On Tap Magazine // June 2019

on the scene

Photos: Devin Overbey

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THESE AND OTHER EVENTS, VISIT THE ONLINE GALLERY AT WWW.ONTAPONLINE.COM.

Funk Parade celebrated six years on U Street on May 11, highlighting the District’s vibrant music and arts scenes with a fair, parade and eclectic lineup of musicians bringing the spirit of funk to the city.

TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE 2019: VOL 21 NO 7

WHO IS ON TAP?

DISTRICT STYLE In his book The Architecture of Happiness, author Alain de Botton said “what we seek, at the deepest level, is inwardly to resemble, rather than physically to possess, the objects and places that touch us through their beauty.” That is to say, the aesthetics of seemingly ordinary spaces we inhabit on a daily basis can greatly alter our overall experiences.

In this issue, we deep dive into the people and places whose designs add value to the minutiae of the everyday, taking our drinking, eating and living experiences from ordinary to extraordinary. Explore the innovative artists using beer cans as a means to share their art with the world, and bars who take their interiors as seriously as their craft cocktails. The places we eat and drink have gone from utilitarian to visionary – explore their transformations into cultural hubs for the city’s best and brightest. June is also, of course, Pride month. Take a look at how Stonewall Sports gives the LGBTQ+ community a place to make friends and partake in social sports with members of their community, Casa Ruby provides a haven for the city’s transgender youth, and more in this month’s wide array of support and celebration. Plus, the best of the city’s affordable summer sports, musicians Zara Larsson, Lake Street Dive and Bacchae, Signature Theatre’s summer season and more.

On the cover: No Kings Collective's Brandon Hill and Peter Chang Designer: Julia Goldberg

IN THIS ISSUE  SPORTS U.S. Men's Soccer at Audi Field. . .................. 4 DC's Tennis Savior Mark Ein. . ........................ 6 Affordable Athletics..................................... 10 Stonewall Sports........................................... 12

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DC's Tennis Savior Mark Ein

Trans Activism in the District

 ARTS & CULTURE Trans Activism............................................... 14 Streetsense Cultivates Hospitality............ 52 No Kings Collective...................................... 54 DC Artists Making a Social Impact. . .......... 58 Insta Fashion in the District.. ...................... 62

 LIFESTYLE Drink, Dine, Do.............................................. 16 DC's New Wave Hotels................................. 24 Best of Local Bathrooms.. ............................ 28

 DRINKS

54

58

No Kings Collective

DC Artists

Is Here to Play Forever

Making a Social Impact

 MUSIC DC's Bacchae Talks the Expansiveness of Punk

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ASSISTANT EDITOR Trent Johnson trent@ontaponline.com

EDITORIAL STAFF M.K. Koszycki mk@ontaponline.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Julia Goldberg julia@ontaponline.com

PRINT AND DIGITAL DESIGN Nick Caracciolo KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Tom Roth tomroth@ontaponline.com

DIGITAL & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Kayla Marsh kayla@ontaponline.com

EVENTS & PROMOTIONS MANAGER Katie Seaman katie@ontaponline.com

EVENTS & PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT Savannah Jeter Savannah@ontaponline.com

OUTREACH COORDINATOR Kelcie Glass Kelcie@ontaponline.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lani Furbank, Aliviah Jones, Keith Loria, Sabrina Medora, Jean Schindler, Courtney Sexton, Amanda Weisbrod

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

On Tap Magazine is published 11 times per year. ©2019 by United Fray. All rights reserved. Use or reproduction of any materials contained herein is strictly prohibited without express prior written consent. Go to www.ontaponline.com for more information.

Studio Theatre Unveils SHOWROOM. . ...... 66 Stage & Screen Events................................. 68

in the District

monica@ontaponline.com

Crafty Cocktails............................................. 36 What's On Tap................................................ 40 Drinkable Design.......................................... 42

 STAGE & SCREEN

Insta Fashion

MANAGING EDITOR Monica Alford

Lani Furbank, John Gervasi, Kimchi Photography, Mark Raker Photography

New & Notable.. ............................................. 46 DC's Vibrant Restaurant Design.. ............... 48

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robert@ontaponline.com

Behind the Bar............................................... 30 Don Ciccio & Figli's New Location.. ........... 34

 DINING

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PUBLISHER Robert Kinsler

Zara Larsson Headlines Capital Pride. . ..... 70 DC's Bacchae Talks Punk.. ............................ 72 Lake Street Drive Is Still Evolving. . ............ 74 Music Picks..................................................... 78

OFFICE

951 V St. NE, Washington DC 20018 Tel: 703-465-0500 Fax: 703-465-0400 www.ontaponline.com CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

www.ontaponline.com/calendar Due by the 15th of the month for print issue.

VISIT THESE LOCATIONS FOR AN ICE-COLD HEINEKEN Kirwan’s on the Wharf The Big Stick Brighton Mission Willie’s Brew & Que Agua 301 Cantina Bambina Scarlet Oak CIRCA at Navy Yard Ugly Mug

Finn McCool’s Declaration RíRá Lou’s City Bar Fadó Irish Pub Irish Channel Across the Pond Lucky Bar Hawk ‘n’ Dove

USMNT

Kicks Off Gold Cup Run at Audi Field

By Keith Loria

T

Paul Arriola

he U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) is gearing up for the 2019 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup, squaring off against Jamaica on June 5 at Audi Field in a rematch of its 2017 Gold Cup finals contest, which saw the U.S. team win 2-1.

The game is the first for the U.S. following its official submission of the team’s 23-player roster for the tournament and marks their first appearance at Audi Field as a full unit under head coach Gregg Berhalter.

“We’re in the beginning of a new time with a new coach and younger players, and anytime you get new energy, it creates excitement,” says forward Paul Arriola of D.C. United fame. “After the few games we’ve had under Gregg and his system, it’s been very positive. We’re all very optimistic and fans should be excited about the future and our first real competition with the Gold Cup.” Previously, the team played its DC matches at RFK Stadium. Arriola is looking forward to playing at Audi Field – his home field when he suits up for the D.C. United.

“It’s exciting because I play at Audi Field week in and week out,” he says. “The fans never disappoint and are extremely loyal. It’s a great stadium and atmosphere.”

Aaron Long, a defender with the New York Red Bulls, is happy that he’ll be finally be cheered on when he steps foot onto Audi.

“I’ve been going there with the Red Bulls and playing against DC, so it will be nice to be in this new stadium and be rooted for instead of against,” he says. “It feels super up close and personal. The fans are right on top of you and it’s an amazing place to play.”

