DECEMBER 2023
CONTENTS DECEMBER 2023 NEXT ISSUE: JANUARY 13TH
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ON THE COVER:
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DC’s 10th Annual FITDC 5k Fresh Start.
L C I A
Insatiable • Celeste McCall Business Briefs • Sarah Payne Theater Night: A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV • Matthew McClure
your neighborhood 22
Unlocked: Failing Security at DCPS Unsecured Doors Put Students At Risk • Rachel Royster
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Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann ANC 1B • Pleasant Mann ANC 2G • Pleasant Mann
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Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner
at home 35
30
kids and family 36
Notebook • Kathleen Donner
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C D y t i C d i M
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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Christmas Day Organ Recital at National Cathedral
On Monday, Christmas Day, 1:30 p.m., all are invited to the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, for a program of festive music performed by organists Thomas Sheehan and Rebecca Ehren. No tickets are necessary to attend in-person. Livestream is available. cathedral.org.
The West Rose Window of the Washington National Cathedral
Zoolights
ZooLights will take thousands of visitors into a winter wonderland lit by more than half a million environmentally friendly LED lights and illuminations. Visitors can stroll through immersive lantern displays showing rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean and polar habitats and the animals that call them home. Live musical performances, delicious treat offerings and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping make this special event a dazzling and immersive experience for families and nature aficionados. This year’s Zoolights are 5 to 9 p.m. (Sundays, 5 to 8 p.m.); with remaining dates of Dec. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Admission is $6 per person; free for age two and under. $30 for parking. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu/events/zoolights.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker at Strathmore
Photo: Tim Norris
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This holiday mash-up is back by popular demand. Follow Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on a magical adventure set in modern-day New York City. The Hip Hop Nutcracker features a combination of Tchaikovsky’s classic score and all-star contemporary and hip-hop dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and Kurtis Blow, one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. Using innovative visual effects, the production transforms the traditional 19th century German landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story into a vibrant and diverse representation of modern urban life. This remixed and reimagined version of the classic holiday tale takes audiences on an unforgettable journey celebrating love and community. $28 to $68. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, from Dec. 19 to 22. strathmore.org.
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Apply for admissions at: www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336
IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE / INFORMATION SESSION: Tues. Jan 23, 2024 6-7 pm • Wed. Feb. 28, 2024 6-7 pm
VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION: Wed. Jan. 17, 2024 6-7 pm Tues. Feb. 20, 2024 6-7 pm
Scan this QR code to register for a building tour
The enrollment team can be reached at school for questions at (202) 545-0515 or by email at enrollment@bridgespcs.org
www.bridge sp c s. org I 2 0 2 . 5 4 5 .0515 Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. DE C E M B E R 2023 07
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Adam Bradley, “Furies”, 2023, wood, steel, and ceramic. Photo: Courtesy of Anne Kim
“Still Something Singing” Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at Kreeger Museum
The Kreeger Museum and the Washington Sculptors Group present Still Something Singing, on view through Saturday Jan. 27, 2024. Sited throughout the grounds of the museum, this exhibition of outdoor sculpture and temporary installations reflects the role of art in our contemporary moment. The exhibition was juried and curated by Betsy Johnson, Assistant Curator, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, presenting the work of eight DC-area artists: Adam Bradley, Donna Cameron, Roger Cutler, Hyunsuk Erickson, Barbara Liotta, Donna McCullough, Maryanne Pollock, and Steve Wanna. Admission is $10 for adults; 18 and under, free. The Kreeger Museum is at 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW. kreegermuseum.org.
Wordplay Wednesdays at Planet Word
Visit Planet Word on the first Wednesday of each month for after-hours wordplay from 5 to 7 p.m. All three floors of the museum stay open late, including the “Unlock the Music” karaoke gallery and the “Joking Around” humor gallery. Guests can explore the museum, play word-based puzzles and games, and indulge in retail therapy at the Present Perfect gift shop. Free admission. Planet Word is at 925 13th St. NW, entrance on K Street. planetwordmuseum.org.
Photo: Aaron Fenster
“How to be a Korean Woman” at Theater J
Holiday Markets
Downtown Holiday Market which runs daily through Dec. 23, noon to 8 p.m., on F Street NW, from Seventh to Ninth, allows for wide aisles for shopping, browsing and enjoying food and live entertainment. downtownholidaymarket.com. The Flea Market at Eastern Market, Seventh and C streets, SE, operates Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. BZB Holiday Art & Gift Show, Shiloh Baptist Church, 1510 Ninth St. NW, is open on Dec. 2, 8, 16,22 and 23; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. bzbinternational.com. Unique Markets in DC, Dec. 16 and 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., operates inside Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Admission is $10 to $15. uniquemarkets.com/washingtondc. At Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden, a gift store run by the Friends of the US Botanic Garden offers a variety of botanically themed gifts for purchase. usbg.gov/holiday.
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How to Be a Korean Woman is a hilarious, heartfelt, and personal telling of Korean-American adoptee Sun Mee Chomet‘s search for her birth family in Seoul, South Korea. This poignant one-woman show—told from the perspective of an adult Jewish adoptee—uses text, music, and movement to explore themes of family, love, adulthood, and the universal longing to know one’s past. Chomet’s award-winning play has been presented to sold-out audiences in the United States and Seoul, South Korea. $49.99 to $90.99. Theater J’s production, from Jan. 4 to 14, marks the regional premiere of the piece. 1529 16th St. NW. theaterj.org.
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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Madonna at Capitol One Arena
Madonna has been widely recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is the best-selling female recording artist of all time. Madonna’s Four Decades Celebration Tour is at Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, on Monday, Dec. 18 and Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $94. capitalonearena.com.
Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Show at Arena
The world’s first holiday show incorporating the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. You’ll laugh, you’ll sing, and you’ll dance—yes, dance, along with Step Afrika!’s award-winning dancers on Arena’s Fichandler Stage as “DJ Nutcracker” sets the tone for a joy-filled, toe-tapping evening that’s a family-friendly holiday “stepstravaganza” like no other. $56 to $95. For ticket discounts, visit arenastage.org/tickets/savings-programs. Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Show is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Dec. 8 to 16. arenastage.org.
LEFT: Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage. Photo: Margot Schulman.
Photo: Courtesy of DC Murals Archive
To the East: The Rise of Murals East of the River
To the East: The Rise of Murals East of the River is a retrospective exhibition curated by Cory Lee Stowers, Executive Director of DC Murals, that dives into the roots and purpose of the movement. The exhibition presents 40 photographs that feature the work of the artists who created the earliest documented murals on the east side of Washington, DC. The show draws from the extensive archive of DC Murals, as well as recently uncovered materials from the Anacostia Community Museum and DC Public Library archives. The exhibition is on view on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Phillips@THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Ave. SE. No reservations required. phillipscollection.org.
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Celebrate Kwanzaa at Anacostia Community Museum WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
From Tuesday, Dec. 26 to Monday, Jan. 1, at 1 p.m., join the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, as they celebrate Kwanzaa. Each day visitors will learn about the principles of Kwanzaa and have the chance to participate in a hands-on activity including storytelling, Unity Cup design, and family card making. Check out the full schedule by visiting: anacostia.si.edu/kwanzaa. Registration is requested. anacostia.si.edu.
Courtesy Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
Dwellings. Francesca Duguarte, Patric Palkens and Julia Erikson. Photo: Eduardo Patino
Chamber Dance Project’s “ON THE EDGE (new year, new works)”
On Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., get ready to kick off the new year with a spectacular blend of artistic innovation and breathtaking performances as Chamber Dance Project presents “ON THE EDGE: New Year, New Works” at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Audiences will get a preview of the new ballets in the works for their 2024 June Season and a new perspective on their most iconic repertoire works, Journey, Dwellings, and Sur. The 2 p.m. matinee comes with a 20-minute onstage workshop for people of all ages. The 7:30 performance comes with a pre-show talk with choreographer Christian Denice about his new work followed by a post-show reception. Tickets are $40 to $100. chamberdance.org.
In the Spirit of Kwanzaa: Every Girl Has a Story
In the Spirit of Kwanzaa: Every Girl Has a Story is a compilation and celebration of the Black experience through the eyes of the young women of Coyaba Dance Theater. Along with Coyaba’s signature live drumming and dance, various stories will be told that honor and highlight the Seven Principles of the Nquzo Saba: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. In the Spirit of Kwanzaa is a holiday festival of heritage and Black culture filled with love, excitement, and tradition. Tickets are $10 to $30. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. danceplace.org.
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The Kennedy Center Messia
h Sing-Along On Saturday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m., be part of Washington’s most popular free holiday event, the Kennedy Center’s Messiah Sing-Along. Back by popular demand, the evening concert featu res conductor Nancia DAlimonte as she leads members of the Washingto n National Opera Orchestra, guest soloists, a chorus of 150, and a very enthusiastic audience in Handel’s masterpiece—a family and community tradition since 1971. Patrons who make advance reservations can pick up their tickets at the Hall of Natio ns Box Office starting two hours befor e their performance time. There is a four-ticket limit for your order. Read more at kennedy-center.org/whatson/millennium-stage/2023/decemb er/messiah-sing-along.
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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Christmas with the Thomas Circle Singers
On Saturday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m., at the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW, revel in the warm melodies of the Christmas season, sing along to favorite carols, and create holiday memories to last for years to come. From the captivating beauty of Philip Stopford’s “Lully, Lulla, Lullay” and the tenderness of Robert Harris’s “Love Came Down at Christmas” to the joyful sounds of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “The First Noel” complete with brass quintet, you’ll be filled with the Christmas spirit. Tickets are $25 to $30. thomascirclesingers.org.
Folger Consort’s A Baroque Christmas Story
Folger Consort, the early music ensemble-in-residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library, features, as part of its 46th season, four concert programs of Baroque, Renaissance, and Medieval music ranging from the 13th through the 18th centuries. On Dec. 15 to 22, celebrate the season with Folger Consort performing Heinrich Schütz’s grand retelling of the Christmas story along with German holiday favorites by Michael Praetorius and others. Tickets are $60, with discounts available for Folger members and subscribers, seniors, students, educators, military and their families, and groups. This concert will be performed at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. folger.edu.
