0203 | www.foundrygallery.org Hours: Wed.-Sun., 1-7pm. to Nov. 27 Heather Jacks and Natacha Thys, “Color, Texture, Vision”

Kate McConnell, “High Head Vista Provincetown.” Image: Touchstone Gallery

Hamiltonian Gallery 1353 U St. NW 202-332-1116 | www.hamiltoniangallery.com Hours: Tue.-Sat., noon to 6pm. Through Dec. 17 “[recombinant] fellows: RA,” curated by Camilo Alvarez Hemphill Fine Arts 1515 14th St. NW 202-234-5601 | www.hemphillfinearts.com Hours: Tue.-Sat., 10am to 5pm. Through Dec. 23 Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi, “Everything became nearness and all the nearness turned to stone” Long View Gallery 1234 Ninth St. NW 202-232-4788 | www.longviewgallerydc.com Hours: Wed.-Sat., 11am to 6pm. Through Nov. 27 Group exhibition “Paper” Touchstone Gallery 901 New York Ave. NW 202-347-2787 | www.touchstonegallery.com Hours: Wed.-Fri., 11am to 6pm. Sat.-Sun., 12 to 5pm. Through Nov. 27 Gallery A: Touchstone member show “The Art of Manipulation” Gallery B: Kate McConnell, “Suitcase Paintings: Small Works from Recent Travels” Gallery C: Jill Brantley, “Situations” Washington Project for the Arts 2124 Eighth St. NW 202-234-7103 | www.wpadc.org Hours: Mon.-Sat., noon to 6pm. “Sheldon for DC. Our Culture. Our Future” Citywide performances. Through Nov. 15

ous” works and others so large, she had to pack a separate suitcase to fit them. “Kate McConnell’s work is a search beyond literal translation of what is before her. The inspiration of the natural world sings its song, dances,” explains Mary Giammarino, a Cape Cod School artist. Originally from Pennsylvania, McConnell studied at Art + Design in Pittsburgh and now works in DC, rural Pennsylvania, and Cape Cod National Seashore. Jill Brantley’s “Situation” focuses on playfully revealing experiences that make us question real life and the world of fantasy. Brantley encourages viewers to be imaginative about the situations she presents: a spider anticipating a meal in “Lying in Wait,” a woman and her dog blissfully dancing unaware of viewers in “Like No One’s Watching.” In “The Suitor” a gentleman looks as if he’s longing for an overnight stay. What is really going on in these situations? That is the crux of this show. Brantley’s assemblages with paint, paper, fabric, and found objects conjure generational memories such as shag rugs, plastic-covered seat cushions, and interior colors that travel through time and space, bringing even the mundane to life. Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, dedicated to DC’s visual arts. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com u

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BULLETIN BOARD Food & Friends Thanksgiving Pie Sale

The annual Slice of Life Thanksgiving pie sale is a simple and delicious way for members of the public to support Food & Friends’ large-scale effort to deliver one million healthy meals this year to those living with life-challenging illnesses. The goal this year is to sell 9,000 pies. Each pie purchased will provide one full day of meals for a Food & Friends client. Online pie sales close on Nov. 17. Order at foodandfriends.org/pie.

Capitals Participate in Hockey Fights Cancer Campaign

The Washington Capitals are teaming up with the National Hockey League through Nov. 18 to educate the hockey community about cancer through Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month. Hockey Fights Cancer is a league-wide initiative founded by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association and is dedicated to raising awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research.

Mount Vernon Triangle CID Announces FY 2017 Board of Directors

The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District announces its FY 2017 Board of Directors and recognizes the contributions of departing Chairman, Reverend Dr. Joseph Evans of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, as well as Board Members Steve Boyle, May Chan and Gerry Widdicombe. The FY 2017 Board is: Chairman: Berk Shervin, The Wilkes Company; Vice Chairman: Ivory Toldson, 555 Massachusetts Avenue; Treasurer: Jimmy Dodson, Paradigm Companies; Secretary: Tarra Kohli, Madrigal Lofts Condominium Assn.; Executive Committee: Yvonne Williams, Bible Way Church of Washington, DC; Executive Committee members: Greg Carbone, EDENS; Mark Wood, Association of American Medical Colleges; Todd Dengel, Impark; Board Members: Abby Elbaum, Ogden CAP Properties, LLC; Nicolas Franzetti, ASB Real Estate Investments; Hakan Ilhan, Restaurateur; Michelle Martin, Kids in the Triangle; Pete Otteni, Boston Properties; Stephan Rodiger, Redbrick LMD; Matthew Shannon, Champion Awards; and Dr. James Terrell, Second Baptist Church. The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District is a private, nonprofit organization established to enhance the overall quality of life for all members of the community including

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K Street, 800 block. Photo: © Chris Earnshaw

residents, visitors, business owners and property owners in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in downtown DC. mvtcid.org.

New Parking Meter Rate in Penn Quarter-Chinatown

The District Department of Transportation has implemented a new parking meter rate schedule in the Penn Quarter and Chinatown neighborhoods. The parking meter rate adjustment is part of a pilot project to improve parking availability through demand-based pricing. The study area includes on-street parking spaces bounded by H Street, Third Street, E Street and 11th Street NW. The pilot aims to reduce the time needed to find parking, improve turnover of highThis poetic visual essay explores the changing streetscapes of demand parking spaces, provide better downtown Washington in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s through parking information to motorists, and reduce congestion by adjusting prices the urban street photography of Bill Barrett, Chris Earnshaw, based on observed demand for parking and Joseph Mills. The works both reflect and confront each othon a block-by-block basis. As part of the er, providing a sense of the physical and social upheavals experipricing adjustment, parking meter rates enced by the city in those decades. DISTRICT II, on exhibition on individual block faces will either deNov. 19 to Feb. 12, is organized by the Historical Society of crease to $2 per hour, stay the same at Washington, DC in collaboration with the National Building $2.30 per hour, or increase to $2.75 per Museum, 401 F St. NW. nbm.org. hour on the 91 blocks located within the Penn Quarter and Chinatown neighborand 16th Street Heights neighborhoods. Images of hoods. The detailed parking adjustments are available the work can be viewed on the project’s redesigned at parkdc.dc.gov. Website at muralsdcproject.com. The site features

DISTRICT II Exhibition at the National Building Museum

L Street, NE Becomes a Two-way Street

On October 27, DDOT began a pilot project to convert L Street, NE between North Capitol and First, from one-way eastbound traffic to two-way traffic to improve mobility and accessibility in NoMa. This pilot project is being implemented by DDOT after community coordination and a thorough analysis of potential impacts. During the pilot project, DDOT will collect quantitative and qualitative data and will work with the ANC and the broader community to address any concerns that may arise.

MuralsDC Unveils New Murals in Shaw and 16th Street Heights

The Department of Public Works MuralsDC project has completed three mural projects in the Shaw

images of every mural painted since the program began in 2007, videos, artist information, and a map locator to connect citizens to more than 50 murals in every ward.

American Art Museum Opens New Galleries for Folk and Self-Taught Art

The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection of folk and self-taught art represents the powerful vision of America’s untrained and vernacular artists. Represented in the museum’s collection are pieces that draw on tradition such as quilts and artworks that reveal a more personal vision. The museum has reimagined its permanent collection galleries to feature 59 recent acquisitions, an expanded presentation of the beloved “Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly” by James Hampton,


p

. t

9 e s ,

reopened historic windows and new oak floors. The galleries opened on Oct. 21. americanart.si.edu.

DMPED Selects Development Teams for Parcel 42, Crummell School

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has announced developer teams for Parcel 42 and Crummell School. The development team of Parcel 42 Partners, which includes Ditto Residential and Irving Development, was selected out of six proposals to develop Parcel 42--a 17,008 sq. ft. vacant lot located at Seventh Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW. The proposal includes 90 larger residential units--offering more affordable housing square footage than required by law--with the majority being two/three-bedrooms geared towards families. The development will also feature an outdoor public park, which encourages pedestrian activity, and a vibrant streetscape that enhances Shaw’s cultural landscape. Parcel 42 Partners will also develop 8,000 square feet of neighborhoodserving retail with storefronts facing directly onto 7th and R Streets, NW expanding the growing commercial district of Shaw. Additionally, the developers will designate one storefront with a rent subsidy for a Shaw-neighborhood business. The proposed plan is expected to create over 130 construction and 180 permanent jobs.

Environmental Assessment Meeting for Union Station to Georgetown Streetcar

The District Department of Transportation along with the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration invite the public to a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., at Pinstripes at Georgetown Park, Ballroom A/B, 1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, to discuss the proposed Union Station to Georgetown Streetcar Environmental Assessment. This

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Georgetown neighborhoods, from K St. NW at 20th to Lower K at Wisconsin. For more information and materials from previous meetings, visit unionstationtogeorgetown.com.