The National Team opens this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, which takes place from June 15 to July 7 in the U.S., Costa Rica and Jamaica. This year’s lineup includes a game against Guyana on June

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Photo: courtesy of www.isiphotos.com

18 in Minnesota as the USMNT looks to win its seventh title in the tournament’s 15-year history. The team will also have games against Trinidad & Tobago and Panama.

The trio of Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge) and Sean Johnson (NYCFC) will serve as goaltenders for the tournament. The team’s defenders will consist of such superstars as Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Tim Ream (Fulham) and Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact).

Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Tyler Boyd (MKE Ankaragucu) and Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) join Arriola as top forwards, and Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) and Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) lead the talented collection of midfielders.

“We take this tournament so seriously and we want to make our country proud, so to be part of this team just means everything to us and we’re going to go out there strong,” Long says. “We’re really starting to gel and these games right before the Gold Cup are going to be the last thing we need to bring this team together and go out full force.”

Jamaica is one of the favorites in the tournament, making it to the finals in each of the past two years, so the road to the Gold Cup won’t be easy.

“Our team is no joke,” Arriola says. “We are here to win and continue to build as a national team and be respected around the world. It never gets old putting on the jersey and seeing your national flag on it and knowing you are representing a huge, powerful country with a lot of history and the history of U.S. soccer.”

Don’t miss the USMNT at Audi Field on Wednesday, June 5 at 7 p.m.

Learn more at www.ussoccer.com.

Audi Field: 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; 202-587-5000; www.audifielddc.com

Photo: courtesy of Mark Ein

KEEPS CITI OPEN ON HOME COURT

By Trent Johnson Mark Ein didn’t want to risk it.

The local venture capitalist refused to sit idly while other cities around the world bid for the opportunity to host the Citi Open, which has called the District home since 1969. Apart from his undying, unending passion for tennis as a prominent member of the local sports zeitgeist, the owner of the Washington Kastles and Washington City Paper felt a responsibility to keep the celebrated tournament in the nation’s capital.

“I’m incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to do these things, and there’s a sense of responsibility to make these big events happen,” Ein tells me over the phone. “It meant the world to me to be able to save the event for our region. It’s been a big part of our community for 50 years. It’s touched millions of people. When the possibility that it would move came up, I felt a real obligation to make sure it thrives for the next 50 years.”

In April, Ein announced that the Citi Open tournament would remain in DC after he secured a management deal including an option to purchase the tournament within five years. This year’s iteration takes place from July 27 through August 4. The tournament is the only Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour 500 in the U.S. and often features top players gearing up for the U.S. Open.

The process took six months, but Ein’s commitment to keeping the tournament local and providing support for the tournament’s charity, the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, won out.

“Pretty early on, there was a group of people that wanted to keep it in town,” he says. “They recognized I was a supporter of that, and they reached out to us.”

The Citi Open has historically not been without its own challenges,

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Mark Ein

DC’S TENNIS ACE MARK EIN as the weather and location have created uncontrollable problems for the tournament. Often plagued by rain and heat, matches between top players have sometimes been delayed well into the wee hours of the night. Physical upgrades are difficult to apply as well because the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, the Citi Open’s venue, is subject to National Park Service restrictions.

YOU LEARN SO MANY IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT LIFE ON THE TENNIS COURT. IT’S THE SPORT OF A LIFETIME. “We’re very encouraged by the amount of things we’ll be able to do already this summer,” Ein says. “Fans will notice and really enjoy, and there’s a list of things we’ll be able to add each year.”

The improvements Ein mentions all fall under the umbrella of fan experience: food and beverage options, new air-conditioned spaces complete with curated music and games, and improved transportation options such as shuttles, valets and a “re-engineered parking plan.” For larger developments further down the line, Ein says he is encouraged by discussions with the park service.

Photos: Kimchi Photography

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THESE AND OTHER EVENTS, VISIT THE ONLINE GALLERY AT WWW.ONTAPONLINE.COM.

For every Friday night home game at Nationals Park, the best place to pregame is on Budweiser Terrace. As the Nationals warmed up to play the Cubs on May 17, fans enjoyed pop and rock hits from Lovely Rita.

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IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME TO BE ABLE TO SAVE THE EVENT FOR OUR REGION. IT’S BEEN A BIG PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS. IT’S TOUCHED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. “It all starts with the fact that it’s a great event,” he says. “It’s the fifth biggest tournament in the U.S., and the setting in a public park is unique and public. We’ve been re-examining every detail in every area to make it meaningfully better.”

With tournament management comes facing the potential risks associated with the production of the event. Despite variables and the dangers that come with them, Ein never wavers when dealing with his passions.

“I only do these things [because I’m] passionate about them,” Ein says with a chuckle. “The motivation for me is not financial at all. It really is to do something special for my community around a sport that I have passion for and believe in. As big of a financial investment as it is, it’s an even larger time investment. I wouldn’t spend time on it if I didn’t care deeply.”

Another tennis endeavor Ein is famous for is the Washington Kastles, a team prepared to undergo changes of its own. This season will mark the team’s Union Market debut, with a new venue currently being constructed on the roof of the famed food hall in Northeast DC. The Kastles are set to take the rooftop in their season opener on July 15 against the Vegas Rollers.

“We’re thrilled about the new stadium on the roof,” Ein says. “It’s going to be a lot smaller of a stadium, and we’re already close to selling out the whole season. But for the people who get to have a seat, it’s going to be tremendous. You’ll be able to see the entire capital.”

The new venue only sits about 700 people whereas previous seasons saw the team fill stadiums three time as large, Ein says.

However, with a video board, lights and of course, a full-scale tennis court on a roof, he’s right to declare it a unique experience.

Experiences are what Ein is all about after all. Recreating for others what he once felt as a boy watching and playing tennis is of huge importance for him. The sport has given him so much, so it’s only fair.

“You learn so many important lessons about life on the tennis court,” he says. “You’re there by yourself, and you find yourself in situations that you have to figure out. It teaches you resilience, discipline, fairness and continuous improvement. It’s a great sport for people of all ages and it’s the sport of a lifetime.”

For more information about the 2019 Citi Open, visit www.citiopentennis.com. For more information about the Washington Kastles and their upcoming season, visit www.washingtonkastles.com.