Photo: J. Clifford for Visit Alexandria
First Night Alexandria
First Night Alexandria (FNA) is the largest family-friendly, budget-friendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event in the region. FNA began in 1994 as a celebration of the New Year through the performing arts. Coffee shops, retail stores, hotels, museums and public buildings are turned into performance venues to showcase a variety of talent. First Night celebrations take place around the world, having been founded in 1976 by a group of civic-minded artists in Boston as a meaningful alternative to traditional New Year’s Eve revelry. This year’s First Night Alexandria includes more daytime events with kids, families and seniors in mind. There is also an early evening block party at Market Square and fireworks are now at 6 p.m., not midnight. Pricing has been rolled back to pre-pandemic levels. firstnightalexandria.org.
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OUT AND ABOUT
Insatiable by Celeste McCall
Sporting Life
The holiday season is in full swing, and sports team rivalries are heating up. So, we decided to check out the action—and food—at Sports & Social at 1314 U St. NW. This lively newcomer certainly lives up to its name. Part of a nationwide restaurant group, the space is chock-a-block with high At Sports & Social, a geyser erupts near the 25-foot LED screen when the Commanders score.
and low topped tables with orange-hued chairs and numerous TV screens. No matter where you sit, you’re bound to see a sporting event. Adding to the festivities: Whenever our hapless Washington Commanders make an infrequent touchdown or manage to kick a field goal, a geyser erupts near the 25-foot LED media wall. Our group of four was seated at a table right in front of the enormous screen. While sipping a gargantuan Bloody Mary, festooned with a leafy celery stick, stuffed olive and dill pickle spear, I perused the menu. The
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luncheon fare was not your pair of extremely runny eggs, usual sports bar pub grub. the flatbread dish was messy, We began with richly but delicious. delicious roasted butternut Meanwhile, seated at the squash soup, sprinkled with sweeping bar, thirsty fans were toasted pumpkin seeds and sipping cinnamon-smoked topped with a dollop of Old Fashioneds, District sour cream. Spoons flew as Manhattans, margaritas, and our hungry quartet passed the afore-mentioned Bloody the flavorful potage around Marys. Among zero-proof our table. beverages is the ginger-berry Having spotted a showblitz, a tangy, refreshing mixstopper at a neighboring ture of blackberry, lime, table, we felt compelled ginger A tasty showstopper at Sports & Social to order the giant pretzel, is the foot-wide giant pretzel. sprinkled with sea salt and escorted by “stout beer/ cheese” sauce. The warm, foot-wide creature was mounted vertically on a wire frame. As we all munched on the pretzel, we considered the traditional (or boneless) wings, vegan cauliflower “wings,” spicy tuna bites, beef and mozzarella-stuffed egg rolls, loaded nachos and assorted tacos. Instead, we zeroed in on the healthy-sounding salad bowls: The Cuban chopped salad was a leafy montage of romaine lettuce, ham chunks, Swiss cheese and chicharrónes (deep-fried pork rinds), napped with a zippy Dijon vinaigrette. Miso-glazed salmon was perched atop a thatch of green beans, shredded carrots and roasted mushrooms, all resting on sushi-style white rice. Creamy sriracha dressbeer and mint. Lunch for three (one person paid seping delivered just the right amount of zing. arately) came to $139, including a small “facility fee.” Since we were Located a block from the U Street/African having brunch, American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro someone had to or(Green Line), Sports & Social’s U Street digs forder something with merly housed The Smith, the American brasserie eggs, right? So, I which folded in 2021. went for the carbonara flatbread— Korean Chicken white pizza meets In Ivy City: Bonchon, the Korean fried chicken/ the richly delicious baAsian Fusion chain beloved for its hand-battered con-and-egg-and-cheese and twice-fried wings, drumsticks, garlic-parmesan pasta dish. Topped with goofries, kimchi coleslaw and more, arrived last month ey, melted Boursin cheese and a at 2000-2018 Fifth St. NE. The newbie is actually a
Near Logan Circle, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace offers New Orleans seafood dishes and ambience.
ghost kitchen tucked inside Ivy City Food Works. (You will find another Bonchon (Korean for “my hometown”) at 1015 Half St. SE in the Navy Yard area. For Bonchon locations, hours and more information, visit www.bonchon.com.
Big Easy Oysters
On a dreary, drizzly, Sunday, we revisited Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, 1612 14th St. NW. We settled in a comfy booth near the oyster bar where a shucker was busy at work. My generous Bloody Mary arrived in a glass rimmed with a mixture of Old Bay and Tajin, a Mexican spice blend. Shrimp or bacon garnishes cost a little extra. As Emily, our personable server, took our orders, she inquired about allergies and explained the restaurant’s 4 percent credit card fee. She even shared her recipe for baked kale chips. Pearl Dive’s décor and menu has a definite New Orleans vibe, with such dishes as bananas foster French toast, Tchoupitoulas oysters, oysters Rockefeller (reportedly invented at the Big Easy’s Antione’s), and today’s special: crabcake Benedict. Being a crabcake aficionado, Peter opted for the Benedict. The traditional brunch dish was swathed with braised kale and perched on an English muffin, slathered with rich hollandaise sauce and capped with two poached eggs. But the crabcakes, while moist and flavor-
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Winner, Best Brunch — City Paper Best of DC 2023
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Bonchon, a Korean fried chicken/Asian fusion chain, has opened a popup in Ivy City.
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Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor.
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ful, were skimpy. Likewise for my fried oyster po’boy, another NOLA classic. While the oysters were delicious, the sandwich needed more of the crunchy bivalves. Come dinner time, diners might expect blackened shrimp, seafood (or chicken) gumbo, jambalaya (aka Creole paella) and a concoction called Lo Que Los Gatos Sueñan-“what cats dream of,” a mélange of shrimp, mussels, fish. spinach and saffron milk. In honor of our beloved 20-year-old feline, I plan to order that dish next time. Brunch for two—including my $12 Bloody Mary—came to $68 including the credit card fee. Pearl Dive is part of the Black Restaurant Group, founded by local entrepreneurs Jeff and Barbara Black. Among sister restaurants are BlackSalt Restaurant and Fish Market, on McArthur Boulevard in upper Northwest, and two establishments in Maryland. Upstairs from Pearl Dive are a pair of nightclubs: Black Jack and Tilt Side Bar, featuring cocktails, pizza, oysters and a pinball-themed speakeasy. For Pearl Dive Oyster Palace hours and more information, visit www.pearldivedc.com.
Coming soon…
….if not already: Near Logan Circle, Naan Stop Indian Kitchen at 1720 14th St. NW. Stay tuned. ◆
OUT AND ABOUT
Business Briefs by Sarah Payne
Ivan Iricanin owns the Ambar restaurants in Shaw, Capitol Hill and Clarendon. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.
R
Dine without limits at Ambar
egardless of the time of year, a bright color palette and pink flowers give Ambar Shaw (1547 7th St. NW) a spring-like feeling. Best known for their Balkan-inspired dishes, the restaurant’s third location brings its specialty unlimited tasting menu to Shaw’s vibrant dining scene. Their signature program, aptly named “dining without limits,” gives guests two hours to eat all they care to enjoy from the tasting menu for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner. With almost 50 dishes to choose form, offerings range from spreads and charcuterie to soups, salads and vegetables to more robust dishes, like beef short rib goulash and chicken stroganoff and even meat pies, seafood and desserts. While a la carte dining and street food options, like sandwiches and kebabs, are also available, the all-you-can-eat option is the most popular. The concept is based on the idea that if the table is always full of food, guests can focus on connecting with friends and family and not how or what to order. “If you’re hungry, you can order more, and, if you like something, you order another one,” owner Ivan Iricanin said of the concept. “I think it’s a different and a more fun way of eating and experiencing.” Unlimited cocktails, wine and beer are also options. The unlimited option originally started as Iricanin wanted guests to branch out and have “freedom” to try unfamiliar foods. These dishes, however, were the comfort foods that Iricanin sought after relocating to DC from Serbia in 2005. The dearth of familiar cuisine presented “both a problem and opportunity” to start something of his own after working in the hospitality industry for many years.
“In every conversation that we had, people would relate Serbia to its wars and problems,” Iricanin recalled. “I wanted to change that, to bring something more positive to represent Serbia and the Balkans in the world.” Ambar offers an extensive selection of wines from five Balkan nations to accompany the restaurant’s cuisine. Some wines are made from grape varietals that are found nowhere else in the world. The Shaw location, situated just north of the convention center, is the operation’s third following the original Ambar on Capitol Hill. They also have a location in Clarendon. All three feature the unlimited tasting menu. Ambar Shaw won the 2023 City Paper Best of DC award for Best Brunch and runner up for Best New Restaurant. The restaurant is also ranked as an OpenTable Diner’s Choice. The second floor of the Shaw restaurant is devoted to a rakia bar, celebrating the fruit brandy that is so popular throughout the Balkan peninsula and adjacent countries, like Greece and Turkey. Offering nearly 20 varieties of the double-distilled spirit, the bar features a retractable roof, letting the breeze seemingly bring the cherry blossom canopy overhead to life. Ambar Shaw is open for lunch Monday through Friday, 12 to 3:30 p.m., for dinner Monday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m., Friday, 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m. and for unlimited brunch Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekday happy hours are from 4-7 p.m., but the drink specials are available all day on Monday and Tuesday. Visit ambarrestaurant.com to learn more, make reservations or place to-go orders.
Daneale operates three restaurants and lounges in the District. His third venue is Signature Lounge on Connecticut Ave. in Dupont Circle. While many businesses were opening in the Shaw neighborhood, Daneale noticed that the majority were restaurants or coffee shops, and he wanted to create something different. He chose to create a space where “anybody could come and join” to enjoy food and drinks with their friends. The original Secret Lounge opened on the 1400 block of 9th Street in 2006. The current location opened in 2011. VIP Lounge opened in 2023. The two Shaw lounges, each on two levels, have a casual atmosphere for guests to gather and enjoy. Secret Lounge offers a late-night party atmosphere with live DJs, drinks, hookah and light bites, while VIP Lounge offers an all-day vegan dining experience, with a variety of fresh, homemade offerings from around the world, including salads, sandwiches, pastas, hummus, specialty wraps and vegan meatloaf. Both Secret Lounge and VIP Lounge offer full bar, VIP also showcases fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, in a rainbow of colors. Secret Lounge is open Monday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. VIP Lounge is open Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit secretloungedc.com and VIPLoungeDC.com for more information. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u
VIP and Secret Lounges: Open all day for dining and fun
W
hether you’re looking for a plantbased midday brunch or a latenight drink or bite, the expansive menus at Secret Lounge (1928 9th St. NW) and VIP Lounge (1926 9th St. NW) have you covered. Owner Dereje “DJ” Daneale moved to DC nearly 20 years ago with the goal of starting his own venture. He worked multiple jobs to save money and opened his first liquor store in 2005. Today,
Secret Lounge and VIP Lounge are both owned by Dereje “DJ” Daneale. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.