DC Celebrates Bridging the Digital Divide

More than 1,700 District of Columbia Housing Authority households now have free Wi-Fi access to the internet through the dcConnectHome initiative. A total of 762 school-age children reside in the 1,785 households with Wi-Fi access. The District of Columbia is one of 28 communities nationwide selected by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to participate in ConnectHome, a federal initiative that aims to increase access and technology education for HUDserved families. ConnectHome has far exceeded its goal of connecting 200,000 children nationwide and has expanded the goal to 1.5 million in 40 states.

Cherry Blossom Festival Seeks Local Talent

1302 Rhode Island Ave. NW will be one of the featured homes on the Logan Circle Holiday House Tour this year. Photo: John Norton

Volunteer at the Logan Circle Holiday House Tour

In a tradition that spans eight mayors, seven presidents and over 45 feet of snowfall, the Logan Circle Community Association will host its 38th Annual Logan Circle Holiday House Tour on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. The tour will take participants through some of Logan Circle’s most inspiring interiors and will feature a variety of musicians and singers lending holiday cheer, as well as the always warm and welcoming Wassail Reception at Studio Theatre. Participants will find block after block of 19th-century Victorian residences restored to their original grandeur amid soaring contemporary condominiums, together creating an inclusive community unlike any other in Washington, DC. Read more at logancircle.org/house-tour. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Craig Cobine at craig@dcreresidential.com or 202-550-2889. EA considers alternative approaches to extending the existing streetcar line from Union Station to Georgetown and will evaluate the environmental and cultural effects of the proposed improvements. This meeting will focus on the west end of the study area, specifically the West End, Foggy Bottom, and

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The National Cherry Blossom Festival is accepting submissions for the fourth annual National 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, April 8, 2017. The 2017 parade is from 10 a.m. to noon and runs along Constitution Avenue, NW, rain or shine. Read more at regonline.com/registration/Checkin. aspx?EventId=1887702. Artists can submit a 30-second YouTube video for consideration through Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. The competition is open to all residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia age eight and older (those under 18 require parental consent). Submissions will be accepted online only, and only vocalists are eligible; instrumental performances will not be accepted. A selection committee will choose up to 20 finalists to move forward and perform in a live audition on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. From the finalists, judges will select winners to perform live in the parade.

Calling Experienced Professionals 55+ Who Want to Give Back

Learn about ReServe an innovative nonprofit founded in 2005 that leverages skills and talents of experienced professionals for social good. They connect individuals seeking meaningful engagement through part time volunteer opportunities with local non-profits and government agencies. “Reservists” are paid a stipend for their service. Attend First Impressions ReServe Orientation Program on either Tuesday, Nov. 29, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at SE Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh

St. SE; or Wednesday, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. To attend First Impressions orientation program, register at reserveinc.org. If you have questions or to confirm your registration, call 202-469-3477 or 202-365-3440.

Snow Season Kicks-off with Dry Run Practice Session and Citywide Exercise

On Oct. 27, 800+ members of the DC Snow Team (DPW, DDOT, DGS, Serve DC, and other agencies) participated in the dry run training event to prepare for snow management, proper handling of materials, and equipment maintenance and operation. Plow drivers navigated through their routes, checking for steel plates, potholes, and other obstacles that might be covered during a snow event. Other staff, including administrative, supervisory, logistics and IT employees, practiced their functions at their sites, including the salt domes.

Sign Up for DC Resident Snow Team

The Resident Snow Team is a coalition of community members who help shovel snow for seniors and residents with disabilities across all eight wards. To sign up as a volunteer for the Resident Snow Team, visit snow.dc.gov.

Mosaic Theater at the Atlas Ticket Discounts

Mosaic strives to make theater affordable. Below there is a list of standard discounts. To claim your discount, select the corresponding ticket tier on checkout. Note that Mosaic Rush and Pay What You Can must be purchased at the door. (1) Mosaic Rush; $25 tickets, thirty minutes prior to curtain. Subject to availability. (2) Students and Patrons Under 30; $20 tickets, any day of the week. (3) NE & SE Neighbors; $30 tickets, any day of the week. You must live in zip codes 20002, 20003, 20017, 20018, 20019, 20020 or 20032. (4) Senior Rates; 10% off base price. (5) Military and First Responder; 10% off base price, with valid identification required at pick up. (6) Pay What You Can; First preview of every show; available for purchase at the door.

DDOT Urges Commuters to Plan Ahead for WMATA’s SafeTrack Surge #10

Mayor Bowser and the District Department of Transportation advise residents, commuters and visitors to prepare for major rush-hour delays on Metro’s Red Line due to WMATA’s SafeTrack Surge #10. The repair work for this surge began on Oct. 29 and ends Nov. 22. The full line segment shutdown between Fort Totten and NoMa-Gallaudet stations


will result in the temporary closure of the stations at Brookland-CUA and Rhode Island AvenueBrentwood. Red Line service will be substantially the same outside of the full weekday rush-hour periods. All other Metro lines will continue with normal service, but could experience crowding as passengers shift to alternate lines.

Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Events at World War II Memorial

On the evening of Dec. 6, 5 p.m., the Friends of the National World War II Memorial will host a Candlelight Vigil and Reading of the Names at the WWII Memorial in honor of the 2,403 men and women killed at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago. On Dec. 7, 12:53 p.m., the Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service will co-host a Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Commemoration at the WWII Memorial. As part of the ceremony, Pearl Harbor Survivors, World War II veterans, and other dignitaries will lay wreaths at the “Freedom Wall” of the National World War II Memorial. Senator John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. Additionally, Senator McCain will be joined by his 104-year-old mother, Mrs. Roberta McCain, in presenting the United States of America wreath at the Memorial. Elliott (Toby) Roosevelt III, the great-grandson of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, will read President Roosevelt’s December 8, 1941 “Infamy Speech” and offer personal remarks on behalf of the Roosevelt family.

Dedication of Affordable Housing Project Honors Civil Rights Leader

On Oct. 26, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined other DC officials to celebrate the dedication of the Channing E. Phillips Homes, a new affordable housing project financed with $18 million in District funding. The project, located adjacent to the Shaw/Howard University Metro station at 1710 Seventh St. NW, includes 56 affordable housing units and 3,100 square feet of street front retail. The new building bears the name of Channing Emery Phillips, a beloved and avid anti-poverty civil rights leader who fought for decent housing and social justice for all.

DC Open Doors Homebuyers’ Informational Session

Statistics prove that homebuyer education contributes to successful homeownership. Come out and learn how you can purchase your home in the District of Columbia using a DC Open

Doors mortgage product. All DC Open Doors Homebuyers’ Informational Sessions are free and co-hosted by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, and a participating lender. This session’s presenter is Jeff Lobel, New American Mortgage. DCHFA is a short walk from the U Street Cardoza metro station (green line) and there’s free parking available in their garage accessible via the V Street NW side of the building. The session is on Nov. 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW. Contact Deborah Jones at SingleFamilyPrograms@dchfa.org or 202-7774663 with any questions. dcopendoors.com.

BZB Holiday Gift and Art Show

The 26th annual BZB Holiday Gift and Art Show features over 75 local retailers selling fine jewelry; designer and ethnic fashions; home accessories; original artwork; unique greeting cards; personal portraits and photography; collectible tree ornaments; and eclectic specialty items. The shopping event opens Black Friday and Saturday and continues for the next three Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Family Life Center, 1510 Ninth St. NW. Call 202-550-7060 for more information.

US, China Break Ground for Classical Chinese Garden at National Arboretum

On Oct. 28, officials from the United States and the People’s Republic of China broke ground on a 12-acre classical Chinese garden at the US National Arboretum. The US-Sino China Garden, which is a gift from the People’s Republic of China, will incorporate Chinese nature, art and architecture, combining the style of northern China’s imperial gardens with that of private gardens in southern China.

Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Kennedy Street Revitalization Project

On Oct. 21, Mayor Bowser joined Ward 4 Councilmember Todd, District Department of Transportation Director Dormsjo and DC Water Clean Rivers Project Director Ray to kick off a multimillion dollar revitalization project in a historic section of Kennedy Street, NW. The revitalization is a collaborative project that will improve traffic and pedestrian safety and increase green infrastructure. The project will span Kennedy Street from Georgia Avenue to North Capitol Street in the Ward 4 neighborhoods of Brightwood and South Manor Park. Updates and progress on construction can be found at KennedyStreetProject.com.

The project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2017 and represents a total investment of $10 million. Additional elements of the planned revitalization include: 13,000 square feet of green space; three bioretention ponds; 10 bus shelters; 280 boxed parking spaces; 69,000 square feet of new brick paver sidewalk; 60 new bike lockers; 20 park benches; and 112 new trees.