Union Market Rooftop: 1309 5th St. NE, DC www.washingtonkastles.com William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Stadium: 16th and Kennedy Streets in NW, DC; www.citiopentennis.com

BETTER THAN EZRA • SMASH MOUTH

HERR METAL • HIS DREAM OF LIONS IMBUED • THAT 80’S BAND • JACK HESS SEVEN TEN OIL • WILD PLANES • VICE YEARS SKYWARD STORY • BOBBY THOMPSON TRIO DIVIDING FACE • BEST NOT BROKEN

LOVELY RITA • PRACTICALLY EINSTEIN PLACE CALLED HOME • THE FRONTIER • RECESS EBB & NOVA • JUNE DIVIDED • MARY-EL BAND STRONG WATER • HYPNOTIC WILLIE • AUTOMATIC BETTER HOMES • SCHREINER • FOREPLAY THE PRACTICE SQUAD • DREADNOT • STONE DRIVER TURNCOAT SYNDICATE • THE SIDLEYS • BAREFOOT MODERN CATCHIN’ TOADS • TOMMY MCGEE BAND • PLEASURE TRAIN CAZ GARDINER • KATIE AND KELLY MUSIC • JON SPEAR BAND SHANE GAMBLE • SCOTT KURT • CHRIS CASSADAY • DAN BARRY CAROLINE AYERS • JULIET LLOYD • CAROLINE FERRANTE SEPH CUSTER • MADISON WARNER • LUKE JAMES SHAFFER KEVIN OLSON • DJ MINT • DJ BOUNCE • DJ ZBREEZY

AND MORE: BRAD MATCHETT COMEDY HYPNOTIST, FAIRFAX CORNER COMMUNITY STAGE PERFORMANCES AND PERFORMANCES ON THE F.H. FURR FAMILY STAGE.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

CelebrateFair fax.com

Fairfax County Government Center: 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035

SUMMER SPORTS WORTH WATCHING

By Aliviah Jones

DC Polo Society

Photo: John Gervasi

Summer is finally in full swing, giving DC residents the chance to attend some of the city’s best sporting events. But some sports lovers are probably wondering how they can enjoy seeing a good game without burning a hole in their wallet. Look no further: the District and surrounding areas have a multitude of talented athletes on local teams who can give fans an experience rivaling the NFL or NBA without the hefty price tag. Here’s our short list of affordable local sports with summer offerings, so you can get more bang for your buck while rooting for the home team.

DC BREEZE

DC’s Ultimate frisbee team represents the East Division of the American Ultimate Disc League with a 3-3 record and a current playoff berth of 49-36-1.

“Ultimate is an exciting, spectator-friendly team sport that combines elements of football, basketball and soccer but with a flying disc instead of a ball, and you can watch it at the professional level right here in DC,” says Don Grage, DC Breeze Managing Partner. “It’s fan-friendly entertainment with reasonable ticket prices, $5 meal deals, $6 pints of draft DC Brau beer and live DJ entertainment to go along with the spectacular action.”

The DC Breeze joined the league in 2013 and since then, has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons including the East Division finals in the past two seasons. Head out to see if the team can extend this successful streak. Tickets are $15.

Carlini Field at Catholic University 4900 Bates Rd. NE, DC; www.thedcbreeze.com

DC POLO SOCIETY

The DC Polo Society made their inaugural debut as a team this spring. Matches take place on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Attendees can expect food vendors, tailgating, yard games and drinks in addition to the excitement the game provides. The events also give fans a chance to arrive in style: think sundresses, chinos, bowties and big hats.

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“The polo experience at Congressional [Polo Club] is welcoming and authentic,” director of operations Seema Sharma says. “Highly skilled polo professionals from many different countries compete in exciting, fast-paced chukkers on three well-manicured polo fields.

Visitors, surrounded by lush greenery and big sky above, find an atmosphere that is both incredibly scenic and pleasantly serene.”

All matches take place in Poolsville, Maryland. The venue is a great spot for those who want to venture off to the Maryland countryside for an exciting day of sports, food, drink and traditional fashion.

Tickets $15-$85.

Congressional Polo Club 14660 Hughes Rd. Poolesville, MD; www.dcpolo.com

OLD GLORY

Old Glory is the first professional rugby team in the nation’s capital, and the local athletes put a heavy emphasis on hometown pride.

Former rugby players Paul Sheehy and Chris Dunlavey founded the team after years playing rugby clubs in the DC area. Their opening exhibition game brought in 3,000 attendees to Catholic University’s Cardinal Stadium and garnered attention from onlookers on social media. Old Glory joined the Major League Rugby organization last November and is scheduled to play a full season in 2020. In the meantime, the team is set to play its last exhibition game of the season on June 9 versus the Ontario Blues. Tickets are $20.

Cardinal Stadium at Catholic University 600 Taylor St. NE, DC; www.oldglorydc.com

WASHINGTON KASTLES

DC’s co-ed tennis team has been in full swing since July 2008. Since its inception, the Kastles have racked up numerous awards including six World TeamTennis titles. Within the past 11 years, team members have won more than 100 championship titles including Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles. Tennis stars like Venus Williams, Martina Hingis and Leander Paes have even graced the courts for memorable moments in Kastles championship games.

This year, matches will be held on the roof of Union Market. The new venue will provide a more intimate setting, allowing for only 700 people compared to their previous home at the Smith Center with more than 2,000 seats. Although the Union Market location is smaller, it allows for a more vibrant experience as attendees can partake in the food hall’s diverse array food and drink before or after catching a match. The first match of the season is July 15. Ticket prices TBD; check website for updates.

Union Market 309 5th St. NE, DC; www.washingtonkastles.com

WASHINGTON VALOR

The Washington Valor is the DC area’s professional indoor football team, making its debut in the District in 2017 as part of the Arena Football League. The team has seen recent success, including quarterback Arvell Nelson taking the team to victory in last year’s ArenaBowl championship with a 69-55 win against the Baltimore Brigade. Football fanatics can come out and support the team during the NFL’s offseason; though the Valor kicked off in April, the team plays until July 20 when they’ll close the regular season at home versus the Columbus Destroyers. Tickets start at $15.

Join us f0r brunch every Sat & Sun from 11am to 3pm We have all your favorites from Traditional Irish Breakfast to Eggs Benedict & Pancakes.

Check us out at sineirishpub.com for the full brunch and regular menus.

Come enjoy our brunch inside when you want to watch your favorite sporting event on our flat screen HD TVs, or outside on the patio in the beautiful weather.

Capital One Arena 601 F St. NW, DC; www.washingtonvalor.com www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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Photo: courtesy of Frank Criscione

Builds Community On and Off the Playing Field

Frank Criscione and teammates

Stonewall Sports

By Trent Johnson Sports bring people together. Playing or watching games builds camaraderie, helps you establish rapport with teammates and, frankly, is an astonishingly effective ice breaker for folks who may otherwise be inclined to avoid strangers. There are a ton of options for people looking to participate in athletics on a social level after they leave high school or college locker rooms.