DE C E M B E R 2023 19
OUT AND ABOUT
Theater Night
A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV
I
t’s here. Bright lights and glittering tinsel adorn our streets and living rooms. Plans are in place for Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the year! This month’s column reviews theater that encourages us to think about fate, family and what it means to be human as we close out the calendar, reflect on our choices and look ahead to 2024. Read on for our curated selection.
On Right Now
The Seafarer, Round House Theatre Showing Dec. 6 – 31 www.roundhousetheatre.org Family reunions aren’t always the joyous occasions we see in TV and film. The Seafarer, a play written by Irish playwright, director and screenwriter Conor McPherson in 2006 and now being reinterpreted for DC audiences by Round House’s Artistic Director Ryan Rilette, brings this hard truth home in a visceral way. McPherson’s play tells the tale of Sharky who, after the catastrophic collapse of his personal and professional life, returns to Dublin on Christmas Eve to care for his illtempered and hard-drinking brother Richard. Enter a few characters from Sharky’s past—and a mysterious stranger with a fondness for poke—and you have the recipe for an intoxicating mix of human drama with a touch of McPherson’s penchant for the supernatural thrown in. “What I love about Conor’s writing is that he has a beautiful way of capturing people that are lost, sad or lonely, and doing it in a way that is still extraordinarily funny and human.” says Rilette, who’s directed a few of McPherson’s works during his career. The Seafarer has been re-interpreted many times on various stages since it garnered a 2007 Olivier Award nomination for Best Play, but at the
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by Matthew McClure core it’s a story of second chances and the triumphs and tribulations of being human, according to Rilette. “What the play does is help us recognize that the small things, the things we often overlook, a sense of community; that is heaven in earth. If there’s a perfect holiday message, it’s to cherish the people in your life and enjoy the time you have together.”
Bobby Smith (Tateh) and Emerson Holt Lacayo (The Little Girl). Photo: Daniel Rader
If you’ve come to love Round House’s reputation for staging classic stories with riveting storylines, then The Seafarer should be on your diary for December.
In The Spotlight
Ragtime, Signature Theatre Showing 24 Oct – 7 Jan www.sigtheatre.org There’s nothing quite as energizing and uplifting as a musical, and you’ll get showtunes galore in Sig-
nature Theatre’s rendition of the Broadway smash hit Ragtime. Signature’s Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner and his team bring to the stage this toe-tapping Broadway hit based on the novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. Published in 1975, Doctorow’s work serves as a warning to not repeat the mistakes of the past by forgetting our history, and his story is as relevant today as it was written. The action sweeps across the first few years of the early 20th Century— the so-called “Gilded Age”—before the outbreak of WWI and at the height of the Industrial era; a time of men, machines and money. A stellar lineup including Nkrumah Gatling, Awa Sal Secka and Bobby Smith along with a powerful ensemble cast don corsets, waistcoats and top hats to tell the stories of legendary historical figures from this period, and the fictional ways their lives intersect. All this is set to a lyrical Ragtime repertoire. There’s a strong theme of social justice that loops through the action, stitching the various narratives together and making the production easily relatable to contemporary audiences. In the grimy faces of European immigrants Tather and his waiflike daughter, it’s easy to see the plight of Palestinian refugees or migrants from Africa. Gatling’s Coalhouse
Walker Jr., in his battle to be treated as equal, sets the tone for what will become the Civil Rights Movement, and Dani Stoller’s Emma Goldman and her fiery denouncements of capitalism evokes our current economic and social disparities. Sal Secka and Teal Wicks’ performances (as Sarah and Mother respectively) administer a strong dose of fresh, female energy to a musical based on a traditionally masculine period in history. Sal Secka’s rendition of Your Daddy’s Son in Act One is particularly breathtaking as she showcases her impressive vocal range with pathos and passion in equal measure.
Catch Before Closing
A Christmas Carol, Ford’s Theatre Showing 17 Nov– 31 Dec www.fords.org It wouldn’t be Christmas without Charles Dickens’ classic tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. This holiday staple has been a constant, in various iterations, at Ford’s Theatre for 40 years, and this year sees Kimberly Gilbert take to the stage as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Michael Wilson adaptation of Dickens’ work. I sat down with this Helen Hayes awardwinning actor to chat to her about being grateful, living in the moment and creating positive change. It’s been a tough year in terms of world news. How does A Christmas Carol uplift our spirits? Kimberly: We live in a present where data is king. We’re being sucked into this data hurricane where it feels insurmountable. I do find parallels right now about how we’re fearful and curious about AI and data. It’s very similar to the Industrial Revolution (when A Christmas Carol was originally written). But what this play can show is that when we’re in a time of crisis, we can really appreciate the small things, and you can do that all the time. Work the practice of being mindful. How is A Christmas Carol still rel-
Christmas Carol: Kimberly Gilbert, Ghost of Christmas Present in Ford Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Photo: Carolina Dulcey
evant to audiences today? Kimberly: It’s the idea of being present, literally. That this moment on earth is all we have. We are only here for a short while. Making someone else feel good makes you feel good. It has a ripple effect. Has it been fun working with a team who’ve been part of A Christmas Carol for 40 years? Kimberly: Craig Wallace has been playing Scrooge for eight years. Tom Story has been slowly moving through the character ranks. The producers have been with it forever. Ford’s has allowed me to embrace the traditional side and they’ve been so patient with me. They know the topography of the entire production, but they acknowledge that I’m doing this in a way that hasn’t been done before and adding new layers. I’m being blown away by a traditional script that has the ability to be adaptable and changeable. I’m also having the time of my life with the kids. What’s the message you’d like to leave audiences with? Kimberly: I think we are in a furrowed brow, head down, in our phone phase. The act of looking up and giving someone a smile can create a moment of generosity. Take a moment and be generous in whatever capacity you have. ◆
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DE C E M B E R 2023 21
NEIGHBORHOOD
Unlocked: Failing Security at DCPS
Unsecured Doors Put Students At Risk by Rachel Royster
T
he DCPS second grade teacher knows the work order for the computerized lock on her classroom door was marked “completed.” But she doesn’t trust it.
It was complete on the first day of school last year, when it malfunctioned again and locked out her entire class. She had to turn to her fellow teachers for materials. Eventually, she was forced to teach 22 students in a hastily found empty spot in an otherwise crowded school. Over a year and many work orders later, this teacher now resorts to holding the lock open with duct tape to ensure she won’t have to spend yet another day of school locked out of her own classroom. What will she do if she needs to lock it in an emergency? “Rip it off,” she said. That precarious possibility is what a single teacher faces at this one DCPS elementary school. But the issue of malfunctioning locks is far more widespread, extending from computerized locks to traditional mechanical locks in multiple school buildings. And malfunctioning locks are more than a nuisance. Lockdowns are common in schools in DC, usually because of some dangerous or criminal activity happening nearby. However, a “lockdown” in a school with broken door locks can hardly be effective. But while DCPS runs the schools, they do not manage or repair the school buildings. That is the responsibility of the Department of General Services (DGS) which maintains District real estate, including DCPS schools. School staff issue a work order for broken locks and submit it to DGS to be addressed. These work orders are being met
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with “band-aid” fixes, say parents and teachers. Many parents wonder if their children will be safe when they are dropped off in the morning. The first installment of this two-part Capital Community News investigation of door security at DCPS elementary schools, funded by a grant from Spotlight DC: Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism, examines both the extent of the issue and efforts underway to address it.
Unlockable The issue is three-fold. Some doors do not have keys. Some mechanical locks do not function. In addition, computerized locks installed during modernization have proven unreliable. In some cases, door locks do not engage, whereas other locks do not unlock. As of Sept. 21, lock and door issues made up 14 percent of all open DCPS work orders, the highest portion of all work order types. In the same data set provided to DC Council for an October 12 hearing regarding work order integrity, DGS reported there were 758 open lock and door work orders and only 30 of those were “high priority.” The highest number of outstanding work orders for locks were in Ward 6, where 173 door issues were outstanding, followed by Wards 8 and 4, with 97 each; and Ward 7 with 95 incomplete door and lock work orders. To be high priority, the issue must be an interior door impacting daily operations or programming. These also include doors that should be secured for safety reasons, such as an electrical or technology closet not securing properly, according to DGS.
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The remaining 728 open work orders are “routine,” meaning DGS defines these as interior doors with “minimal risk for intrusion.” Those include teachers lounges and interior closets. Classroom doors do not appear in any of the three definitions. As of Sept. 30, DGS reported 1,708 resolved lock and door work orders. Though these work orders say “completed,” school communities say the issue is ongoing. Scott Goldstein, executive director of the DC education advocacy organization EmpowerEd (www.weareempowered.org), hears about the door and lock issue routinely from teachers. “It just seems like a major vulnerability,” Goldstein said. “...[teachers] are concerned that if there was an emergency, like an active gunman situation or something and they weren’t able to actually close off their room, how terrifying that would be.”
Computerized Locks When DCPS schools undergo modernization, the DGS, as the facility operator, replaces old mechanical locks with computerized ones under a contract with Vision Security Solutions. These devices are opened and closed using a FOB. At the end of each day though, all of the locks are engaged through a centralized system. Even those with a FOB associated with the lock cannot disengage it. The Vision-installed locks have posed an array of problems. They run on batteries, but there is no display for when the power is running low. The locks simply stop working. Generally, this results in a work order being placed into the DGS system, but DCPS handles computerized locks through contracted out work with Vision. The company sends a tech to change the battery or to diagnose any additional issues hindering the mechanism. After the second grade teacher had spent her school day coming up with a lesson plan with no access to her materials, Vision arrived to change the batteries in her computerized lock. They marked the work order “complete,” but it was still not functioning correctly. “I come in the second day, and it’s locked again because somebody closed the door when I said to leave it open, but they closed the door and it locked so I was locked out again,” the teacher said. “And then we had to wait another three hours for somebody to come out and fix the door.” When the lock to her classroom remained engaged despite efforts to unlock it with the correct FOB, she taped over the lock in a way that it wouldn’t engage. Unmodernized schools do not face these issues since their locks are mechanical. However, there are similar unresolved problems with the traditional lock and key.