DDOT Small Business Enterprise Certification Application Available Online

The District Department of Transportation has announced the launch of an online certification application for its Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. The goal of DDOT’s SBE Program is to expand business opportunities for small businesses in accordance with US Small Business Administration standards for federally funded transportation projects. SBE certification provides small businesses with an opportunity to participate in contracts and subcontracts financed in whole or in part with federal funds. Any small business owner interested in participating in DDOT’s Small Business Enterprise Program can access the online certification at dtap.ddot. dc.gov/CR_BE.

Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act of 2016 Signed

On Oct. 13, Mayor Bowser joined Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh and Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) Executive Director Billing to sign the Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act of 2016. This legislation, introduced by Councilmember Cheh and passed by the Council, enables pedestrians and cyclists to recover up to 100 percent of their losses from medical bills and property damages if they are found to be up to 50 percent at fault for a collision with a motor vehicle. The act changes the way a “contributory negligence” rule can be used in a civil case after a collision between a cyclist or pedestrian and a motor vehicle. In the past, contributory negligence made it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to receive compensation after an accident if they were deemed to be even 1% at fault for a collision. The Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act of 2016 will continue to preserve the “last clear chance” doctrine. Under this doctrine, the plaintiff ’s negligence is not a bar to recovery if the defendant (motorist) had the “last clear chance” to avoid an accident. Maintaining the “last clear chance” doctrine will result in better protection for pedestrians and cyclists. u

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The District Beat

Anita Bonds, Renters’ Gladiator

D

by Jonetta Rose Barras

C At-large Councilmember Anita Bonds has picked a fight with the city’s landlords, hitting them where they are likely to hurt most: in their wallets. She has introduced or co-introduced several legislative proposals destined to reform the city’s rent-control law, including the Rental Housing Affordability Stabilization Act of 2016, which would recalculate annual allowable increases on apartments and discontinue hikes in rents on vacant units. Realtors and apartment owners crowded into a public hearing called by Bonds last month. Industry representatives like Tom Borger, chairman of Borger Management Inc., and Arianna Royster, president elect of the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA), argued repeatedly that they would be injured by passage of the stabilization act; that rent control should be means tested, available only to the poor and lowincome; that the city should expand its rent subsidy program to aid in affordability; and that nothing should be done until the Department of Housing and Community Development issues its final report from the Housing Preservation Strike Force. Calling the bill “premature,” Borger said, “If amendments are to be made, changes should target those residents who are under stress.” Said Royster: “The passage of these bills could undermine the Strike Force recommendation.” In a letter to council Chair Phil Mendelson and Bonds dated Oct. 18, Margaret Jeffers, AOBA’s executive vice president,

and Lisa Mallory, head of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association, asserted that “piece- DC Councilmember At Large Anita Bonds meal changes like those proposed in these bills are already creating uncertainty among investors willing to provide critically important financing for improvements to an aging housing stock.” DC’s rent-control law was first approved in 1975 but has been amended in subsequent years. In 2006, for example, the council responded to landlord complaints by allowing rents to increase each year by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 2 percent for specific populations but not more than 10 percent. The legislature also permitted owners to raise rents between 10 percent and 30 percent when units become vacant, depending on the market and the rate charged for a comparable apartment within the same building. The combination of those two actions has eroded the power of rent control to preserve the city’s affordable housing stock, said tenants and their advocates. Proposals to repeal the measures were introduced in 2014 by Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham; Bonds co-sponsored them. Then-councilmember Muriel Bowser failed to advance the measures to the full legislature, however. Bonds, who has been on the council since 2012, revived the bills and co-introduced others, including DC Councilmember at Large Anita Bonds during a Council session.

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one with Cheh that would abolish so-called rent concessions. Another proposal would require that tenants in small, four-unit buildings be given the right to purchase their buildings, under certain circumstances, using the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). During the hearing last month Bonds seemed unaffected by the real estate industry’s argument. Instead, a woman who might be cast as a grandmotherly figure pushed back in a calm but firm voice. “The sentiment of the people who live in the District of Columbia is pushing this train,” she said. “We would be foolish to ignore that sentiment,” she added, sending an indisputable signal that she is mounting an aggressive affordability campaign as the District grapples with the erosion of low-cost single-family homes and rental housing. Later, in an interview with the Hill Rag, Bonds said, “The real estate community has been doing very well; [but] I have heard horror stories not just from low-income tenants. I thought it time to do something. So we opened the floor for discussion. We don’t want to hurt the real estate community. But we’re very sincere about helping people who are totally rent burdened.” Bonds is not alone in her determination to put the skids on the rising cost of housing in the nation’s capital. Five other legislators – Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), Elissa Silverman (At-large), Robert White (At-large), Cheh and Mendelson –have signed onto the bills as co-introducers. Bonds is leading the charge, however. Can she effect the change the tenants and others seek? “She is a gladiator,” said Johanna Shreve, head of the Office of the Tenant Advocate, during a quick chat before the start of the October public hearing. Shreve supports the latest legislative proposals.

Looks Can Deceive

Someone meeting Bonds for the first time might be unimpressed. She is diminutive, bespectacled, sometimes frumpy. Her history proves she is no pushover, however. She is the head of the DC Democratic State Committee and thus is on the executive board of the Democratic National Committee. Bonds has advised many mayoral administrations including those of Sharon Pratt, Anthony A. Williams, and Marion Barry. Her reputation as an effective political operative may have begun with her work for Barry. Some have called her, with Ivanhoe Donaldson, the architect of Barry’s first election in the late 1970s. Bonds played a critical role in the three subsequent victories. For years, she was the keeper of his political machine, which went inside the government as the Office of Community


Affairs. During that era, she established relations with many people, including former Councilmember Tommy Wells. He noted in an earlier interview that she helped him land a job in the District government’s child and family administration. Prior to joining the council in 2012, Bonds was director of corporate relations for Fort Myer Corporation, one of the largest public works companies in the city, with a considerable unionized workforce. When Mendelson ascended to the chair, after Kwame Brown was forced to resign from office, Bonds decided to jump into the fray. She hoped to fill Mendelson’s vacant seat. As chair of the local Democratic apparatus she had an unfair advantage, argued some in the city. She ignored the noise. She won the appointment and handily won the special election. She is in her first full term on the council. It’s not clear whether she will run for reelection in 2018. Since joining the legislature she has pushed for changes relating to senior citizens and low-income residents. Her rent-control bills have a much broader base. As many as 80,000 units, at least 66 percent of all rental properties, are affected by rentcontrol laws. Tenant leaders like James McGrath have praised Bonds. “We like her very much,” said McGrath, head of the citywide tenant group known as TENAC. “We endorsed her strong each time. She’s probably as progressive a member on the council as you could get.” Mendelson graded her performance “good” as chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development. “I don’t hear complaints about her and I don’t get the sense bills go to her committee to die.” She has pushed through the Condominium Owner Bill of Rights Amendment Act, the Residential Lease Clarification Act, which caps late fees, and the Elderly Tenant and Tenants with Disabilities Protection Amendment Act. A few government sources, who asked to remain anonymous, said Bonds can sometimes seem as if she doesn’t understand the council process. There are questions from the dais that suggest “she can’t keep up.” Bonds countered that “the processes of the council are sometimes slow,” filled with “jargon” that is used to “cover up issues. When we do amendments is where it shows up most. “I like asking questions. I think it helps the public know what we’re doing. I am trying to be revealing to the people who we are responsible to,” she continued, adding that her slow delivery is often deliberate. “When I start talking fast, that’s because I am so pissed that I am not measuring my words.” “I think she’s better as committee chair today than when she first got the committee,” said Mendelson.

Struggling for Consensus

Deploying her political skills, Bonds often attempts to manage constituents, bringing together opposing parties before she pushes the council on passage of her legislative proposals. She took that same tack with this latest round of bills, convening what she called “working groups.” A certified mediator, she was hoping to build consensus between renters and the real estate industry. She said initially there weren’t many complaints from apartment and building owners. They seemed more focused on preserving their prerogative to petition for extraordinary rent increase through the hardship petition or the capital improvement process The city has set 12 percent as the rate of return landlords should reasonably expect from their housing investments. When they don’t reach that generous goal, they have been allowed to petition the city’s rent administrator, making a case using various financial and other documents. Further, aging buildings sometimes demand significant repairs. Landlords may apply to secure increases through capital improvements to finance such renovations. The government response to these requests often has been unduly long. As a tradeoff, landlords have been allowed to implement the increases they sought even before there was a ruling. In 2014 the council approved emergency legislation limiting to 5 percent the rent increase that could be levied until there is a ruling on a petition. Bonds moved this year to make that limit permanent. She acknowledged that the petitioning process is “more bread and butter” for landlords. The attention to that issue may have accounted for their delayed reaction to the stabilization bill. “But then they brought out the big boys. Everybody who could be [at the hearing] was there. This is a group that has tremendous clout.”