Stonewall Sports added their name to the list of national social sports organizations nearly a decade ago – but with a more focused mission. Yes, games are played and friendships are fostered, but Stonewall also carries the namesake of the Stonewall Riots, which pitted members of the LGBTQ+ community against police officers in New York City in 1969.

Stonewall Sports describes itself as an LGBTQ+ and ally community-based nonprofit that combines the fun of sports with the initiative to raise funds for other local nonprofits. The organization currently boasts a presence in 16 cities with 12,000 participants nationally, including a thriving DC chapter.

“I moved to DC about five years ago and Stonewall Sports had a very good presence in DC,” says Frank Criscione, Stonewall’s DC manager of community engagement. “Our community engages with locals, whether it be through philanthropic opportunities or volunteering.”

When Criscione moved to the District, he didn’t know many people.

After hearing about Stonewall, he figured sports might provide the best opportunity to get to know the area and meet locals.

“It’s better than most ways to meet people, like at bars,” member Anthony Musa says. “This is an alternative way to do that and you get introduced to a diverse group of people with different backgrounds.”

Another factor that sets Stonewall apart is its mission to make members of the LGBTQ+ community feel comfortable in an atmosphere that may not always seem inclusive.

“I think it goes back to the PTSD of being an adolescent in sports,” Criscione says. “It goes back to that feeling of being the gay guy. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only gay guy on a team.

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I GET TO REMIND NEWCOMERS THAT IT’S MORE THAN A SPORT. IT’S BEING INVOLVED. I’m on a whole team of gay guys. You don’t think about the social pressures of how you have to act or perform in that atmosphere.

You get to rekindle some of the magic for sports you used to enjoy without those pressures.”

Criscione mentions he focused on individual sports growing up, but Stonewall gives him a chance to be a part of a team as opposed to competing alone. The organization currently offers everything from flag football and dodgeball to climbing.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it can be competitive depending on what you’re looking for,” Musa says. “It’s fast-paced and relatively easy to pick up. It’s a good way to interact with people you may not ordinarily talk to.”

Both Musa and Criscione gush about the fun had on the courts and fields, but the good times don’t stop there. As newcomers to DC, each points out that the teams don’t stop conversing after the final whistles. Meetups and even parties often follow.

This kind of openness helps Stonewall members in their volunteer fundraising efforts as well, as those represent the organization’s heartbeat and give the members another way to work toward an incredible achievement.

“I think Stonewall has a great impact on the community,” Criscione says. “I get to remind newcomers that it’s more than a sport. It’s being involved.”

Get involved with Stonewall Sports at https://stonewallsports.leagueapps.com.

CATCH GREAT LIVE MUSIC Before Every Friday Home Game!

2019

BUDWEISER MUSIC SERIES 6/14 Practically Einstein

6/21 Dr. FU 7/5 7 Deadlies 7/26 Justin Trawick & The Common Good AN

PRODUCTION

8/16 8/30 9/13 9/27

As If Hand Painted Swinger Driven to Clarity Turtle Recall

Music @ 5:00 | Game @ 7:05

SOME PLACE

LAY TO

YOUR

HEAD

By Amanda Weisbrod

It all starts with family.

Because without support at home, transgender people can find themselves spiraling, according to Earline Budd, a transgender woman of color who has been an activist in the DC transgender community since the 1990s.

“One of the most outstanding issues we [trans people] face is estrangement from family,” she says. “Then housing becomes an issue because you’re homeless and you have to survive, which was my case at age 13.”

Budd says because she faced homelessness at such a young age, she found herself in and out of the criminal justice system and doing sex work just to survive.

“The struggle when I got out [of jail] was still not having any housing and having to grow up on the street,” she says. “In my case, I contracted HIV.” The 60-year-old activist says she’s heard stories like hers from younger transgender people throughout her work with various LGBTQ+ support organizations. Not having a support system, especially at a young age, is the catalyst for many of the other adversities transgender people face throughout their lives.

Because once she was put out on the street, Budd had limited options as a trans woman of color, especially back in the 1970s. But things are different now, according to Budd there are more places transgender people can turn to when they’re in need. DC’s own Casa Ruby is one such place.

Casa Ruby is the “only LGBTQ+ bilingual and multicultural organization in the metropolitan Washington, DC area” that provides an array of services including housing, health and social programs to help LGBTQ+ individuals hurdle any barriers they may be facing at the time, according to its website.

Thirty years ago, Ruby Corado, a transgender Latina immigrant, arrived in DC and realized there were no services available to support her needs. This led to the eventual formation of Casa Ruby, Inc. followed by the opening of the first Casa Ruby Center in June 2012.

“Today, Casa Ruby employs almost 50 people [and] provides more than 30,000 social and human services to more than 6,000 people each year,” according to the organization’s website.

Holly Goldmann, director of external affairs at Casa Ruby, agrees with Budd in that many of the plights transgender people experience “start at home,” especially for transgender women of color. But that’s where Casa Ruby comes in.

“We’re there to provide the most vulnerable population in the city

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with life skills to save their lives, make sure they’re not dismissed and give them a family,” Goldmann says. “We want to make sure they’re always welcome – not just at Casa Ruby, but in the world.”

Goldmann says Corado plans to establish a second wellness center under the Casa Ruby name in Southeast DC, with the tentative opening date scheduled for some time in June. Budd reveals she was ecstatic for this news and commends Corado for all of her service to the transgender community over the years.

“Ruby has been absolutely phenomenal when it comes to stepping up to the plate,” Budd says. “She’s seen as a kind ear and someone who has been very important in our community.”

Along with Casa Ruby and other organizations focused on trans rights in the District, Budd says DC in particular serves as a beacon of hope for transgender people because of its policies addressing gender identity.

“DC is probably one of the most liberal places where you can come and be your authentic self,” she says. “It’s a leader because of all the things that have been put in place for transgenders.”

In 2014, then DC Mayor Vincent Gray announced that public and private health insurance plans regulated by the DC government were required to cover transition-related care. But transgender rights in the DC justice system were acknowledged long before Gray made his declaration.

Since 2009, the District has permitted transgender inmates to be placed according to their gender identity, and to begin hormone therapy while in custody. Peter Nickles, who served as DC’s attorney general in 2009, wrote in a statement that “these provisions, along with other aspects of policy, will help to ensure that the rights of transgender prisoners are respected and that their unique needs are accommodated, to the extent practicable, while they are incarcerated.”

Budd says this policy, along with gender transition health insurance coverage, makes DC a place where transgender people feel more heard and accepted.