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Mechanical Locks For the DCPS schools still waiting for their turn in the modernization line, mechanical locks are used in each classroom door. These doors use a traditional lock and key. In her walk-throughs of schools, Eboni-Rose Thompson, DC School Board of Education president and Ward 7 representative, discovered cases where door handles were not working properly. In these cases, Thompson said the onsite foremen did not have the appropriate tools to repair them. It is discouraging, Thompson said, to witness the custodial foremen lacking the proper training or necessary equipment to solve these situations. “I’ve heard that DGS is looking into creating some type of loaner program for schools to be able to access some of the tools they need for frequent types of requests like this,” Thompson said. This is a step in the right direction, Thompson said, along with providing training so the custodial staff can quickly address these security issues. “I would be encouraged to see DGS think about how do we empower and support people in the schools to address some of the immediate concerns and not relying on external contractors for those things, which also seems to be something they’re interested in.” In some cases, teachers simply do not have keys to their classroom doors. Thompson discovered replacing the keys can take weeks due to the bureaucratic DCPS approval process. “Because you want to make sure that the people who are approved to have keys have keys, like you can’t just have anyone and everyone with that access,” Thompson said. “And so that often takes much longer than anyone would anticipate.” The current work order system does not give schools a time estimate for when they can expect issues to be resolved. Thompson said the response times she has heard from schools varies greatly. She would like to see DGS give schools a time estimate to keep everyone accountable.
School Safety On the topic of accountability, former Ward 6 Representative to the State Board of Education (SBOE) Joe Weedon finds a problem with the lack of public data surrounding this issue. In 2022, DC Council passed an amendment to Law 24-270, called the Protecting Security-Sensitive Dashboard Data Temporary Amendment Act of 2022, which pulled work orders relating to security off of the public work order dashboard. Work orders that relate to campus locks and doors or broken windows which have “the potential to impair lockdown of a campus space” are now exempt from having to be public. A spokesperson from the office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D), who chairs the
council committee that oversees DGS, said there’s a concern that putting an explicit list of where the District’s public school security vulnerabilities are would bring unintentional harm to teachers and students. But studies have shown that most school shootings are perpetuated by insiders of the targeted school, including employees and students. A study by the Government Accountability Offices (GAO) of school shootings from 2009-2019 found that 65 percent of shootings were committed by students or people within the school community — only 12 percent were perpetuated from outside the community, although 19 percent were unknown. That means that those most likely to endanger students are likely to be aware of deficiencies in security. The spokesperson from George’s office said research like this is helpful, adding that the DC Council “does not want to undercut that.” George has raised the issue of responding to work orders with urgency to DGS and DCPS internally and in response, DGS has raised their output, the staffer added. The public doesn’t need to know the exact locations of broken locks, but they do need to know that there is an issue with classroom security in the District’s schools, said Weedon. “I get the safety concerns, but I think that’s a red herring to keep people from knowing,” Weedon said. Legislative efforts are underway at the DC Council to address the situation.
Key to the Problem? In March, Councilmember George, chair of the DC Council Committee on Facilities and Family Services, introduced Bill 25-218, the “Work Order Integrity Amendment Act of 2023.” The bill “requires the Department of General Services Facilities Management division receive affirmative approval from a school-level staff member before marking maintenance or repair requests as complete in the Department’s internal work order system.” The aim of the bill is to mitigate the amount of work orders that are currently being marked as “complete” from being band-aid fixes or not being fixed at all. Director of DGS Delano Hunter said he supports “the spirit” of the proposed legislation at an Oct. 12 DC Council hearing on the legislation. But he is concerned the legislation would burden school personnel, corrupt the data DGS examines and harm the businesses contracted by DCPS and DGS, who are paid upon completion of the work order. Hunter prefers more time be given to the strategies recently put into place. At the hearing, he provided details of the FIRST and LAST teams, which will remedy the problem the legislation addresses. “The Facility Intake Response Service Team (FIRST) monitors the ‘Completed and Not Closed’ work order stage through reports,” Hunter testified.
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“This monitoring assists work team support groups such as the newly created Liaison for Accountability, Service, and Trust (LAST Team) that are laserfocused on closing the work order lifecycle by supporting work team supervisors and craftspersons with data input.” The legislation is set to be approved by the Council this month. Councilmember George is confident the council and DGS can work together to solve the current issue with work orders in DCPS, she stated at the hearing. Ely Ross, DCPS’s chief operating officer, and Shilpa Khatri, DCPS deputy chief of Schools Facilities and Planning, declined to comment for this story. For elementary school parent Adam Kron, security is a point of anxiety when he drops his daughter off at school. He wonders what would happen if the lock in her classroom door broke when the school was in a state of emergency. Kron, who testified at the Oct. 12. hearing, remains concerned that DGS is not taking seriously the full efforts that the issues deserve. There’s a certain amount of trust that comes with parents dropping their kids off at school, he said. “It’s vastly important. DGS has this trust, and they are responsible for taking care of our facilities,” Kron said. “If they are unable to do that in a reliable and transparent way, that’s just a violation of that trust.” Parents are not informed about security issues, but when they do express concerns, they are often dismissed. Weedon said when he was in conversation with DCPS and DGS about one modernization, he brought up the need for school security best practices. One option that comes with computerized locks is the ability to “lockdown” classrooms with the press of a single button in the administrative office. He was told that “was too expensive” and it is “not a high enough priority to incorporate in the modernizations going forward.” Weedon worries the builders and architects are not considering security as much as they need to be when thinking through school modernizations. “That should be thought of in the plan from the architects, and it’s not.” Weedon says much of this is about the budget. Cheap and easy fixes result
in repeat work orders, because there is not enough money to make needed replacements. He cites the example of an exterior door in a District high school that can be opened with the right “jiggle.” It often is, setting off an alarm that has been subsequently disabled, doubling security issues. The door, he said, has been repaired eight times in seven years. These failures say a lot about the city’s priorities over all, Weedon said. The responsibility falls on DCPS and DGS. “But where does the buck stop? It stops with the Mayor.” The issue of locks and doors in DCPS is definitely one on the mind of Mayor Muriel Bowser as well as the council, the spokesperson for Councilmember George said. This is reflected in their $1.1 million proposed and sustained budget allotment to repair efforts in FY24. In addition, the council passed Act 25-172, Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2023, which outlined in subtitle D “School Security and Transparency” a new comprehensive assessment of certain security objectives, including locks and doors, on all campuses at least once per year. Parents and teachers won’t sleep well until the issues are resolved, said EmpowerEd’s Goldstein. “When DGS doesn’t get around to fixing a broken lock on a door, it may be another item on their long to-do list,” he told DC Council, “but it gives that classroom teacher nightmares every night thinking about what might happen if an intruder were to enter the school.” The grade two teacher who opened our story agrees. One day, she worries, there might be an incident. Then she will have to rip that duct tape band aid off, locking her door permanently. On that day, the teacher can only hope whatever trouble comes into her school is on the other side.
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DE C E M B E R 2023 25
NEIGHBORHOOD
Shaw Streets by Pleasant Mann Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro and Roadside Development Principal Richard Lake lit the City Market at O Holiday Tree. Photo: Pleasant Mann.
Marvin Gaye’s first home: 919 O Street NW in Shaw. Photo: Pleasant Mann.
Shaw Opens the Holiday Season with Tree Lighting
Shaw kicked off the holiday season Saturday, November 25 when Roadside Development closed off Jeff Coudriet Way for its annual Holiday Tree Lighting festival at City Market at O. The free annual event is celebrating its sixth year. A rink was set up to allow children to test their ice skating skills. There was also a chance to get a digital photo with Santa and have your face painted. A truck offered soul food from Malia’s Kitchen, while an ice cream stand from Dolci Gelati drew a crowd despite the low temperatures. The Tribe Band provided continuous entertainment with their renditions of popular tunes from the 1970s. Shaw Main Streets also had a tent set up to give out hot apple cider, cookies, holiday candy and popcorn, along with the everpopular Shawbucks. Five thousand dollars’ worth of Shawbucks,
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coupons taking $5 off of local purchases made that day, allowed the bearers to spend $20 each on Shaw Small Business Saturday. Shawbucks were honored by 29 Shaw businesses. At 6:30 p.m., the band paused as Richard Lake, principal of Roadside Development, noted that it was the 10th anniversary of the completion of City Market at O. Then ANC Commissioner Alexander Padro, executive director of Shaw Main Streets, declared that Shaw was still vibrant and was still envied by other neighborhoods. Then the tree was lit, marking the start of a new holiday season in Shaw.
Marvin Gaye Home in Shaw Identified
While it is well known that Motown superstar Marvin Gaye spent his childhood in Washington, DC, it is less well known that he had a home, perhaps his first home, in Shaw. Apparently, Marvin Gaye spent his earliest years at 919 O Street NW. Credit for the discovery of this goes to longtime Shaw resident retired Admiral Roger Gilbertson and his son, who, while looking at old World War II draft cards, found a Marvin Pintz Gay living at 919 O Street. (The Gay family became Gaye after Marvin Jr. became a celebrity enter-
The Marvin Gay(e) family in the 1940 Census, including one-year-old Marvin Jr. Graphic US Census.
topped off by a panel of fashion experts and entrepreneurs who offered their experiences and took questions from the event attendees. The panel included well-known Shaw businesswomen Dr. Acia Williams of A New Image by Acia and Wanda Henderson of Wanda’s on Seventh.
GMJ Facilities Opens New Office
GMJ Facilities celebrates purchase of its new headquarters at 1533 Ninth Street NW. Photo: Pleasant Mann.
tainer.) This was confirmed by the 1940 Census, which has Marvin and Alberta Gay living at the address with their one-year-old son Marvin Jr. This is also their address in the 1942 Washington DC City Directory. While a number of accounts of Gaye’s life in Washington note his birth at Freedmen’s Hospital at Howard University, they skip over the fact that he stayed in the Shaw neighborhood in his early years. This includes a 2022 article in the Washington Post purportedly listing “Washington, D.C. sites with links to Marvin Gaye.” The hope is that with this new evidence, Marvin Gaye’s links to Shaw will not be overlooked in the future and that the colorful mural depicting Gaye at Seventh and S Streets NW will cement the singer’s status as a son of Shaw.
Shaw Restaurants Represent in New Michelin Guide
Shaw restaurants continue to be well
represented in the Michelin Guide for Washington in its new 2023 release. There are 25 Shaw establishments listed in the new guide out of a total of 120 for the whole DC area. Even more impressive are the neighborhood restaurants receiving the much sought after Michelin Star rating. The four Shaw restaurants previously receiving Michelin stars (The Dabney, Kinship, Metier and Oyster Oyster) have been joined by a fifth, Causa, in Blagden Alley. The five starred restaurants in Shaw are out of only 25 Michelin starred restaurants in the DMV.