The Test

Bonds’ skill and expertise will be tested over the next several weeks. Council session 21 ends just before Christmas. That means she doesn’t have much time to get her legislation passed by the full council. Her legislative counsel, Barry Weise, says that the issues are very big and there is “so much money at stake, we have to move it forward as quickly as we can.” Many of her council colleagues are lined up with her. Mendelson said the idea is to “balance reasonable rate of return and rent control, protecting tenants,” especially low-income renters. “It’s an economic issue,” he continued, adding that at this point in the session “there is triage,” with many members pushing for passage on their favored legislation.

“Anita’s bill is sensible,” said Silverman. “There is no reason why landlords should get CPI plus 2 percent, when most of us don’t get a costof-living increase. Most people’s income is remaining stagnant. “We need to keep the middle class in the city,” she added. Still, the opposition of the real estate community is a huge hurdle. Further, it appears Mayor Bowser isn’t gung-ho. Allison Ladd, chief of staff at the Department of Housing and Community Development, said the agency has concerns, particularly about taking the vacancy rate increases from as much as 30 percent to zero. She recommended that the government “meet with stakeholders to collect and examine relevant data and work with the committee to ensure this legislation is consistent with the goals and purposes of the rental housing act and the Strike Force recommendations.” Bonds and her staff have conducted months of meetings with key stakeholders including some of the people who came to her public hearing screaming bloody murder. What’s more, she said, the emphasis on the Strike Force report is misleading. “The group only focused on preservation of subsidized housing” – apartment buildings that were constructed using federal money, but now restrictive covenants are running out and owners are free to do what they wish with their property. “The Strike Force report does not speak against what we’re doing.” As the fight continues, tenants and their allies are expected to exert their own clout. “With the extremely high cost of housing in the District, allowing rents to go up 2 percent more each year than the average increase in wages guarantees that rent-controlled apartment eventually will become unaffordable for the tenants residing there,” said Scott Bruton, director of housing policy for the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development. Some tenants at 4000 Massachusetts Ave. NW have called for restitution of the 2 percent that was collected from them and others by landlords over the past decade. “The DC Council instituted a redistribution of wealth,” argued Tom Gregory. “Restore what has been unfairly taken from renters.” If the bills don’t pass before the end of the session, Bonds likely will reintroduce them immediately next year. Since there has been a public hearing, she won’t be obligated to hold another one. If she is reappointed as chair of the housing committee, she will be in control once again. “My goal is to do everything I can with the bailiwick I’ve been assigned,” she declared. u

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Neighborhood

The Numbers

Will DC Learn Before It’s Too Late? Welfare Time Limits Hurt Children

I

t looks like DC may consider scrapping a welfare time limit that threatened to leave thousands of families with children without cash resources to pay for rent, school uniforms, transportation, and other basic needs. A Working Group convened by Mayor Bowser concluded that the District needs a stronger safety net for children. Twenty years of federal welfare reform – known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF – has shown that that strict time limits often fall on families with serious challenges;

by Kate Coventry for a policy to guarantee some level of assistance, with no time limit, to ensure families have resources to meet the needs of their children. It also recommended that a portion of the grant – the parent’s portion – could be cut when parents are not taking steps to prepare for work. This is not only humane, but smart public policy. Most TANF recipients in DC get no housing assistance and use TANF to pay rent (or help pay rent in someone else’s home). Without this, many would be pushed closer to homelessness. Moreover, having a stable family income is critical to creating a healthy environment for children. Boosting a low-income family’s income leads to better performance at school, which in turn encourages higher graduation rates and better employment as an adult. The Working Group has made its recommendation. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council now need to turn it into law and provide the funding.

What We Know about Welfare Reform in DC and the Nation

that most do not find sustainable employment; and that children often fall into extreme poverty as a result. Here in DC, many families on TANF have disabilities or health problems, while many others use welfare as a safety net as they cycle in and out of low-wage part-time jobs in industries marked by high turnover. When they leave TANF they often do not leave poverty. That’s why the mayor’s Working Group called

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The Working Group was convened because the District’s current TANF time limit, established in 2010 and 2011, is set to cut 10,000 children from assistance in October 2017, regardless of their family’s circumstances, with no chance to get back on. This is one of the strictest time limits in the nation. The federal law that governs TANF was passed in 1996 and grants states a great deal of flexibility over time limits. Most give more time to families who need it. The Working Group – made up of policymakers, employment services providers, TANF recipients, and advocates – reviewed the 20-year history of time limits, particularly the hardships faced by families in states with harsh time limits. They found that:

Most parents do not secure steady employment. A Maryland study found that families who leave TANF because of time limits work less in the year after than other TANF leavers do. In the state of Washington only 45 percent were working three years after their case closed due to a time limit. The District has recovered from the recession, but wage and job growth have been uneven. A survey of DC TANF recipients found that most earn less than $12.50 an hour, and less than $250 a week, when they find a job. And they may be the lucky ones. About 18 percent of residents with a high school diploma are unemployed, compared with 10 percent in 2007 before start of the recession. Many experience housing instability or homelessness. A Maine study found that one in five families cut off by time limits reports being evicted, having to relocate to overcrowded living conditions, or going to a homeless shelter. Washington state found that 20 percent of families who left due to time limits were homeless after three years. This could happen in DC. Most families on TANF do not receive housing subsidies. Most are “doubled up,” staying with family or friends who are likely to be doing only slightly better economically than they are. The loss of benefits would likely mean that the TANF family would have no income to contribute to the joint household, while still adding to the household’s expenses. The host family might no longer be able to host the TANF family, putting them at risk for becoming homeless. Parents struggle to keep families together. When parents lose TANF without a secure job, their children are more likely to be abused or neglected and end up in foster care. Child development is threatened. When TANF benefits are cut off from mothers of preschoolers, children are three times more likely to have serious behavior problems than other young children. Children are also more likely to repeat a grade and less likely to be engaged by their parents in important learning activities like reading when they are subject to


strict TANF time limits. The challenges poor parents face in creating a positive environment can lead to toxic levels of stress and adversely affect both physical and cognitive development, including brain development in young children. Low-income children enter school well behind other children and then perform more poorly. They complete fewer years of education, and then work less and earn less as adults.

Reforming Time Limits by Eliminating Them

That may sound depressing and hopeless. But it actually isn’t. Research also shows that increasing a family’s income, even by a small amount, can make a big difference on a range of outcomes for poor children, including test scores, school attendance, high school graduation, college enrollment, and future employment. The Working Group’s recommendation will do just that while also including provisions to ensure that parents are engaging in services that will improve the family’s economic situation. The Working Group also made concrete suggestions for improving the services provided so that parents are more likely to move into employment. This will create a brighter future for them and for the District as a whole. Kate Coventry is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www. dcfpi.org) and a voting member of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness, representing DC government, nonprofit providers, advocates, and homeless and formerly homeless residents. Its mission is to guide the city’s homelessness efforts.The Fiscal Policy Institutepromotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. u