“We’re probably one of the first places in the country where the Department of Corrections developed a policy for trans inmates,” she says. “That’s unheard of in a lot of other places.”

Charlotte Clymer, a transgender woman activist for the Human Rights Campaign, says while she feels lucky to live in DC because of how the city’s police department has improved its treatment of the LGBTQ+ community, there are still shortcomings.

“There is a lack of understanding about LGBTQ+ people and the obstacles we face, so when police interact with us, they are not always passionate or sympathetic,” Clymer says.

While there is still work to be done, there is also a strong movement within the city to address these misunderstandings. The Capital Pride Alliance is one of several DC organizations dedicated to enlightening people about the barriers faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

At the annual Capital Trans Pride celebration on May 18 and 19, Capital Pride Alliance Board Member Ian Brown says the nonprofit held workshops on issues faced by the trans community in order to make them more visible.

“When you’re able to put a face with an issue, it becomes human,” he says. “You can no longer ignore it. That’s something I think is missing in the larger context of policy and national change. Our visibility is very important.”

The Capital Pride Alliance is holding its annual Capital Pride Celebration from May 31 to June 9 at locations all over the District.

This year, the theme is “shhhOUT” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a series of demonstrations in New York City which served as a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement.

Brown says while this year’s theme largely has to do with acknowledging this important moment in the history of LGBTQ+ rights, it also makes a statement.

“We wanted to acknowledge the forces that continue to try to silence our community,” he continues. “In being about to shout, we’re definitely giving a shout-out to our past and how we’re here now proudly speaking out in the present day.”

Budd, who will serve as a grand marshal at the Capital Pride Celebration, says she is honored for the chance to tell her story through this appointment and hopes she can inspire more transgender people to follow in her footsteps as an activist.

“I do it because I’ve been there and I believe someone has to be a mentor and be there for those who are coming through now,” she says. “But it’s not easy [to be an activist] when you don’t have some place to lay your head.”

Celebrate Capital Pride from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 9 around the District. Learn more at www.capitalpride.org.

Capital Pride Alliance: 2000 14th St. NW, DC; www.capitalpride.org Casa Ruby: 7530 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; www.casaruby.org

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TUESDAY, JUNE 4 Taste of Adams Morgan Taste of Adams Morgan is an annual neighborhood event celebrating its seventh year with creative tastes from the neighborhood’s best restaurants. Taste Guides with a map of all participating restaurants and the dishes they are offering will be handed out at check-in to guide you on your culinary adventure. From there, explore and indulge at your own leisure! All proceeds benefit the nearly 53,000 individuals who will be served this year through Mary’s Center’s comprehensive healthcare, education and social service program. 5-9 p.m.

Tasting tickets are $35-$80.

Various participating restaurants in Adams Morgan in NW, DC; www.tasteofadamsmorgan.com

TUESDAYS, JUNE 4, 11, 18 Adams Morgan Movie Nights The Adams Morgan BID is excited to announce this year’s Adams Morgan Movie Nights lineup as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing by collaborating with the National Air and Space Museum to bring you five great space-themed titles, including Spaceballs, Apollo 11 and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Each movie starts at 8 p.m. Free to attend.

Marie Reed Soccer Field: 18th and California Streets in NW, DC; www.admodc.org/movies

WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 5 AUGUST 21 Wednesdays at the Wharf Concert Series Head to The Wharf each Wednesday evening this summer to listen to live music on Transit Pier. Don’t miss DC favorites such as Collective Dellusion, Jarreau Williams Xperience, Brent & Co. and more

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playing on the floating stage.

From indie rock to Latin fusion, there’s something for everyone.

Enjoy ice cold beers and food from Cantina Bambina and take a mid-week break. 6-8 p.m. Free to attend. The Wharf: 700 Water St. SW, DC; www.wharfdc.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Taste of North Capitol North Capitol Main Streets will host its third annual Taste of North Capitol. Celebrate the unique neighborhoods that make up North Capitol Main Street (Bates, Bloomingdale, Eckington and Truxton Circle) as well as the one-of-a-kind businesses that make this dining destination like no other. Expect an awesome showing of food and cocktails as the bars and restaurants from these hoods highlight their offerings. Tickets include a concert, unlimited food and cocktail tastings, gift bags, giveaways and complimentary parking. 7-10 p.m. Tickets $30$55. NPR Building: 1111 North Capitol St. NE, DC; www.northcapitoldc.com

THURSDAYS, JUNE 6-27 Rosslyn Rocks Grab your friends and head to Central Place Plaza on Thursdays in June to listen to live music.

Each week will be a new cover band, featuring Party Like It’s, White Ford Bronco, The Jarreau Williams Xperience and Driven to Clarity. Enjoy the concerts while sipping on a glass of wine or having a beer in downtown Rosslyn’s outdoor space.

Must be 21-plus to consume alcohol (no outside alcohol).

6-8 p.m. Free to attend. Central Place Plaza: 1800 N Lynn St. Arlington, VA; www.rosslynva.org

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THURSDAYS, JUNE 6 SEPTEMBER 30 Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor Pack your chairs, grab food togo from one of the many dining establishments at National Harbor and grab a seat at the Plaza screen for a free movie – from the latest Disney hits to Marvel to the classics. National Harbor: 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, MD; www.nationalharbor.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 Con Air at Union Market’s Drive-In Movie Series This seventh annual movie series at Union Market runs the first Friday of each month through October. Film buffs can walk or drive up to Union Market to see some of their favorite movies from the past 40-plus years projected larger-than-life onto the market wall. (All movies are shown with closed captioning.) While enjoying iconic films under the stars, DC’s movie lovers and retro fanatics alike can sip and munch on snacks from a selection of Union Market vendors and neighboring businesses before the film begins. The DC Rollergirls will be on hand to sell and deliver candy. Con Air is the featured film for June. Movie starts at 8:45 p.m. Free walk-ups, $15 per car. Union Market: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.unionmarketdc.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Capital Jazz Fest Come see Gladys Knight, Babyface, Gregory Porter, India.

Arie, Marsha Ambrosius and more jazz and soul musicians at Merriweather Post Pavilion’s Capital Jazz Fest. Enjoy fine

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 SUNDAY, JUNE 16 DC JazzFest The DC Jazz Festival invites you to explore the exceptional array of renowned masters and emerging artists from across the jazz spectrum and beyond. Find your favorite artists and various performances located throughout the District, including The Wharf and even in your own neighborhood through the Jazz in the ’Hoods concert series. Various showtimes, ticket prices and venues.