GMJ Facilities, an enterprise specializing in professional cleaning services that has been in DC for a number of years, has just bought 1533 Ninth Street NW for its headquarters. The building’s previous owner, Shiloh Baptist Church, had difficulty selling the property due to the intransigence of the DC Office of Planning, which would not support the rezoning of the building and a neighboring parcel. Sale of the building to GMJ Facilities is a major accomplishment. The ribbon cutting celebration for the new headquarters on Saturday night, November 25 drew a largely Ethiopian American crowd. Inside, GMJ CEO Gennet Tebebu said that this purchase marked a major goal of her professional life. Henok Tesfaye, Principal of United Investments, remarked that the Ethiopian American community had to work more together to develop capital formation and financial institutions to support their entrepreneurship. GMJ Facilities now goes beyond commercial cleaning services to include residential apartment cleaning, landscaping and ground maintenance, including snow removal, for personal and commercial clients. More information is available online at gmjfacilities.com. u
DMV’s Next Up in Fashion at The Cornerstone
The Cornerstone, at 631 T Street NW, hosted the DMV’s Next Up in Fashion Extravaganza, Saturday evening, November 25. The event showcased the latest in local designs, from glamorous evening gowns to trendy streetwear, along with current trends in hair, nails, makeup and accessories. The show was
The Shaw Main Streets Small Business Saturday tent in front of Giant Food drew crowds seeking $20 to spend at neighborhood businesses. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.
DE C E M B E R 2023 27
NEIGHBORHOOD
ANC 1B
A
dvisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B met on November 2, 2023 at the DC Housing Finance Agency. The commissioners in attendance were Sabel Harris (1B08, Chair), Larry Handerhan (1B01, Vice Chair), Sean Holihan (1B02), Santiago Lakatos (1B04, Treasurer), Alan Kensek (1B05), Miguel Trindade Deramo (1B06), Ashleigh Fields (1B07) and Tucker Jones (1B09, Secretary). There was a quorum to conduct business.
Presentation: Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau
The time devoted to special presentations before the ANC meeting is called to order was given to Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau. She started by swearing in the newly elected commissioner Miguel Trindade Deramo, who will now represent ANC 1B06. The councilmember noted that her office has gotten a number of calls on public safety issues lately. With the new DC budget, Ward 1 will get $4.5 million in public safety funds for Ward 1, with work continuing in Columbia Heights joined by new initiatives at Seventh and T Streets and U Street. Nadeau is pushing for more police recruitment through the cadet program and the effort to restore the accreditation of the DC Crime Lab. She also wants to improve the 911 performance of the Office of Unified Communications. The new Chief of Police, Pamela A. Smith, will participate in a Ward 1 Town Hall on public safety November 28. Councilmember Nadeau and Councilmember Allen held a hearing the day before on traffic safety. To address complaints about the misuse of temporary car tags, a new bill would allow the impoundment of cars with fraudulent tags and the criminal investigation of purveyors of fake car tags. A resident asked if Nadeau was trying to get the Council to pass emergency legislation to enforce a moratorium on new liquor licenses on the 1900 block of Ninth Street while the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration considers the petition to establish a moratorium in North Shaw. Nadeau replied that while she supports the moratorium, she thinks that there are better long-term solutions to the problem, such as her proposed community improvement district.
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by Pleasant Mann Councilmember Nadeau is currently looking for a space for the HIPS group to house their harm reduction work in the neighborhood. She noted that Columbia Heights has finally gotten a sobering center to help people with substance abuse problems.
Zoning, Preservation and Development Committee
The committee did not present any matters for the commission’s consideration. There was a discussion of a property in LeDroit Park owned by the Catholic Church.
Economic Development Committee
The committee held a hybrid meeting at the MPD Third District station to get community input on zoning for the 1617 U Street NW development parcel. The DC Zoning Commission will hold a hearing on the matter November 20. Some residents have applied for standing at the hearing. The committee would like to work with the District government to develop a document that outlines the facts about the development process for the 1617 U Street NW site and address some of the misconceptions about the potential outcomes for the parcel.
Transportation Committee
The committee presented three resolutions that it wanted the commission to pass. The first called for the Department of Public Works to install more litter cans on sidewalks and to revise its policy on the installation of public trash cans. The second asked the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to make improvements to its 14th Street Bus Lane Design Review. The third resolution requests that DDOT revise its work on the Florida Avenue NW/9th Street/Sherman Avenue Reconstruction Project. While the project did make improvements, the committee thinks that some of the additions could be described as chaotic. The resolution suggests aspects of the project that should be reconsidered. All three resolutions were passed unanimously by the commission.
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation (ABR) Committee
Celavi, 1901 Ninth Street NW. Request for new li-
cense. They are also seeking an endorsement for live entertainment and dancing. The committee recommended that the commission protest the license. The protest would be based on a number of criteria including its proximity to residences. The owners of the establishment have suggested that they would like to establish a settlement agreement with the commission. ANC 1B voted unanimously to protest the new liquor license. Shaw Howard Deli, 1911 Seventh Street NW. A license renewal. The establishment saw a homicide just outside its doors a few months ago. That case is under review by the DC Attorney General. Neighbors have said that the establishment is a chronic menace and that it should not be in business. ANC 1B voted unanimously to protest the renewal of the license.
Public Safety and Community Engagement Committee
The committee got updated guidance from the Office of ANCs (OANC) on the restrictions on raising funds for food at events and the prohibition on grants to groups that would duplicate District government efforts. In terms of crime, there were no homicides in the ANC for the previous 30 days, but there were large increases in robberies, auto theft and theft.
ANC Special Election
On October 28, a special election was held to fill the vacant 1B06 seat, with Miguel Trindade Deramo being declared the winner. Some commissioners felt that the rules for special elections were too complicated and restrictive under the jurisdiction of the OANC. Commissioner Jones had written a letter to the OANC suggesting that special ANC elections fall under the sole jurisdiction of the Board of Elections. He wanted the commission to endorse the letter. Commissioner Harris suggested that Jones get other ANCs that have gone through the special election process to sign on as well. The commission deferred approval until the next meeting. ANC 1B will hold its next meeting on Thursday, December 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc1b.org for more information. ◆
ANC 2G
A
dvisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G held its monthly meeting for November on Thursday evening, November 9, 2023. Commission Chair Alex Padro (2G02) called the meeting to order. Commissioners Tony Brown (2G01, Treasurer), Sranda Watkins (2G03), Steven McCarty (2G04, Secretary), Sheena Berry (2G05) and Rachelle Nigro (2G06, Vice Chair) were in attendance. The commission had a quorum to conduct business.
Third Police District Report
Officer Christopher Vandenberg of the Third Police District joined the meeting but did not have any information on crime statistics for the month. Commissioner Watkins asked if the Third District was continuing Police Service Area walks with citizens. There had been previous walks with Lieutenant Romeo. She said that she has seen an improvement in public safety conditions in her neighborhood. Commissioner Brown said that there had been a rash of rear break-ins on his block. He said the police promised to respond with more resources to the area. Commissioner Nigro said that there had been a problem with criminal activity in an alley in her district, but that it has calmed down. She asked to have a police foot patrol in her neighborhood. Vandenberg responded that there is a focused patrol in the area, but they can only spend 30 minutes per location because of staff shortages. He also noted that there was a problem with postal box keys being stolen twice from the 400 block of M Street NW. Commissioner Berry asked for more information about the incidents at Giant, where windows were shot out. Vandenberg said that the investigation is now in the Detective’s office. Two police units are currently assigned to the area.
Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto
Bryan Romanowski reported on the work of Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s office. The Judiciary committee that she chairs is focused on her Secure DC effort to address public safety issues in the District. The committee has held hearings on the efficacy of current violent interruption programs. There will be
by Pleasant Mann a hearing on November 29 to review the Mayor’s proposals for changes in DC law to address crime. The councilmember has also led safety walks in every ward, including Ward 2, to identify public safety issues on the streets. Romanowski met with the Shaw KIPP school, along with DDOT, DPW and MPD, to see the situation when school let out. Currently, the periods of dropping off and picking up students at the school have a chaotic quality. KIPP and District agencies are trying to come up with methods to improve the situation. An additional raised crosswalk may be installed on P Street to enhance safety there.
allowed. Committee Chair Nigro said that the committee unanimously supported the exception. The ANC voted unanimously to support the zoning exception. 501 New York Avenue NW. Nigro announced that the Zoning Commission has accepted the appeal of the issuance of the building permits for the proposed new jail on New York Avenue. They will hear the appeal in February or March 2024. She asked the commission to designate her as the ANC’s representative for the appeal. A motion to make Nigro the commission’s representative passed unanimously.
S Street Revitalization Project
Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee (ABC)
Abdullahi Mohammed, District Department of Transportation project manager, outlined the agency’s work on the S Street Revitalization Project. The project, which dates back to 2009, intends to improve the sidewalks and streetscape on S Street from Seventh to Fourth Street and the 1700 block of Sixth Street NW. Construction on the project, which has already started, will widen sidewalks, make them ADA compliant, and add new tree boxes and lighting to the street. There will always be a lane open on S Street during construction in the spring and summer of 2024. Project plans include permanently closing the section of S Street between Florida and New Jersey Avenues in the winter of 2024. The project will be completed by April 2025. Commissioner Padro asked about truck access to the US Post Office if a segment of S Street is closed. The response is that trucks can still get to it on Florida Avenue. Padro added that the community has been waiting for the restoration of the streetscape since the street was widened in the 1960s.