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Neighborhood

Shaw Streets by Pleasant Mann nities. Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, Ethiopian restaurant Queen of Sheba made Tim reviewing the DC dining scene for Food and Wine Carman’s Top 10 list of Cheap Eats. magazine, noted that “no neighborhood has made more headlines than Shaw.” If you think that Shaw is probably the most dynamic Probably the biggest affirmation of Shaw’s posineighborhood in the District, a number of recent An extensive list of dignitaries came together on tion as a dining destination is in the release of the reader poll surveys are backing you up. Oct. 26 to celebrate completion of the Channing E. first Michelin Guide for Washington, DC. The The Washington Blade, in its review of the Best Phillips Homes at 1710 Seventh St. NW. The project highly regarded dining guide awarded Eric Ziebold’s of Gay DC, starts by designating Shaw as Best Gayby Lincoln Westmoreland Housing is one of the few Kinship and Jeremiah Langhorne’s The Dabney the borhood. Shaw winners in the poll included Dacha examples of new affordable housing in the District. much sought after Michelin star. Chercher and KyriBeer Garden (Best Gay-Friendly Straight Bar), NelIt is named for the late Rev. Channing E. Phillips, a san won Bib Gourmand designations as restaurants lie’s (Hottest Bar Staff ), 9:30 Club (Best Music), low-income housing activist. notable for their affability and value. Other Shaw Uproar Lounge & Restaurant (Best Rooftop), Beau Mayor Muriel Bowser pointed to the building as restaurants in the guide, an honor in itself, include Thai (Best Asian Restaurant), Compass Coffee (Best just the beginning of a drive to build more affordable Coffee Shop), and Town Danceboutique (Best OutAcadiana, Convivial, Espita Mezcaleria, Metier, and housing in the city, particularly with the faith comTable. With these results Shaw Main Streets munity. She noted that “churches have a mission and hosted a release party at the Columbia Room the they have a lot of land. And we [the District govday after the guide was published, giving purchasernment] have $100 million” to devote to affordable ers a chance to meet and get signatures from now housing each year. famous Shaw restaurateurs and chefs. After the ceremony attendees toured the buildIn his Fall Dining Guide in the Washington ing and admired the lobby memorial to Channing E. Post, Sietsema gives similar prominence to Shaw Phillips. All of the building’s 56 units are leased. The restaurants. All Purpose is at the top of his list 3,100 square-foot retail space on the ground floor of DC restaurants, with Kinship and Convivial will be leased to Capitol Hill Child Care, a high-end also making the Top 10. Sietsema gives honoreducational provider headable mention to The Dabquartered in Southeast. ney, Drift on 7th, Hazel, Kyrisan, and Metier. Fritz Chef Eric Ziebold (right) meets fans at a Michelin guide release party at the Hahn, the Washington Columbia Room. Photo: Pleasant Mann Post’s specialist in drinkThe Deputy Mayor for ing, named the Columbia Planning and Economic door Drinking). The Best Apartment/Condo buildRoom as DC’s Best Bar, Development chose the ing in the survey is Shaw’s Atlantic Plumbing with while Shaw’s All Souls, EsDay of the Dead to anthe Shay coming in as runner-up. pita Mezcaleria. and Right nounce the resuscitation of The Washington Express’ survey of the Best Proper Brewing Company the development prospects of 2016 gives top honors to Shouk (Best Spot for were included in his Top 10 for Parcel 42, a vacant Jane Phillips and Channing D. Phillips at the Channing E. PhilVegetarians), Dacha Beer Garden (Best Place to Bar list. Shaw’s venerable lips Memorial. Photo: Alexander Padro city-owned lot at the corDrink Outside), 9:30 Club (Best Muner of Seventh and R streets. Parcel sic Venue), and Reformation Fitness 42 Partners, a development team that (Best Specialty Gym/Class). In the includes Ditto Residential and Irving Best Small Gallery category, Shaw saw Development, submitted the winning a triple win with Touchstone Gallery proposal for the site, beating out five on top and Foundry Gallery and Long other competitors. View Gallery as runners-up. The project will have 90 residential units, with the majority being two- or three-bedrooms geared toward families. The development will also feature an outdoor public park, with 8,000 square But of course the primary source of atfeet of neighborhood-serving retail. tention for Shaw is its dining opportu- The crowd listens as Mayor Muriel Bowser dedicates the Channing E. Phillips Homes. Photo: Pleasant Mann One aspect of the proposal is the offer

Shaw Is Number One – In a Number of Things

Channing E. Phillips Homes Open

Parcel 42

Shaw: Center of American Dining

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T c


The winning development proposal for Shaw Parcel 42. Image: Parcel 42 Partners

to provide a rent-subsidized retail space to a Shaw-neighborhood business. The proposed plan is expected to create over 130 construction and 180 permanent jobs.

Shaw Plans for the Holidays

Plans have been made for celebrating the holiday season in Shaw. Miracle on Seventh Street, last year’s popup where the Mockingbird Hill bar was totally transformed for the holiday season, will return this year, the night after Thanksgiving. Given that there were waiting lines to get in last winter, the makeover has expanded to include the neighboring bars Eat the Rich and Southern Efficiency. The next day, City Market at O will open the season with a treelighting festival on Saturday, Nov. 26. From 1 to 5 p.m. the complex will have live music, face painting, and a return of the popular electric train ride to entertain neighborhood residents, ending with the lighting of the City Market at O holiday tree at sundown. Also on Nov. 26, Shaw Main Streets will mark Small Business Saturday, the national movement to encourage shopping at local establishments for the holidays, by sponsoring a series of ribbon cuttings at new Shaw businesses. Also scheduled is the muchanticipated Shaw Main Streets Holiday Party at the Howard Theater on Dec. 7. On Saturday, Dec. 10, the French Street Neighborhood Association plans on holding its holiday tree lighting in French Street Park, continuing the oldest neighborhood tree-lighting ceremony in the District. u

H y p e r L o c a l | hīpər

. lōk(ə)l |

Hyperlocal connotes information oriented around a well defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of its residents. synonym: M I D C I T Y D C N E W S . C O M Daily online. Monthly in print.

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Neighborhood

East Side News by Max Moline crowd. Located next door to Mediterranean fast-casual joint Shouk, the pizza On Friday, Oct. 28, NoMa had a grand place joins a bustling, vibrant lunch and introduction to its newest retail destinadinner scene in the heart of the Triangle. tion. Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), While Pie 360 offers a build-youra sporting goods and outdoor equipment own pizza option, the real treats are their franchise, opened a new flagship store inspecialty pizzas. The Ring of Fire brings side the same complex as the future Uline an unlikely pairing of Italian sausage and Arena, in the shadows of the NoMa-Galbanana peppers, and the beautifully prelaudet U Metro stop. pared BBQ Chicken is drizzled with a The celebration had been publicized homemade sweet barbecue sauce. For vegthroughout the summer, most notably at etarians, the Greek and the Herbivore are the current site of Wunder Garten (which loaded up with veggies, and even the basic is at the intersection of First and L streets Margherita offers a distinctive, fresh basilNE). REI and Wunder Garten co-inhabdriven taste. The combo meal offers the ited the location, although REI’s preschoice of a pizza, a drink, and either a side ence began in June in the former parking salad or banana pudding. Anyone who’s not lot. The REI-Wunder Garten partnership Dozens of REI employees eagerly gathered for photos and a ribbon cutting in advance of the on a diet (and really, anyone who is) should store’s grand opening on Friday, Oct. 21. dates to last summer, during which they get the pudding, a sweet and creamy conhad a similar arrangement at Wunder Garand advice on what sections to check out. coction that is the strangely satisfying cap ten’s former location next to the Metro station, less As the hundreds of patrons – some of whom to a seemingly odd meal-dessert pairing. than a block from the new REI store. had driven miles and across state lines just for the The build-your-own option allows patrons one Throughout the summer the outdoor post event – poured in, staff directed them to the right of three sauces – classic, signature spicy, or garhosted free classes and firesides on bike repair and products and answered questions. And while the lic-infused olive oil – four toppings and Pie 360’s other topics. A large sign that showed the number festivities have died down somewhat, the crowds incredible made-in-house mozzarella. Additional of weeks until the store’s opening now proudly dishave not; the store is experiencing enormous patoppings and cheeses cost a little extra. plays a double-zero. tronage every day. Part of REI’s publicity for the opening block REI is located at 201 M St. NE, next to Pie 360’s delicious, party event included a promise of free water bottles freshly made pizzas are the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro stop. Visit the perfect size. and gift certificates to each of the first 500 in line online at www.rei.com. at the three-day event. According to employees the line had already begun forming when they arrived on Friday at 6:00 a.m. “There were even a couple people who’d camped out in tents overnight,” one About an hour up the Baltimore-Washemployee said. ington Parkway, for a little over a year, The event featured live music in the lot across patrons of The Shops at Canton Crossing L Street from Wunder Garten, including a perhave been treated to delicious fresh pizza, formance from DC native Biz Markie. As the thanks to Pie 360, then a brand-new faststore opened its doors, attendees were greeted casual pizza space. From area chain Coal with a complimentary breakfast and the Ballou Fire Pizza, Pie 360 – barely in its second High School Majestic Marching Knights marchyear – opened a new location in Mt. Vering band. By the time the doors opened at 10:00 non Triangle and is working on two more: a.m. on Friday, the line stretched almost entirely in Twinbrook (Rockville) and in Alexanaround the block. dria’s Foxchase Shopping Center. Following a drumroll leading up to a ribbon cutThe restaurant opened in early Octoting, the long line moved quickly, and people began ber. Pie 360’s 10-inch pizzas are the perstreaming through the doors and between two lines fect size to be filling but not overly so. At of REI employees ringing cowbells and welcoming $10 apiece (including tax), they are an afeach and every entrant with a high five, stickers, pins, fordable option for the busy MVT lunch

More Cowbells

360, down 295, to 655

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So, for a quick, tasty, and filling meal check out MVT’s newest fast-casual restaurant, Pie 360, located at 655 K St. NE and online at Pie360.net.