Various locations in DC; www.dcjazzfest.org arts and crafts at the festival marketplace and culinary treats from the food court, plus artist workshops, plus meet and greets. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Friday. Doors open at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are $59.50-$129.50.

Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy.

Columbia, MD; www.merriweathermusic.com Celebrate Fairfax!

This annual festival features concerts on eight different stages with headliners like Better Than Ezra, Smash Mouth and more. The festival features attractions like a petting zoo, carnival rides and a karaoke championship along with nightly fireworks and plenty of great food. Friday 6 p.m.

- midnight., Saturday 10 a.m. midnight and Sunday 11 a.m.

- 7 p.m. Various ticket packages

and admission prices available.

Fairfax County Government Center: 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Fairfax, VA; www.celebratefairfax.com

FRIDAYS, JUNE 7 AUGUST 30 Friday Night Concerts in Yards Park Spend your Friday night relaxing in the Capitol Riverfront, voted one of DC’s best places for live music! Spread a blanket, grab a cold one and get down with some great local music. Enjoy bands like the Shane Gamble Band, 7 Deadlies, Brent & Co., Aztec Sun and more. The featured artists are fun for the whole family, and ice-cold Corona beers and wine will be available onsite at the outdoor tented bar. 7-9 p.m. Free to attend. Yards Park: 355 Water St. SE, DC; www.capitolriverfront.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 AND 28 Truckeroo Join the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood for Truckeroo 2019, on select Fridays through September. Truckeroo is a monthly festival that showcases the hottest food trucks in the DC area. Held through September and sponsored by Mix 107.3, Truckeroo is a family-friendly event and features live music, cold drinks, games and more.

4-11 p.m. Free to attend. The Bullpen: 1299 Half St. SE, DC; www.thebullpendc.com

FRIDAYS, JUNE 7 JULY 12 Rosslyn Cinema Every Friday this summer in Gateway Park, bring a blanket

or low chairs and a group of friends to enjoy a night under the stars with your favorite movies. Movies start at dusk, but the fun starts at 5 p.m. with games and the Pub in the Park.

Movies this year include Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Crazy Rich Asians and more. This event is kid- and dog-friendly. 5 p.m.

Free to attend. Gateway Park: 1300 Lee Hwy. Arlington, VA; www.rosslynva.org

FRIDAYS, JUNE 7 AUGUST 2 Golden Cinema Movie Series at Farragut Square The free outdoor movie series, Golden Cinema, hosted by the Golden Triangle BID, returns to Farragut Square this summer.

This year’s program includes an incredible lineup of films – make sure to mark your calendar now. Movies will be shown each Friday at sunset – around 8:30-8:45 p.m. starting with Crazy Rich Asians and ending with Wonder Woman. Farragut

Square: Connecticut Avenue and K Street in NW, DC; www.goldentriangledc.com

FRIDAYS, JUNE 7 AUGUST 23 Fridays at Fort Totten The Fridays at Fort Totten Summer Concert Series is every Friday through August 23. Come out and enjoy delicious bites from a featured food truck each week, and amazing live music from Of Tomorrow, Sol Roots, Cecily, Oh He Dead and so many more. There’s a new band and tasty food truck each Friday.

We hope to see you there. In partnership with The Modern at Art Place. 6-8 p.m. The Modern: Corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street in NE, DC; www.fridaysforttotten.com

JUNE 6, 13, 20 & 27 | 6-8 PM | CENTRAL PLACE PLAZA

ROSSLYN ROCKS! SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

ROSSLYNVA.ORG www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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DC P RI DE SUNDAY, JUNE 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Stonewall 50 at The Lincoln Theatre Join the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for a gorgeous, exciting and powerful celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The concert will include the world premiere of Quiet No More, a one-act musical commissioned by GALA Choruses to celebrate the anniversary of Stonewall and kick off Pride month.

With dancers, costumes, vocal ensembles, the GenOUT Chorus, videos and music from Broadway and pop music, this concert is not to be missed.

3-6 p.m. $25-$65. The Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; www.gmcw.org

15th Annual Night OUT at Nationals Park Join the Washington Nationals as they take on the Chicago White Sox in celebrating the LGBTQ community at Nationals Park for the 15th annual Night OUT presented by Team DC. With the purchase of a special ticket, fans will receive a Nationals Night OUT T-shirt. $5 of every ticket sold will be donated to Team DC. Game starts at 7:05 p.m. Nationals Park: 1500 S Capitol St. SE, DC; www.mlb.com/nationals

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Capital Pride Rooftop Rally & Pool Party Kickoff the Capital Pride

Celebration Weekend under the stars for a relaxing evening with volunteers, partners, donors, advocates and supporters of the Capital Pride Alliance. DJs will be spinning the best music as you enjoy some cocktails, and appetizers, not to mention mingling with some special guests. The event starts at 7 p.m. $20 admission.

VIDA Fitness & Penthouse Pool Club at The Yards: 1212 4th St. SE, DC; www.capitalpride.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 The Color Crawl: DC Pride Bar Crawl on U Street Enjoy seven hours of pride-day partying at one of the loudest, proudest bar crawls to come to the District. After the welcome party from 3-6 p.m. at Tropicalia, visit several U Street spots and enjoy drink specials, DJs, photography, T-shirts and more, ending with a rooftop afterparty at Nellie’s Sports Bar. 3-10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 Pride on The Pier The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and the Wharf, is excited to announce the second annual Pride on the Pier presented by Absolut. Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the Wharf. District Pier will offer DJs, dancing and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. Transit Pier will feature a family friendly kid’s zone. And don’t miss the official Pride on the Pier fireworks display presented

by Compass. 2-9 p.m. Free to attend, VIP food and drink packages available starting at $75. District Pier: 101 District Sq. SW, DC; www.prideonthepierdc.com

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Tickets $22-$29. Tropicalia DC: 2001 14th St. NW, DC; www.tropicaliadc.com

Orr. See you on the dance floor.

Doors open at 10 p.m. Tickets $18. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

Defiance! DC Pride Party 2019 To progress in life, sometimes we must be defiant and stand up for what we know is right.

We must stand up when the powers that be order us to sit down. Celebrate all those before us that were defiant in tough times to press on for equality.

Celebrate with Capital Pride Alliance at City Winery for The Defiance dance party featuring four floors with DJs, including Kidd Madonny, AJ Reddy, TWiN, Randy White, Nick Percell and Centrik. Starts at 9 p.m. Tickets $25-$40. City Winery: 1350 Okie St. NE, DC; www.citywinery.com

Pride and Shine at Urbana Get ready to cheer on parade participants with DJ Trayze turning the double-sided bar into a dance party with popular Pride jams blasting throughout the restaurant. The bar package at the third annual Pride and Shine brunch party at Urbana includes select beer, wine, mixed drinks and unlimited pizza. The brunch party is open to the public and free to attend.