Zoning, Planning and Historic Preservation Committee
1706 Seventh Street NW. Support for a special exception application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment by Jake’s Tavern. The establishment wants to use the second floor of the building for events and customer overflow. This would require the construction of a new staircase at the back of the building, which would increase the lot occupancy of the building, which is already beyond what is currently
1604 Seventh Street NW, Baan Mae. Request for a new liquor license. The establishment is a new Laotian restaurant in the location of a previous one. A settlement agreement was completed with the previous occupant, Hanumahn, now to be executed covering the new license. The request is also for a stipulated license. Support for the licenses passed unanimously. 1251 Ninth Street NW, Union Kitchen. License renewal with a tasting endorsement. The establishment has been open since 2017. Commissioner Padro mentioned that Union Kitchen’s investigative history included two violations in 2020 for no manager on duty and not posting its license. Commissioner McCarty asked about the number of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Board against the company by union organizers. The owner explained that the workers had organized to form a union, but later decertified it. McCarty asked how the enterprise could be operating as normal with the number of ULPs filed against it. The commission supported the renewal with a vote of 5 yes, 1 no. ANC 2G will hold its next meeting on Thursday, December 14. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc2g.org for more information. ◆
DE C E M B E R 2023 29
NEIGHBORHOOD
BULLETIN BOARD DC’s 10th Annual FITDC 5k Fresh Start
On Monday, Jan. 1, come to Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, for the 10th annual Fresh Start 5k. People of all ages are welcome at this fun and free fitness initiative. Whether you want to run, walk, or just cheer folks on, there’s no better way to ring in the New Year. Registration opens at 10 a.m.; race warm-up at 10:45 a.m.; and the race begins at 11 a.m. Registering for the Fresh Start 5K is free and easy. Parking is very limited, so use public transportation and rideshare if possible. Bib and shirt pick up will be available on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Columbia Heights Community Center, 1480 Girard St. NW; Edgewood Recreation Center, 300 Evarts St. NE; Deanwood Community Center, 1350 49th St. NE; and Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Shirts and Bibs will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. Can’t make it to the live event? You can still sign up and run on your own on New Years Day! fitdcfreshstart5k.com.
Logan Circle & U Street Holly Jolly Market
Logan Circle & U Street Main Streets present their first annual Holly Jolly Market on Saturday, Dec. 16, 1 to 6 p.m. Head to 14th Street, between U and T, NW, to get all of your last-minute holiday gifts and support local businesses, artisans, and vendors. Bonus: the winners of Logan Circle and U Street Holiday Lights will have been announced so you can see the award-winning displays. districtbridges.org/ events/holly-jolly-market/.
Musical Thinking Gallery Talk at SAAM
On Thursday, Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m., go in-depth with Saisha Grayson, curator of time-based media at SAAM, as she discusses the years-long curatorial process behind Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies. Learn about her reasons for featuring selected artists and video art, with a special focus on auditory artworks and how they merge together in this evocative and emotionally resonant
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exhibition. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is at Eighth and G streets, NW. american.si.edu.
Holiday Sing-along with the Gay Men’s Chorus
Join the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 5 to 8 p.m. for a festive singalong. They’re kicking off the event with drinks (cash bar) on the heated patio at Dovetail Bar & Restaurant at Viceroy DC, 1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW, followed by the sing-along in the Eckstine Ballroom from 6 to 8 pm. $10 to $30. The cost of your ticket goes to support Logan Circle Main Street, a program of District Bridges, and its work to support Logan Circle businesses and invest in the Logan Circle community. districtbridges.org/ events/lc-holiday-sing-along-2023/.
Pop-up Strength and Performance Workouts
On Mondays through Fridays, 6 to 8 a.m. and Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., join Work Fitness for a free
strength and performance workout at Union Market. WØRK offers the most comprehensive performance-based training in DC, scientifically curated to help you achieve your personal goals with the support of an empowering, inclusive community. Sign up for free community classes in the plaza Saturdays at Union Market, or their weekday pop-ups on the rooftop. unionmarketdc.com.
Drop-in Device Help at Northwest One Library
Drop-in device help is available every Tuesday at the Northwest One Library from noon to 1 p.m. This program is for adults and/or seniors who need help with their tech devices. From navigating through the internet or just simply trying to understand how to work and use your devices, they are there to help. Northwest One Library is at 155 L St. NW. dclibrary.org.
“Performed Places” at SAAM
On Thursday, Jan. 11, 6 p.m., join artists Mariam
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.
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DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. DC Open Doors
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rates lower mortgage city. Thisand program offers competitiveinsurance interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust costs on first trust mortgages.You HPAP provides interest free deferred loans forloans downfor down HPAP deferred homebuyer or a D.C.interest resident are not provides required to befree a first-time ,serves be purchasing a home in the as a co-administrator of homebuyer or a D.C. resident serves as a co-administrator of District of Columbia. this DC Department of Housing and Community this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s first-time home buyer toDevelopment’s qualify (DHCD) for DCOD. You must, (DHCD) first-time home buyer program. program. be purchasing a home in however, HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down the District of Columbia.
serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first-time buyer years or older who have fallen behindhome on insurance program. DC4ME and tax payments as a result of their reverse years or older who have fallen behindmortgage. on insurance Qualified District homeowners can receive up to and tax payments a result of their reverse mortgage. DC4ME providesasmortgage assistance Qualified District homeowners can receive up to
with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME mortgage assistance optional years or provides older who have fallen behindwith on insurance down paymentisassistance totoD.C. government DC4ME offered current fulland tax payments as resultto ofcurrent their reverse mortgage. employees. DC4ME is aoffered full-time DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with Qualified District homeowners can receive up to optional time District employees, District government employees, employees down paymentgovernment assistance including to D.C. government of District government-based instrumentalities, employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time including employees of District independent agencies, D.C.employees, Public Charter Schools,employees District government including and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's government-based instrumentalities, of District government-based instrumentalities, employer falls under the oversight of the Council of independent agencies, D.C. Publicwith Charter Schools, DC4ME provides mortgage assistance optional the District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public andpayment organizations, provided applicant/borrower's down assistance to D.C. the government employer falls under theorganizations, oversight the Council of employees. DC4ME is offered to currentoffull-time Charter Schools, and the District of Columbia. District government employees, including employees the applicant/borrower’s COVID-19 ofprovided District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance employer falls impacts underofthe oversight ofto and organizations, the those affected by the provided theapplicant/borrower's COVID-19 employer falls under the oversight of pandemic. Qualified can receive aCouncil loan of of COVID-19 the Council ofborrowers the District ofthe Columbia. thetoDC District ofCOVID-19 Columbia. up $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage MAP provides financial assistance to for up to six months.
those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage COVID-19 for up to six months. DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of Visit www.DCHFA.org up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage tomonths. apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. forhow up to six
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815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG
NEIGHBORHOOD
Playwright and founder of Teatro San Martín In Venezuela Gustavo Ott will lead GALA Hispanic Theatre.
Ghani and Erin Ellen Kelly as they trace a choreographic journey with local performers throughout SAAM’s National Historic Landmark building. This newly commissioned piece is the latest addition to their ongoing collaboration, Performed Places (2006-present), which excavates layers of history, memory, and meaning embedded in significant sites. Framed by the historical architecture, this performance is staged to embody past experiences through movement and sound. Go back in time and experience milestones in the life of the building, including its cornerstone being laid in 1836 as the US Patent Office, hosting President Lincoln’s second inauguration, serving as a Civil War hospital, and its present-day role housing two national art collections. Free. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is at Eighth and G streets, NW. americanart.si.edu.
Theater J’s Free Passport Ticket Program
GALA Names New Producing Artistic Director
GALA Hispanic Theatre, 1333 14th St. NW, has announced that its Board of Directors has selected Gustavo Ott as its next Producing Artistic Director. A native of Venezuela, Ott has over 15 years of experience working in the United States. He was the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Teatro San Martín and Fiesta: International Theatre Festival in Caracas, Venezuela, and most recently was the Executive Artistic Director of Teatro Dallas in Texas. Ott succeeds the late Hugo Medrano, GALA co-founder, who guided the organization for 47 years. As of January 1, 2024, Ott joins Executive Director and GALA co-founder, Rebecca Medrano, in leading the theatre in the next stage of its service to artists and community. galatheatre.org.
At Theater J, they believe access to art is a right, not a privilege. Their Passports Free Ticket Program is designed to provide meaningful access to art to populations that are historically underserved by arts organizations. Every season, Theater J provides over 400 free tickets to clients of homeless and women’s shelters, low-income senior citizens, and students throughout the DC metro area. Through this commitment to opening their doors for everyone in our community, they aim to support their partner organizations as they provide care for the whole individual. For more information about participating in Theater J’s Passport’s Free Ticket Program, contact Arts Outreach Coordinator, Jacob Ettkin at jettkin@theaterj.org.
Blerd (Black Nerd) Holiday Celebration at Phillips@THEARC
On Friday, Dec. 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m., inspired by Wesley Clark’s centennial installation genesis, Phillips@THEARC, in collaboration with Blerdcon
Studio Theatre’s “Fat Ham” Extended
Hamlet, but with more barbeque and disco. Swapping a Danish castle for a North Carolina BBQ pit, Fat Ham remakes Shakespeare’s story of murder and revenge into a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy. Juicy, a Black queer Southern kid, has a lot on his plate already when his father’s ghost shows up, demanding vengeance. As generations clash at the family’s backyard barbeque, Juicy must face the legacies of violence he’s been raised with and shape the man he wants to be in this Pulitzer Prize-winning play fresh from its Tony-nominated Broadway run. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Now extended through Jan. 14. studiotheatre.org.
Tanesha Gary and Marquis D. Gibson Photo: Margot Schulman
founder Hilton George, and Prof. Raél Jero Salley, Founding Director of The Space for Creative Black Imagination, MICA, hosts a series of dinners and dialogues on Blerd—Black nerd—culture. Featuring supper and music, be a part of a growing visual archive on Blerdom in the DMV. This special winter holiday session is presented in partnership with the Hurston/Wright Foundation and will fea-
WINTERFEST at Wunder Garten
Wunder Garten, 1101 First St. NE, hosts its seventh annual WINTERFEST holiday festival through Saturday, Dec. 23. The Christmas tree lot will be back again selling a wide variety of fresh-cut trees--from Fraser Firs, Balsam Firs, Douglas Firs, White Pine, Scotch Pine and Blue Spruce. Tree sizes range from tabletop to 10+ feet. Sherman Gardens’ staff will be on hand to help tie trees to your car, and parking is available through L street. Tree lot hours are Mondays thru Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m.; Fridays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 9 p.m. Hot drinks, spiked hot chocolate and mulled wine, heated cabanas, fire pits are available and as well as DJ dance parties on Fridays and Saturdays. wundergartendc.com/winterfest.
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ture fireside poetry with Liberated Muse, a holiday-themed DJ set with DJ T5UN4M1, and warm winter treats with supper provided by Smoke Stack’s House of BBQ. Free but reservations required. Phillips@ THEARC is located at THEARC West, 1801 Mississippi Ave. SE. phillipscollection.org/thearc.
New Year’s Eve Forest Bathing at the Arboretum
On Sunday, Dec. 31 at 9 a.m., noon, and 2:30 p.m., join a nature and forest therapy guide in this two-hour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure and heart rate, improved attention and mood, and hitting the reset button on life. The Japanese have enjoyed shinrin yoku for decades as a regular public health initiative. No pets or children. Once purchased, you will receive more information on how to prepare. Their suggested ticket price is $35 (or $28 for FONA members), but please pay what you can to attend. fona. org/events_programs.