Neighborhood Notes: Traffic Changes

NoMa saw a series of changes to car and train traffic during October. Camden’s yard: The block of L Street between North Capitol Street and First Street NE, previously one-way (eastbound), has been changed to two-way. As a result the block whose main destinations are the Camden NoMa apartment building and the NPR offices will lose 25 parking spots. On track: As part of WMATA’s ongoing SafeTrack repairs campaign, the segment of Metro’s Red Line between NoMa-Gallaudet U and Fort Totten will be closed until Nov. 22. Buses will replace trains in that section, making stops at the closed Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland-CUA stations. SafeTraffic: To accommodate the aforementioned shuttle buses, N Street between First Street and Second Street NE will be one-way eastbound, and Second Street between N Street and Florida Avenue NE will convert to one-way northbound. Those two blocks make up the entrance to the NoMa stop’s N Street entrance. The changes will only remain in place during the Red Line segment shutdown. For more information on SafeTrack visit www.WMATA. com/rail/SafeTrack.cfm. Max Moline is a communications specialist living in DC. He frequents Nationals Park and enjoys writing about food as much as he does eating it. He’s always looking for new places to try. Rooftops and cigar lounges are a plus! Get in touch: molinecommunications@ gmail.com; @MaxMoline425. u

Call Laura Vucci 202-400-3510 or laura@hillrag.com for more information No vember 2 0 1 6 3 3


Neighborhood

Bloomingdale Buzz by Max Moline

You Make My Hearts Sing

For just under a year, Bloomingdale’s The Pub & the People has had a tenant in its basement. Little Wild Things Farm, which opened in December 2014, established its second location in the bar/restaurant’s lower floor last November. This month it will be opening a third location, in Bloomingdale’s Wicked Bloom. The urban farm, run by founder and chief veggie officer Mary Ackley and associate farm manager Chelsea Barker, began at the Carmelite Friars Catholic Monastery in Edgewood. According to Ackley it was mostly luck that landed the farm at the monastery. “That was just me getting creative when I started,” Ackley said. “I got the idea when I was running by the monastery and saw all the open space.” When she approached the group, they mentioned a garden in the back of their property that had been tended to by a monk who’d grown too old to continue doing so. “At first I was worried it would be a tiny garden when they said that,” Ackley added, “but they took me back and showed me a beautiful quarter-acre.” Ackley’s luck continued when she tested the soil and discovered it was good for farming. The mineral balance of soil needs to be just right for farming; and while that can be controlled in an indoor facil-

ity, choosing an outdoor farm is just the luck of the draw, she said. The indoor location of the farm has all but outgrown its space, which is especially remarkable given what Ackley and Barker grow in it: microgreens. They grow everything from edible chrysanthemums and popcorn shoots, to micro endives and micro fennel. “I feel very fancy when I cook with micro basil,” Barker said, adding that her current favorite item grown at the farm is sunflower shoots. The bestselling item is the arugula and lemon pesto, which in addition to being available from the online store can be enjoyed on The Ackley, a pizza at Petworth’s Timber Pizza named after the farm’s founder. Timber is one of many local businesses that Little Wild Things sells to, a list that also includes the Dirty South Deli food truck, Glen’s Garden Market, Washington’s Green Grocer, and farmers’ markets throughout the city. “In a given week we’ll be distributing to up to 15 restaurants, caterers, and food trucks,” Barker said. The farm has recently launched an online wholesale market for direct sales to restaurants, with same-day delivery. “Not a lot of farms have that kind of service,” said Ackley. In addition to the store, the farm provides products as donations to both the monastery and to So Others Might Eat

The indoor farm of Little Wild Things employs a timed drip system that waters the microgreens three minutes a day.

The Bloomingdale facility of Little Wild Things heats and feeds its plants with 16 hours of light each day.

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(SOME), a nonprofit located on O Street NW. The pair and their part time staff are hoping to give more donations in the future, though they’re selling out nearly every week. Ackley described their partnership with The Pub & the People’s ownership as “not your average lessor-lessee relationship.” The ownership group has helped with maintenance and constructing the shelving for the farm. Ackley described them as “just unbelievably supportive and awesome.” Little Wild Things Farm’s locations are at The Pub & the People (1648 North Capitol St. NW) and the Carmelite Friars Catholic Monastery (2131 Lincoln Road NE), and the store can be accessed at www.littlewildthingsfarm.com.

Market While You Can

November marks the final month of the Bloomingdale Farmers’ Market, which closes shop for the winter after Nov. 20. The market celebrated Halloween in style. With chef Jonathan Bardzik cooking for the crowd, the Oct. 30 market featured Mycolombia mushrooms, Queen Anne Langley’s stem honey, Bike House performing bike maintenance, Keswick Creamery, Little Wild Things, and more. The crowd was treated to two musical performances, one from accordionist Simone Baron and the other from the DC


The farm’s original outdoor location at the Carmelite Friars Catholic Monastery remains open through December.

Youth Orchestra performing to raise funds for a trip to Chile. Earlier in the month the market hosted Langley principal Vanessa Drumm, who came to meet and greet with neighborhood residents. Fourteenth Street NW’s Thip Khao also made an October appearance, with a popup chef demo table. The market has introduced a social media component: the Instagram, viewable at www.instagram.com/bloomingdalefm, posts weekly photos of products on sale and the people in attendance. The Bloomingdale Farmers’ Market appears weekly on Sundays starting at 10 a.m. in front of the Big Bear Cafe (1700 First St. NW).

Neighborhood Notes: Crime

A rash of robberies plagued Bloomingdale throughout October, including several armed robberies of stores and individuals. In addition, a car on the 100 block of V Street NW had its wheels and tires stolen, and several package thefts have been reported. In response to the package thefts, the Metropolitan Police Department is urging residents to require a signature for delivery, put up obvious surveillance cameras, and make sure that, for those who won’t be home for hours or days at a time, carriers hold on to packages until there is a good time for delivery. They also suggest that checks and money orders be personally handed to a mail carrier, and that packages not be left outside for pickup.

G G ROOFING

Neighborhood Notes: Traffic

Two notable traffic updates occurred in Bloomingdale in October as a result of a DC Water project. The block of First Street between Channing Street and Michigan Avenue NW will remain closed, according to DC Water’s John Lisle, at least until March as a result of water main replacement. In addition, DC Water has reopened the intersection of Flagler Place and Adams Street NW.

Neighborhood Notes: Other Items of Interest

The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has extended until Nov. 15 the solicitation for offers application deadline for a lot at Florida Avenue and Q Street NW. The application can be found at dhcd.dc.gov. To honor the memory of Seth Rich, who was murdered during an armed robbery in Bloomingdale this summer, the Democratic National Committee dedicated a bike rack outside its headquarters on Capitol Hill on Oct. 17. Rich was an avid cyclist who rode his bike to work most days. The Unified Scene Theater’s “Introduction to Improvisational Comedy” course returns this month, running from Nov. 7 to Dec. 19. The “Introduction to Long-Form Improv” course will begin on Jan. 10. Registration and info for those and other courses is available at www.unifiedscenetheater.com. Max Moline is a communications specialist living in DC. He frequents Nationals Park and enjoys writing about food as much as he does eating it. He’s always looking for new places to try. Rooftops and cigar lounges are a plus! Get in touch: molinecommunications@gmail.com; @MaxMoline425. u

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notebook Arena Stage’s Carousel and Moby Dick Family Fun Packs

Arena Stage’s Family Fun Pack offers four seats for $125. Orders must include a minimum of two patrons between ages five and 17 per Family Fun Pack and cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previously purchased tickets. There is a limit of two Family Fun Packs per household. All standard fees apply. Family Fun Packs must be purchased by phone or in person. Family Fun Packs are available for Carousel, through Dec. 24; and Moby Dick, Nov. 18 to Dec. 24. arenastage.org.

Saturday Morning at The National

You and your children are invited to the National Theatre on select Saturday mornings for free programs that engage and inspire the young mind. Saturday programming is best suited for children four

by Kathleen Donner

to 10 years. Siblings and friends of other ages are always welcome. Performances take place Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets may be reserved one week prior to the performance. The reservation system closes at 10 a.m. on the Friday before the performance but walk-ins are welcome if there is room. Register and get more information at thenationaldc.org. Here’s the remaining fall lineup: Nov. 19, Rainbow Puppets: The Really Big Dinosaur Show; Dec. 3, Music Around the World; Dec. 10, Virginia Ballet Company & School, Nutcracker.

Mickey Mouse Day at MLK Library

This month, Maker Social Club will be celebrating Mickey Mouse Day. Join them, Thursday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m., in making all things Mickey Mouse using the Photo: Courtesy of the US Botanic Garden

design software TinkerCAD and their 3-D printers. Register at bit.ly/labsclasses. Registration has begun. Children six to twelve must be accompanied by a guardian. MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. 202727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk.

A Tur-key-ful Family Crafternoon at MLK Library

On Saturday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m., you’ll be decorating 3D printed pilgrim hats and laser-cut turkeys, and making Happy Thanksgiving cards. This is a craftsfor-children program for kids ages six and older in the Fab Lab, room 219. Parents are required to stay with their children during the program. Register online at bit.ly/labsclasses Registration has begun. MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk.