The Capital Pride Parade kicks off at 4:30 p.m. directly outside of the restaurant’s front door on 21st and P Streets. 12-6 p.m.

VIP bar package available for $50. Urbana: 2121 P St. NW, DC; www.urbanadc.com

MIXTAPE Pride Party Saturgay Rooftop Pride Party MIXTAPE is back, celebrating with DJ Aron Pride with the annual event at Come out and celebrate Pride the 9:30 Club on Saturday, June weekend for the Saturgay 8. The lineup includes Matt AC19015[ad] OnTapMagazine-Crab and Beer.ai 1 5/28/19 Rooftop Pride party, special 3:23 Bailer, Lemz, Tezrah and Keenan

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appearance by DJ Aron. The event starts at 1pm. $25 admission. Dirty Bar: 1223 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; www.lafantasyproductions.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

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Capital Pride Festival & Concert Join the LGBTQ+ community, on historic Pennsylvania Avenue for the Capital Pride Festival presented by Live!

Casino & Hotel and the Pride concert presented by HOT 99.5 and PRIDE Radio. Enjoy a full day of entertainment, music, food, drink, education and celebration. The festival and concert includes three stages of international and local talent, four beverage gardens, hosted by UPROAR Lounge & Restaurant, The Queen Vic and your favorite local bartenders, a VIP concert experience, and 300 organizations and businesses ready to provide you with information about

their services, job and volunteer opportunities. The events starts at noon. Tickets are $35-$175.

Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 3rd Streets in NW, DC; www.capitalpride.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 United Night Out 2019 Join Team DC at Audi Field for the ninth annual United Night OUT presented by Team DC and hosted by the Federal Triangles Soccer Club. Tickets include a pre-game gathering inside the stadium plus great giveaways.

Groups of 10 or more should contact Matt Lewis at matt@ teamdc.org. Game starts at 8 p.m. Tickets $30. Audi Field: 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC www.dcunited.com

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SATURDAY, JUNE 8 The Arlington Whiskey & Cigar Festival There is nothing better than a summer day sitting on the patio enjoying a fine premium cigar and quality whiskey. The Arlington Whiskey & Cigar Festival is unique experience hosted outside of one of Clarendon’s top restaurants.

The festival will feature whiskey, cigars, a Makers Mark experience, food from Pamplona, and camaraderie and conversation that can only be shared over a cigar. 3-7 p.m.

Tickets $50-$125. Pamplona: 3100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.pamplonava.com Summerfest: DC Beer Wine & Music Festival DC Summerfest is THE official kickoff of the summertime season in the nation’s capital.

Enjoy food options on hand to nibble or scarf from DC’s very best food trucks and local restaurants. There will be live

music all day from the main stage plus a DJ. Enjoy tons of interactive art to participate in, along with local craft vendors with cool stuff to buy. 12:30 to 8 p.m. $30 admission. The Bullpen: 1299 Half St. SE, DC; www.summerfestdc.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 9 DC’s Fastest Bartender Competition at Fish Market Oldies but very goodies. DC’s Fastest Bartender Competition is bringing together past DC and Virginia winners for the championship of cocktailslinging on at Old Town’s Fish Market. Bartenders vying for the title will take each other on in three rounds of competition: the five-shot pour, the derelict drink round and the making of the perfect margarita. The victor wins the coveted title of fastest bartender and bragging rights (and most likely gets a little tipsy). Starts at 7 p.m. Fish Market: 105 King St. Alexandria, VA; www.fishmarketva.com

MONDAY, JUNE 10 Food & Friends’ 29th Annual Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction Forty of the area’s best chefs and mixologists will serve up special tastings of their signature dishes at Food & Friends’ annual Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction. Proceeds benefit Food & Friends, a nonprofit DC organization based that provides lifesustaining meals to those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. Thanks to the efforts of Chef Chair Kevin Tien of Himitsu, Hot Lola’s and Emilie’s, guests will enjoy tastings prepared by some of the region’s most talented chefs and mixologists including: Eric Bruner-Yang of Maketto, Amy Hosseinnian of Buffalo & Bergen, and Malkhaz Maisashvili of Supra, among other notables from the DC dining scene. Plus, bid on an array of exciting silent and live auction items. Main doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets $350. Marriott Marquis: 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC; www.foodandfriends.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 AND JULY 10

TUNES IN in THETunes TRIANGLE at Milian Park (MassTriangle Ave & 5th St.) The 6 - 8 PM 6:30 pm–8:30 pm

May 30:July Deborah • Thursday, 21: TheBond Oxymorons at Milian Park (Mass Ave & 5th St.) Jun 13: Emma G • Tuesday, august 2: Alison Carney Jun concert 27: Zach Cutler Special and family activities for National Night Out at 5th & K Parking Lot

Aug 6: Justin Trawick • Thursday, august 18: Justin Trawick Sept Park 5: Pebble to Pearl at Milian STOP Stop BY byWITH withYOUR yourFRIENDS, friendS, FAMILY, family, AND and PETS petSFOR for FREE freeSUMMER Summer CONCERTS concertS

June Watercolor and Cocktails This is a monthly collaboration between artist Marcella Kriebel and mixologist Gina Chersevani. Participants get to enjoy a specialty seasonal cocktail prepared by Buffalo & Bergen, and each is supplied line art of an illustrated recipe of Chersevani’s drink to paint in watercolor. Techniques are shared as well as a demo of how to make the drink at home. Each participant brings home one of Chersevani’s classic cocktails as a hand colored illustrated recipe. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets $55. Buffalo & Bergen: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.unionmarketdc.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 AND JUNE 27 mvtcid.org @MVTCiD

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ON TAP | JUNE 2019 | www.ontaponline.com

Tunes in the Triangle Stop by Milian Park on select Thursdays this summer with

your friends, family and/or pets for free live concerts from great local artists such as Emma G and Zach Cutler. 6-8 p.m. 499 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC; www.mvtcid.org

THURSDAYS, JUNE 13 AUGUST 22 Canal Park Movies From classics to the latest Academy Award winners, the people spoke and the movies will be shown! Join the Riverfront community for free movies at Canal Park on Thursday evenings.

Films this year include: Crazy Rich Asians, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Goonies and more. Movies begin at sundown.