Join the DC Volunteer Snow Team
The DC Volunteer Snow Program matches volunteers with senior residents and those with access and functional needs for snow removal services in the aftermath of a winter event. Each winter season, their goal is to ensure that Serve DC Volunteer Snow Team members/volunteers adopt a resident that has submitted a Snow Removal Request. Volunteers will be deployed to the adopted home of their selection when there are four or more inches of snow impacting DC. Volunteers will be expected to complete the volunteer service within 24-36 hours after the winter event has ended. Volunteers
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DE C E M B E R 2023 33
NEIGHBORHOOD
day, Dec. 15. Volunteers are needed to fill many different positions. For more information, contact rsvp@ bnsic.org or 202-526-8300.
The AFI European Union Film Showcase
An Irish Carol at the Keegan
An original work by Keegan favorite Matthew J. Keenan, An Irish Carol is an homage to Dickens’ classic told as only the Irish can. This comic and touching play, set in a modern Dublin pub, follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self-protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve—challenged by a voice from the past, provoked by those in the present, and faced with the reality of a lonely future—David’s life may change forever. $55 to $65. An Irish Carol is at The Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, through Dec. 31. keegantheatre.com. will also be expected to clear a 35-inch pathway spanning the length from the door to the sidewalk (including any steps), as well as the immediate sidewalk that surrounds the property. Volunteers are not deployed when there is ice. For additional information, email dcvsp@dc.gov or call 202727-7925. servedc.galaxydigital.com/ snow-volunteer.
How to Request Volunteer Snow Removal Service
If you are a DC resident who is a senior or has access and functional needs and requires help clearing your sidewalks and front walkways this winter, you will need to request an exemption from the Department of Public Works (DPW ) through the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program to be eligible for free snow removal services. Once approved, your exemption is valid for two years. Register at dpw.dc.gov/service/sidewalkshoveling-exemption.
The Annual Senior Holiday Celebration
Tickets are now on sale for the 36th annual AFI European Union Film Showcase, through Dec. 19 at AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD. The full lineup includes 51 films from all 27 member states, seven US premieres and 21 Best International Feature Film Oscar submissions. View the line-up at afisilver.afi.com/silver/ eushowcase.
2024 Cherry Blossom Festival Dates Announced
The 2024 Cherry Blossom Festival will be held Mar. 20 to Apr. 14. The festival signature events are Blossom Kite Festival, Saturday, March 30; Petalpalooza at Capital RIverfront, Saturday, April 6; National
Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, Saturday, April 13; Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival, Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. Petal Porch Registration is from Feb. 2 to March 20. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
Hypothermia Alerts
Hypothermia alerts are activated when the National Weather Service forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32° F or below; or, when the temperature is forecasted to be 40° F or below, and the forecasted chance of precipitation is fifty percent or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you see someone outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. When calling, include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance. u
On Wednesday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Department of Aging and Community Living for the 25th Annual Senior Holiday Celebration at the DC Armory, 2001 East Capitol St. SE. The annual celebration brings together seniors, sixty and older, from across DC to enjoy music, dance, performances, food, and more! RSVP at mayorbowsersseniorholiday2023. splashthat.com.
The National Shrine Christmas Dinner
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE, will provide meals for hundreds of poor, homeless, elderly, and needy individuals living in DC and surrounding areas on Christmas Day. Meals will be available for pick-up or delivery only. To request a Christmas Day dinner, call 202-526-8300. All meal requests must be received by Fri-
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Washington Improv Theater Presents
WIT shows are perfect for a date night, out-of-towners visiting, or just something new and spontaneous to do. For 25 years, Washington Improv Theater’s experienced teams of improv comedians have taken a simple suggestion or story from an audience member and turned it into a neverbefore-seen comedy show. And because every performance is based on an audience suggestion, that night’s show will never happen again. Washington Improv Theater is in residence at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. General admission is $15. Visit witdc.org/shows/washington-improvtheater-presents-dec-2023 for upcoming performances.
REAL ESTATE
CHANGING HANDS Changing Hands is a list of most residential sales in the Midcity DC area 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
Fee Simple BLOOMINGDALE 1163 U St NW 1703 2nd St NW
BR
$1,149,000 $650,000
4 3
1800 S St NW $1,585,000 $2,295,000 1607 S St NW 1630 19th St NW #C $1,850,000 $3,300,000 1735 19th St NW 1908 New Hampshire Ave NW $1,520,000
5 5 4 4 4
DUPONT CIRCLE
ECKINGTON 129 U St NE 140 S St NW 162 U St NE 181 V St NE 45 T St NE
$789,000 $1,250,000 $849,900 $650,000 $1,025,000
3 5 3 3 4
$1,475,000 $1,400,000
5 4
$1,925,000 $1,950,000 $1,580,000
4 4 4
$820,000 $1,575,000
0 4
$2,080,000 $800,000 $1,625,000 $975,000
4 2 4 4
1533 9th St NW $1,425,000 1819 8th St NW $711,000 1844 8th St NW $850,000 1909 8th St NW $910,000
4 3 3 3
LEDROIT PARK 1905 4th St NW 64 Bryant St NW
LOGAN CIRCLE
1420 Corcoran St NW 1442 T St NW 1516 Swann St NW
NOMA
211 K St NE 922 8th St NE
OLD CITY #2
1303 Corcoran St NW 1424 10th St NW 2016 15th St NW 78 Q St NW
SHAW
U STREET CORRIDOR 1329 Wallach Pl NW 2265 12th Pl NW
$1,365,000 $807,500
3 2
CONDO
ADAMS MORGAN
1811 Vernon St NW #205 2024 16th St NW #C 2305 18th St NW #402 2315 Ontario Rd NW #1 2328 Champlain St NW #306 2410 17th St NW #303 2466 Ontario Rd NW #1
CENTRAL
$820,000
$1,300,000 $1,130,000
3 2
$420,000 $850,000 $499,900 $785,000 $725,000 $840,000 $635,000
1 2 2 2 2 2 2
1316 New Hampshire Ave NW #703 $390,000 1
2
DUPONT
1625 16th St NW #103 $424,500 2 $568,000 2 1712 Corcoran St NW #3 1727 Massachusetts Ave NW #304 $235,000 0 $425,000 1 2012 O St NW #12 1316 New Hampshire Ave NW #708 $516,000 1 $310,000 0 1601 18th St NW #918 1603 16th St NW #5 $1,200,000 2 $671,700 2 1724 17th St NW #74 1736 Willard St NW #302 $420,000 1 $545,000 2 1761 P St NW #1 1830 17th St NW #T1 $475,000 1 1931 17th St NW #201 $495,500 1 1933 18th St NW #202 $450,000 1
ECKINGTON
1928 3rd St NE #5 $730,000 1940 3rd St NE #2 $528,000 221 Randolph Pl NE #1 $700,000
KALORAMA
1851 Columbia Rd NW #407 $451,500 1954 Columbia Rd NW #509 $198,000 2010 Kalorama Rd NW #404 $400,000 2129 Florida Ave NW #203 $385,000 2301 Connecticut Ave NW #6A $1,600,000 1910 Kalorama Rd NW #1 $340,000 2339 Ashmead Pl NW #4 $725,000
3 2 2 1 0 1 1 2 1 2
LOGAN CIRCLE
1415 T St NW #201 $335,000 1 1 Scott Cir NW #501 $340,000 1 1300 13th St NW #102 $615,000 2 1320 13th St NW #44 $670,000 2 1325 13th St NW #47 $911,000 3 1325 13th St NW #53 $800,000 3 1425 Rhode Island Ave NW #71 $1,000,000 2 1427 Rhode Island Ave NW #404 $1,280,000 2 1525 Q St NW #2 $399,000 2 1634 14th St NW #403 $745,000 2 910 M St NW #906 $490,000 1
MERIDIAN HILL
1471 Florida Ave NW #UNIT 7 $644,000 1638 Beekman Pl NW #D $975,000
MT VERNON SQUARE
426 M St NW #J $1,078,000
14TH STREET CORRIDOR 1320 Belmont St NW #302 1334 Belmont St NW #301
1409 21st St NW #3C
NOMA
50 Florida Ave NE #719
OLD CITY #2
1239 Vermont Ave NW #905 1328 Corcoran St NW #1 1545 18th St NW #807 1618 11th St NW #103 1727 R St NW #303 1824 S St NW #103 555 Mass. Ave NW #1118 7 Logan Cir NW #34
PENN QUARTER 616 E St NW #418
$515,000
1 3 2
631 D St NW #1033 $680,000 631 D St NW #1141 $1,150,000 631 D St NW #629 $464,000 915 E St NW #905 $665,000
2
SHAW
$585,000 $1,149,000 $300,000 $775,000 $585,000 $607,000 $690,000 $499,000
2 2 0 2 2 2 2 1
$370,000
0
1427 5th St NW #3 $740,000 817 S St NW #101 $1,200,000 910 M St NW #329 $700,000 910 M St NW #618 $730,000 923 V St NW #301 $140,300 941 S St NW #1 $1,825,000
TRUXTON CIRCLE 86 O St NW #2
U STREET CORRIDOR 1390 V St NW #112 2004 11th St NW #437
2 3 1 2 2 3 2 2 1 4
$485,000
2
$774,500 $760,000
2 2
2032 15th St NW #2 $315,000
1
CoOp
ADAMS MORGAN
1661 Crescent Pl NW #303 $780,000 1840 Biltmore St NW #32 $602,000
2 2
CENTRAL
1300 Massachusetts Ave NW #305 $205,000 0
DUPONT CIRCLE
1514 17th St NW #605
KALORAMA
2122 California St NW #352 2220 20th St NW #51 2100 19th St NW #306 u
$269,000
0
$700,000 $1,121,000 $360,000
2 3 2
DE C E M B E R 2023 35
ily m a F & s Kid
Photo of Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater by Margot Schulman.
Snow Maiden at Synetic
In a frozen silver forest high in the mountains, a lonely boy builds a girl from snow. When she mysteriously comes to life, mischief, laughter, and enchantment abound. But what will happen when the ice begins to melt? Told through dazzling movement, dance, and acrobatics, Synetic’s magical take on beloved folktale Snegurochka is a story of hope, friendship, and the power of dreams. Snow Maiden comes to life in a 45-minute production set to an enchanting score to get us all in the holiday spirit. $35. Snow Maiden is at Synetic Theater, 1800 So. Bell St., Arlington (Crystal City), from Dec. 9 to Jan. 6. synetictheater.org.