Thanksgiving at Bright Beginnings

Many of Bright Beginnings families do not have the means to purchase a Thanksgiving meal. Help their social services team supply families with dinner essentials. The week of Thanksgiving, they will distribute canned goods or gift cards to families to ensure they have a happy holiday with a full belly. To volunteer or donate, Contact Volunteers and Communications Specialist Whitney Faison at wfaison@brightbeginningsinc.org.

Library of Congress Young Readers Center Weekly Story Time

The Young Readers Center in the Jefferson Building, room G29, offers Story Time for infants and toddlers every Friday (except holidays) starting at 10:30 a.m. Please note that they are required to limit the number of participating children and adults to 50. Free admission stickers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. read.gov/yrc.

Muppets & Puppets Holiday Display at the American History Museum

Season’s Greenings Trains at the Botanic Garden

Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 2, 2017, daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Botanic Garden invites you to remember that the best things in life are free – the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree, the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations, and the delight of a child discovering the make believe world of model trains. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov.

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In time for the winter holidays (Nov. 23 to Jan. 8, 2017), this showcase presents a selection of Muppets and marionettes from the museum’s collection illustrating the evolution of puppetry. Included in the display is an Italian Prince and Princess marionette from 1900, an elf marionette used at the 1963 World’s Fair, the first Kermit Jim Henson


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kids and family

proximately 1500 public and charter school students each year, as well as during the 2017 Environmental Film Festival, March 1426, which boasts an annual attendance of over 27,000. Details will be available shortly on facebook. com/dcenvirofilm.

Stefan Karl as The Grinch with Seth Bazacas as Young Max. Photo: PAPARAZZIBYAPPOINTMENT.COM

Mark Jaster: Piccolo’s Trunk at the Atlas

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical

Discover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ classic holiday tale as it comes to life on the National Theatre stage, Dec. 13 to Dec. 31. Featuring the hit songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas”, the Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, an endlessly cheerful bunch bursting with holiday spirit. thenationaldc.org. created for the television program, “Sam & Friends,” and two popular Muppets, Fozzie Bear and Swedish Chef. During the Holiday Festival, Dec. 3 and 4, the museum will screen The Muppet Christmas Carol. Check americanhistory.si.edu for times.

Environmental Film Festival Announces New Film Award for DC Youth

The DC Environmental Film Festival announces an open call for films, through Jan. 13, in partnership with other local arts and educational organizations. Films eligible for the competition must be 60 seconds or less in length and explore city life, identity and the environment. During the submission process, interested young filmmakers will have an opportunity to participate in a master class media workshop, presented by DCEFF’s Executive Director Maryanne Culpepper, formerly President of National Geographic Studios. The workshop will provide participants with expert knowledge and guidance, in addition to hands-on experience with storytelling and production using smartphones, tablets and other accessible technologies. Only DC residents, between 12-18 are eligible. The winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize. He/she will also have a chance to present the winning film at DCEFF’s annual youth screening, which hosts ap-

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Meet Piccolo, the charming and funny character created by DC’s preeminent mime artist. Piccolo delights through his playful interactions with the audience, brilliant gestures, and witty musical surprises, all without words. Experience a production featured at the Smithsonian, Wolftrap and beyond in a new Atlas offering especially for ages three to eight and their families. Mark Jaster is at the Atlas from Nov. 16 to 20. $10. The Atlas Performing Arts Center is at 1333 H St. NE. Get tickets at atlasarts.org.

Thanksgiving Day Little Turkey Fun Run

Join SOME (So Others Might Eat) in supporting the hungry and homeless in Washington, DC by participating in the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger at Freedom Plaza. Proceeds benefit thousands of homeless families and single adults, including the elderly and people suffering from mental illness, by providing much-needed food, clothing and healthcare. The only turkey trot in the District, the Trot for Hunger is a tradition for thousands of area residents and a meaningful way to remember people in need on Thanksgiving Day. The kids one mile fun run is at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K run/walk is at 9 a.m. Register at soome.convio.net.

Infant & Child CPR at Hill Center

It takes two hours of your time to learn the skills that could save your child’s life. During this class you will be taught by a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse. You will learn Infant and Child CPR, AED and what to do if your child or infant is choking. The class applies to infants to age 12. These are skills everyone caring for an infant or child should have. This class, Sunday, Nov. 20, 1 to 3 p.m. is for parents, nannies, babysitters, or family members who might be caring for your child. $65. hillcenterdc.org. This class repeats on Sunday, Dec. 18, 1 to 3 p.m.

DAR Museum Family Event

On Saturday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., make your own designs with stamps. Fabric from early America was printed using roller and block printing. Try out both these techniques, and find out about the plants animals, and minerals they used to make the dyes. This is a walk-in event. Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters is at 1776 D St. NW. 202-628-1776. dar.org.

DC Public School Graduation Rates Rise

The 2015-2016 graduation rate for DC Public Schools rose to 69 percent, up from 64.4 percent; and the graduation rate for public charter schools rose to 72.9 percent, up from 71.7 percent. The adjusted cohort consisted of 4,880 students who entered ninth grade in the 2012-13 school year. Of those, 3,377 students graduated high school in spring 2016.

DC Public Schools See Eighth Consecutive Year of Enrollment Increase

The number of students enrolled in public and charter schools in the District increased for the eighth consecutive year, reaching 90,500 - according to preliminary data released by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. In the 2016-2017 school year, enrollment grew by 3,121 students over the previous year--a 3.44 percent increase. DCPS enrollment increased from 48,439 to 48,777; and public charter schools enrollment numbers increased from 38,905 to 41,677.

Lead Poisoning Prevention in Children

Did you know that old paint in homes built before 1978 can cause problems for children? Homes built before 1978 very often contain paint that was made with lead. This paint is a poison, and it can cause serious health problems for your child. Even opening and shutting old windows can cause tiny lead particles to come off the paint and fall on floors and window sills. When a child touches those tiny lead particles, they will stick to the child’s fingers, and when children then put their fingers in their mouth, the lead can cause learning difficulties in school as well as behavior problems. It is important for you to get your child tested by a doctor for possible exposure to lead, once when the child is between six and fourteen months, and a second time when the child is between twenty-two and twenty-six months. To learn more, visit doee. dc.gov/lead.

Spirit of the Season Holiday Matinee for Kids

On Friday, Dec. 9, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the United States Air Force Band presents their special Holiday


no veM ber 2 0 1 6 3 9


Matinee for Kids at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Join the Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants for their annual free Holiday Concert, Spirit of the Season. Enjoy classic and modern holiday music and a surprise visit from the North Pole. The concert is about 60 minutes long. To reserve seats, teachers should send their email, school name, number of students and chaperones attending, and general age or grade level of students. After your request is received, you will get a confirmation email. Requests will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they reach capacity, they will initiate a standby list. Email usaf. jbanafw.afdw-staff.mbx.usaf-bandholiday-kids-concert@mail.mil for reservations. usafband.af.mil.

Capital City Symphony Annual Holiday Concert & Sing Along

On Dec. 11, 4 p.m. (perfect for younger audiences), and 7 p.m., come enjoy holiday favorites at the Atlas performed by the Capital City Symphony and sung by the Congressional Chorus and American Youth Chorus. Join in the singing during an audience sing-along. $8.50. Tickets go quickly. capitalcitysymphony.org.

The Secret Garden at Shakespeare Theatre

When 10-year-old Mary Lennox loses her parents to a cholera epidemic in the British Raj of India, she travels to England to stay with Archibald Craven, her remote and morose uncle, still grieving the death of his wife ten years ago. Terrified of every nook and cranny of the haunted Craven Manor on the Yorkshire Moors, Mary seeks refuge in her late aunt’s mysterious walled garden, where she discovers amazing secrets. Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon’s Drama Desk and Tony Award-winning musical based on the beloved children’s book, The Secret Garden, is a story of hardship turned into hope, of beauty discovered in unlikely places, the power

4 0 M I d ci t y d c n ews . c o M

of the child’s imagination and the wisdom that accompanies growing up. On stage at Shakespeare Theatre, Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. shakespearetheatre.org.

Step Afrika!’s Magical, Musical Holday Step Show Family Fun Pack

DC’s internationally-known percussive dance company invites you to celebrate the holidays with clapping, stomping and all around fun for all ages featuring their furry friends from the Animal Kingdom, and a special dance party with DJ Frosty the Snowman. Tickets are $18 to $40. With the Family Fun Pack, you can get four tickets for $100. Your group must include at least two adults and two children, 16 and under. Step Afrika!’s Magical, Musical Holday Step Show is at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE from Dec. 15 to 30. 202-3997993. atlasarts.org.

Cathedral Choral Society Family Joy Concert

On Saturday, Dec. 10, noon, bring the whole family and get swept up in the sounds of the season. This one-hour program has something for all ages, including a kids-only sing-along. Tickets are $25, adults; $15, students/ kids. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. cathedral.org.

Air & Space Story Time “Chicken in Space”

On Nov. 17, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 11 a.m. and Nov. 19 and 26 also at 1:30 p.m., Air and Space museum staff will read “Chicken in Space” by Adam Lehrhaupt and, at other times, stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. Each session includes one story and a hands-on activity. Groups larger than 15 are encouraged to reserve a program through the group reservation form. airandspace.si.edu.


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BackOnTrackDC Reconnects Youth and Adults with Education

In an effort to connect more District residents with educational options that lead to a secondary education credential and career pathway, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education has launched BackonTrackDC. org, a website that directs users to a range of alternative and adult-serving education programs throughout the District. BackOnTrackDC gives users the option to browse up-to-date and reliable information on more than 20 education programs throughout the District and lists programmatic information, enrollment eligibility and timing, addresses and contact information for each. Users can filter for relevant programming, including secondary credentials offered; additional program offerings, such as English classes, workforce readiness and career training; and additional supports and services, such as night classes, job or postsecondary placement, bilingual instruction or childcare provided. backontrackdc.osse.dc.gov.

Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music” Takes the Stage in Fairfax

Jenny, an enthusiastic new music teacher, arrives on Sesame Street only to discover that her instruments are missing. Jenny’s new Muppet friends quickly come to the rescue and discover instruments they never knew existed... rubber duckies, trash can lids and even cookie jars. Elmo, Abby Cadabby and friends teach children that everyone can make and enjoy beautiful music together. Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and all their Sesame Street friends are taking to the stage to share their love of music in Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music” at the EagleBank Arena, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA,

Friday, Dec. 16 through Sunday, Dec. 18. Tickets are $18 to $42 at ticketmaster.com.

Jolly Express Cruise at Annapolis

On weekends in December, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, enjoy a 45-minute, holiday-inspired, “sleigh ride” cruise aboard the reindeer-bedecked Miss Anne. The cruise includes holiday music, hot cocoa, and Captain Santa at the helm. Tickets are $23 for adults; $13 for children under 12. Cruise departs from the Information Booth at City Dock, Annapolis. Visit cruisesonthebay.com for more information.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Imagination Stage

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this beloved film by attending the live performance at Imagination Stage this holiday season. Packed with memorable tunes like “Be Our Guest”, “Human Again”, and “Beauty and the Beast”, this holiday musical has something for the entire family. After much high drama, silly laughter, exuberant singing and dancing, love wins the day. Best for ages four, up. Tickets are $15 to $35. The show runs Nov. 19 to Jan. 15 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. 301-2801660. imaginationstage.org. Here’s the remaining lineup: The Freshest Snow Whyte, Feb. 11 to March 28; The Jungle Book, April 22 to May 28; Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, June 21 to Aug. 13. u

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

Price Bedrooms

HOMES Brookland 1225 MICHIGAN AVE NE 600 GIRARD ST NE 1516 NEWTON ST NE 310 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 914 EVARTS ST NE 328 BRYANT ST NE 3121 12TH ST NE 330 CHANNING ST NE 226 ADAMS ST NE 4703 8TH ST NE 913 VARNUM ST NE 4208 13TH ST NE 39 CRITTENDEN ST NE 715 DELAFIELD ST NE 5048 6TH PL NE 732 EMERSON ST NE 3210 20TH ST NE

$950,000 $720,000 $653,500 $610,000 $580,000 $524,900 $500,000 $475,000 $445,000 $436,000 $435,000 $425,000 $415,000 $386,900 $310,000 $300,000 $499,500

Columbia Heights 3459 HOLMEAD PL NW 1323 QUINCY ST NW 1343 IRVING ST NW 440 NEWTON PL NW 1248 GIRARD ST NW 1027 LAMONT ST NW 3133 11TH ST NW 638 QUEBEC PL NW 918 EUCLID ST NW 1313 IRVING ST NW 3907 KANSAS AVE NW 465 LURAY PL NW 1410 PERRY PL NW 4101 ARKANSAS AVE NW 3112 PARK PL NW 750 HARVARD ST NW 639 ATLANTIC ST SE 82 ELMIRA ST SW 821 HR DR SE 826 XENIA ST SE

$1,450,000 $1,005,000 $950,000 $900,000 $875,000 $810,000 $810,000 $780,000 $760,000 $700,000 $650,000 $587,500 $565,000 $559,000 $550,000 $465,000 $342,000 $315,000 $315,000 $300,000

H Street Corridor 1020 10TH ST NE 1304 G ST NE

$625,000 $625,000

Ledroit Park 416 T ST NW 22 ADAMS ST NW

$1,100,000 $965,000

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

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

Shaw 446 Q ST NW

$850,000

2

Trinidad 1279 OATES ST NE 1516 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1671 MONTELLO AVE NE 1423 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1232 NEAL ST NE

$775,000 $670,000 $645,000 $625,000 $530,000

4 4 4 3 3

801 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #PH12 916 G ST NW #606 601 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1012 1133 14TH ST NW #1106 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #803 777 7TH ST NW #804 777 7TH ST NW #816 1280 21ST ST NW #603 1260 21ST ST NW #602 1330 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #511

$539,000 $505,000 $494,000 $485,000 $423,500 $413,000 $383,000 $382,500 $330,000 $200,000

Columbia Heights 3803 10TH NW #UNIT 2 3803 10TH ST NW #1# 1352 MONROE ST NW #B 1459 HARVARD ST NW #6 1370 MONROE ST NW #B 1352 QUINCY ST NW #Q2 3035 15TH ST NW #402 763 MORTON ST NW #3 1390 KENYON ST NW #517 1380 QUINCY ST NW #2A 1449 HARVARD ST NW #1 2750 14TH ST NW #602 1436 MERIDIAN PL NW #406 1421 COLUMBIA RD NW #B1 1308 CLIFTON ST NW #111 1454 NEWTON ST NW #101 4010 KANSAS AVE NW #1 1321 FAIRMONT ST NW #403 3534 10TH ST NW #400

$760,000 $680,000 $677,000 $656,000 $650,000 $640,000 $621,000 $620,000 $555,000 $554,900 $540,000 $515,000 $394,000 $385,000 $385,000 $350,000 $329,900 $279,000 $270,000

Dupont Circle 1625 Q ST NW #204 1813 16TH ST NW #4-B 1916 17TH ST NW #410 1828 RIGGS PL NW #5 1 SCOTT CIR NW #802 1325 18TH ST NW #911 1601 18TH ST NW #505 1718 CORCORAN ST NW #5 1318 22ND ST NW #407 1756 U ST NW #101

$675,500 $634,000 $449,000 $387,000 $279,500 $465,000 $330,000 $299,000 $390,000 $535,000

Ledroit Park 2035 2ND ST NW #GL09 2201 2ND ST NW #13

$415,000 $387,500

Logan Circle 1516 R ST NW #3 1220 11TH ST NW #2 1405 W ST NW #301 1320 13TH ST NW #2 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #304 1713 15TH ST NW #3 1529 14TH ST NW #508 1713 15TH ST NW #2 1325 13TH ST NW #702 1322 15TH ST NW #2 1634 14TH ST NW #502 1300 N ST NW #412 1529 14TH ST NW #310

Mount Vernon Triangle

2 1

Penn Quarter

Brookland 1202 JACKSON ST NE #110 1202 JACKSON ST NE #109 1202 JACKSON ST NE #111 329 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE #102 315 EVARTS ST NE #211

$519,000 $459,000 $459,000 $439,000 $249,850

2 2 2 2 1

Central 1111 25TH ST NW #721 2425 L ST NW #524 2017 O ST NW #3 916 G ST NW #402 1230 23RD ST NW #612 1275 25TH ST NW #604 1117 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #5 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1118

$890,000 $790,000 $779,000 $640,000 $632,000 $605,000 $574,000 $542,500

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

701 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #PH18 601 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #601 616 E ST NW #1208

2 1

$560,000 $488,000

Bloomingdale

1

2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 1

811 4TH ST NW #610 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #1003

$340,000

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

$955,000 $765,000 $724,900 $549,900 $800,000 $795,000 $779,500 $760,000 $694,000 $389,000 $386,000 $247,000 $589,900

CONDO 52 QUINCY PL NW #202

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

$997,500 $650,000 $345,000

1 2 0

Shaw 436 M ST NW #5

$1,100,000

U Street Corridor 1324 W ST NW #1 2101 11TH ST NW #301 1421 FLORIDA AVE NW #6 1111 W ST NW #7 2030 8TH ST NW #PH9 1417 CHAPIN ST NW #403 2004 11TH ST NW #421 1929 11TH ST NW #2 1929 11TH ST NW #1 u

$675,000 $690,000 $630,000 $837,500 $975,000 $505,000 $390,000 $681,000 $679,900

2

2 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 2

No vember 2 0 1 6 4 1


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