The world’s first holiday show incorporating the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. You’ll laugh, you’ll sing, and you’ll dance—yes, dance, along with Step Afrika!’s award-winning dancers on Arena’s fabulous Fichandler Stage as “DJ Nutcracker” sets the tone for a joy-filled, toe-tapping evening that’s a family-friendly holiday “stepstravaganza” like no other. $56 to $95. For ticket discounts, visit arenastage.org/tickets/savings-programs. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Dec. 8 to 16. arenastage.org.
Photo: Johnny Shryock
Zoolights
Now in its 15th year, ZooLights will take thousands of visitors into a winter wonderland lit by more than half a million environmentally friendly LED lights and illuminations. Visitors can stroll through immersive lantern displays showing rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean and polar habitats and the animals that call them home. Live musical performances, delicious treat offerings and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping make this special event a dazzling and immersive experience for families and nature aficionados. This year’s Zoolights are 5 to 9 p.m. (Sundays, 5 to 8 p.m.); with remaining dates of Dec. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Admission is $6 per person; free for age two and under. $30 for parking. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu/ events/zoolights.
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Family-Friendly Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Show at Arena
NORAD Tracks Santa at noradsanta.org
NORAD tracks everything that flies in and around North America in defense of our country. However, on Dec. 24, they have the special mission of also tracking Santa. NORAD has been tracking Santa since 1955 when a young child accidently dialed the unlisted phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, believing she was calling Santa Claus after seeing a promotion in a local newspaper. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty that night, was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the youngster that CONAD would guarantee Santa a safe journey from the North Pole. Thus, a tradition was born that rolled over to NORAD when it was formed in 1958. Since then, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions. Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa website receives nearly fifteen million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Volunteers receive more than 130,000 calls (phone number appears on the website on Dec. 24) to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline. Children are also able to track Santa through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. noradsanta.org.
At NORAD, more than 1,200 volunteers answer phone calls and emails in seven different languages from children around the globe asking about Santa on Dec. 24.
SERVING GRADES 5-12
CHART YOUR COURSE TO EXCELLENCE Apply today for School Year 2023-2024. Seats are limited. Complete the application online through MySchoolDC.org. #ChoosePaul and we’ll choose you back! Increase your chances of being matched with Paul PCS by making us your #1 selection.
WHY PAUL PCS FOR 5-12 GRADE? • Tier 1 High School and a 2022 Bold Performance School for the Middle School • Guaranteed seat for Paul 8th grade families into 9th grade at Paul IHS • SAT Prep, Tutoring, Honors AP Classes, Dual Enrollment, and In-House College Assistance • Over 20 competitive middle school, junior varsity, and varsity athletic teams • Free daily breakfast and lunch • Extended day after school programs including tae kwon do, cooking club, dance, and tutoring • Wraparound services, counseling, and student support resources for families with IEPs
Visit www.paulcharter.org to learn more. Questions? Email: Enrollment@paulcharter.org 5800 8th Street NW Washington, DC I (202) 291-7499
DE C E M B E R 2023 37
KIDS AND FAMILY
The Other Side at the KC
Clover’s mom says it isn’t safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship and get around the grown-ups’ rules by sitting on top of the fence together. Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s simple yet powerful book The Other Side comes to life on Jan. 13 and 14 at 1:30 and 4 p.m. in a dance piece from choreographer and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Dance Education Hope Boykin. When literal and figurative fences keep us apart, can we find the courage—and creativity—to knock them down? The Other Side is most enjoyed by ages five, up. $20. kennedy-center.org. Daisy Denicore, Tanasia Lane in The Other Side. Photo: Jati Lindsay
Polar Palooza at the Atlas On Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m., celebrate the holiday season at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, in a Winter Wonderland--and bundle up for Polar Palooza with the best ever Hip-Hop dance party hosted by Elements Dance Company (elementsuac.com) together with a live DJ spinning “baby beats” to get the party started. Enjoy dance performances, a Frosty Funk Cypher, and their Chilly Willy Hip Hop Creation Stations while experiencing a host of other family-friendly activities. Kiddie snacks, hot chocolate--and a little something for adults as well at their Atlas Morning Café. Recommended for ages zero to ten. Free but registration recommended. atlasarts.org/events/polar.
Disney’s “Frozen” at the KC An unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse performances, Frozen is everything you want in a musical: It’s moving. It’s spectacular. And above all, it’s pure Broadway joy. Frozen is at the Kennedy Center from Dec. 20 to Jan. 21. $35 to $185. (Visit kennedy-center.org/mytix for ticket deals.) Recommended for ages six, up. kennedy-center.org.
Family-Friendly First Night Alexandria First Night Alexandria is the largest family-friendly, budget-friendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event in the region. This year’s First Night Alexandria includes more daytime events with kids, fami-
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lies and seniors in mind. It’s also fun, affordable and safe. There’s an early evening block party at Market Square and fireworks are now at 6 p.m., not midnight. Pricing has been rolled back to pre-pandemic levels. firstnightalexandria.org.
Storytime in NPG’s Explore! Space Storytime in the National Portrait Gallery’s Explore! Space immerses kids in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes and more. On Mondays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18; Jan. 8, 22 and 29; and Feb. 5, 12 and 26; 1:30 to 2 p.m., visit their family space in the Education Center (E151) before or after story time to play and learn about portraiture. Free and no registration required. The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and G streets NW. npg.si.edu.
Away in My Airplane at Air and Space On Thursdays in December at 11 a.m., join Air and Space, Sixth and Independence Ave. SW, for a story about flying away in your own airplane. Where would you fly and what would you see? Write and illustrate your own airplane story book. airandspace.si.edu.
Capital City Symphony: Sleigh Ride! Annual Holiday Concert and Sing Along (free for kids) On Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 and 5:30 p.m., celebrate the joy and magic of the season with Capital City Symphony and their special guest, renowned sopra-
See the National Christmas Tree Trains
The National Christmas Tree is lit every day from approximately 4:30 p.m. to midnight as part of the America Celebrates display at President’s Park (White House). This display is free to visit and is open to the public starting on Dec. 2. You can then visit the tree, surrounding model trains and decorations throughout the season. thenationaltree.org.
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KIDS AND FAMILY
See the Trains at Season’s Greenings
Open through Jan. 1 (except Christmas), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the popular annual holiday display at the US Botanic Garden features model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the Conservatory features poinsettias, holiday decor, and DC landmarks made from plants. On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains circulate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. Season’s Greenings is also open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 14, 21 and 28. usbg.gov.
no Amber Monroe. Together, CCS and Monroe will delight you with heartwarming holiday classics. Grab your family, friends, and neighbors and join them for a concert filled with holiday music and sing-along fun. Adults, $35; kids 16 and under, free. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Holiday Family Activities at the Library of Congress Every day from Wednesday, Dec. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 30; 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., join the Library’s Informal Learning Office, in the Jefferson Building Great Hall, second floor (LJ-200-E), for a crafting activity to celebrate the holiday season and the coming New Year. Learn about the Library’s holiday collections while you make your own crafts including writing cards, creating countdown chains for upcoming celebrations and learning how to write thank you letters. loc.gov/ events/?q=holiday+family.
Family (all day) Game Day at SW Library On Sundays, Dec. 10, Jan. 7 and Feb. 4, children and their families are invited to visit SW Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW, on Sunday afternoon to play a selection of games that will be made available. dclibrary.org.
Family Christmas Service at the National Cathedral On Saturday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m., a menagerie of live animals helps bring the Nativity to life in this
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joyful service of carols and prayers. Gather loved ones of all ages to welcome the Holy Family in the festively decorated Cathedral nave. ASL interpretation is offered for this service. Free, in-person passes are required at cathedral.org/calendar/family-christmas-service-2.
A Family Christmas at the KC On Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 24, at 11 a.m., both days, bring the kids for an unforgettable holiday experience as the Choral Arts Chorus fills the concert hall with holiday classics just for them. They’ll take you on a merry tour of Christmas favorites that will have your family singing all the way home. Expect a visit from Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph. This one-hour concert is perfect for children ages five and up. Tickets are $20 to $45. kennedy-center.org.
Jungle Discovery at Imagination Stage Jungle Discovery is an engaging and immersive interactive experience for children ages three to six and their adults. Participants enter a fantastical jungle world where they may dress up as exotic creatures and explore the beautiful flora and fauna. Led by Jungle Guides, participants may choose to play in the jungle leaves, add flowers, play with sound using a rain stick, draw on the Mirror Mural, and make a warm nest to hide in. There will be plenty of fun surprises in this multisensory environment. Jungle Discovery is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 14. Tickets are $19.50. imaginationstage.org. u
Photo: Stan Weinstein
Dia de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) at GALA
On Saturday, Jan. 7, 1:30 p.m. (show inside the theatre at 2 p.m.), join GALA for this annual tradition, the celebrated Three Kings celebration which brings Latin-American tradition to the streets of DC. This festive end to the holiday season features the timeless story of the Magi, performances by local musicians and dance troupes, a street parade, and free gifts for children. Free/gratis. GALA Theatre is at 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org/post/threekingsday.
DC Prep is accepting applications for SY24-25 beginning December 11th Contact us about how to apply
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#LoveShaw
SHOP SMALL FOR THE
SHAW-LIDAYS! Remember to Shop Small and Shop Local this holiday season. You can enjoy holiday traditions, including shopping for gifts for friends and family and enjoying great meals at restaurants and at home—and support small, local, independent businesses in Shaw at the same time!
Photo: Alexander M. Padro
HOUSE COFFEE BLENDS FROM EARTH GROCERY
Shaw retailers offer great merchandise that can be purchased in person or ordered online and picked up curbside or delivered to you or your gift recipients. Whether you’re looking for women’s wear, paintings, plants or single malts, you can order them from Shaw Main Streets businesses. And many Shaw businesses offer gift cards and certificates, often delivered via email, taking the stress out of choosing the perfect gift. Certificates for fitness classes or haircuts are also great options.
And whether you choose a favorite meal to dine in or take out from your go-to restaurant or a special menu from a place you’ve been meaning to check out, treat yourself often this month.
Photo: Alexander M. Padro
Photo: Foundry Gallery
Photo: Alexander M. Padro
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Visit www.ShawMainStreets.org for gift and dining ideas. Shaw Main Streets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor. ©2023 Shaw Main Streets, Inc. All Rights Reserved.