Free to attend. Canal Park: 200 M St. SE, DC; www.capitolriverfront.org

FRIDAYS, JUNE 14 AND JUNE 21 Budweiser Music Series at Nationals Park Every Friday home game, the best place to pregame is at the Budweiser Terrace inside the ballpark. Enjoy cold Bud and Bud Light and great tunes from local bands like Practically Einstein and Dr. Fu. Concerts run from 5-6:50 p.m. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Nationals Park Bud Light Terrace: 1500 S Capitol St. SE, DC; www.nationals.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 SATURDAY, JUNE 15 Taste of Reston Taste of Reston, produced by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, is the largest outdoor food festival in the area and was voted Northern Virginia’s Best Food Festival multiple times in recent years

by Virginia Living. Reston Town Center will host the event’s restaurants and community vendors, plus live entertainment on three stages. Friday from 4-11 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Reston Town Center: 11900 Market St. Reston, VA; www.restontaste.com

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FRIDAYS, JUNE 14 AUGUST 23 Movie Nights at Arlington Mill Gather on the Arlington Mill Plaza for movie nights every Friday this summer where the theme is Heroes & Sheroes: Movies with a Mission, starting with Moana and ending with Won’t You Be My Neighbor.

Movies start between 8 and 8:30 p.m. Arlington Mill Plaza: 909 S Dinwiddie St. Arlington, VA; www.columbia-pike.org

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THESE AND OTHER EVENTS, VISIT THE ONLINE GALLERY AT WWW.ONTAPONLINE.COM.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Photos: Mark Raker Photography

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival Enjoy beer, bourbon, music, cigars and barbecue. Admission buys you a souvenir glass, so you can enjoy an all-you-careto-taste sampling of the 60 beers and 40 bourbons on tap.

The amazing barbecue selection includes the Shrine of Swine, featuring pulled pork right from the source. There’s also live rock and blues music all day.

Additionally, the event comes to Leesburg in October. 12-6 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $75$119. The Plateau at National Harbor: 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, MD; www.beerandbourbon.com

Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival celebrated its 10th year on May 4 with headliners Dustbowl Revival, The Ballroom Thieves, Hackensaw Boys and more amazing local talent, plus food trucks, merchants and the natural beauty of the nation’s capital.

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Columbia Pike Blues Festival The 24th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival, presented

by Arlington Arts and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, features the best in contemporary blues and blues-inspired genres in the heart of Arlington. Fun for the whole family, the Blues Festival has an array of kids’ activities, food trucks, curated craft vendors, the Arlington Art Truck and beer provided by New District Brewing Company. 18:30 p.m. Free admission. Walter Reed Drive in Arlington, VA; www. columbia-pike.org Hirshhorn Ball Raise a glass to fashion, authenticity and self-expression with local icon Pussy Noir.

Expect the unexpected with interactive pop-up performances by House of Sonique. Mingle with sensational drag personalities, including Betty O’Hellno, Ana Latour, and JoAnn Fabrixx.

Witness a live painting by performance artist Liu Bolin.

Make yourself known on the dance floor with beats by DJs Jacq Jill and Dvonne. Event starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $250. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: Independence Avenue and 7th Street in SW, DC; www.hirshhorn.si.edu Spill Fest The second annual Spill Fest celebrates music, food and culture. You’ll see live performances by Konshens, Bunji Garlin, Xyclone and more, plus DJ sets by Massive B, DJ Trini, Quick Silva and Trigga, among others. Bottle service, open bar and elevated views available. 2-10 p.m. Tickets start at $40. 15 K St. NE, DC; www. facebook.com/SpillFestDC Spring Garden Party Enjoy the longer days at Mount Vernon’s newly blooming gardens during this evening reception.

Attendees get to leisurely stroll through the historic area while enjoying a menu of hors d’oeuvres curated by Michelin-starred chef and owner of Masseria, Nicholas Stefanelli. The hors d’oeuvres will be paired with wines made by AldenAlli, a California winery on the Sonoma Coast. Dan Kosta, co-founder of AldenAlli, will be on site and mingling with guests throughout the evening. Listen to General Washington, a patron of the arts, reminisce as select readings from Cato, his favorite play, are read by costumed characters. Following the performance, visit with friends and enjoy drinks and colonial music as the sun sets. Dress code is garden chic. 6:30-8:30p.m. Tickets $175.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. Mount Vernon, VA; www.visitalexandriava.com

SATURDAYS, JUNE 15, JULY 20, AUGUST 18, SEPTEMBER 21 Cinema Del Ray Outdoor Movies Bring family, friends, neighbors and a blanket to watch familyfriendly, open-air movies including Peter Pan, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Smallfoot (in Spanish with English subtitles), How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and Incredibles 2 at Cinema Del Ray. Movie starts at 7 p.m. Mount Vernon Recreation Center: 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.visitalexandriava.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 Disney Movie Trivia Join DC’s Hard Rock Cafe under the sea for Disney Movie Trivia.

Questions will focus on Disney’s classic animated films, from Snow White to Coco. Attendees will get the chance to test their knowledge and relive all of the nostalgic Disney moments. Free admission. 7-9 p.m. Hard Rock Cafe: 999 E St. NW, DC; www.hardrockcafe.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 DC Black Theatre & Arts Festival DC’s Black Theatre & Arts Festival is a 15-day multidisciplinary arts event celebrating extraordinary stories from around the world. This year’s festival has an exciting menu of more than 150 provocative and groundbreaking performances, by local and national artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians. Tickets up to $25.

Anacostia Arts Center: 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE, DC; www.dcblacktheatrefestival.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Kennedy Street Festival The sixth annual Kennedy Street festival will have a host of vendors, entertainment and activities available for attendees to enjoy on sidewalks, storefronts and in parking lots

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 Puppy Therapy at The Boro Tysons The Boro Tysons is partnering with a local shelter, Wolf Trap Animal Rescue, for their first Puppy Therapy event. This exclusive therapy activity is exclusive Boro District tenants and they are invited to stop by during lunch time for some puppy therapy, food trucks, music, lawn games, raffles, light refreshments and more.

The Boro is located within walking distance of the Greensboro Metro station and it will consist of a vibrant mix of office, rental and for-sale residential, retail, entertainment and open park space. The 15acre development is the premier metro-oriented, mixed-use destination in Tysons. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Boro Park: 8301 Greensboro Dr. Tysons, VA; www.theborotysons.com from 3rd to 8th Streets. Local businesses, including ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room, Soup Up DC, Andrene’s Soul Food and Caribbean Café, Taqueria Distrito Federal & Tony’s Place will serve food specials all day. 12-4p.m. Free Admission.

Uptown Main Street: 4618 14th St. and 518 Kennedy St. NW, DC; www.uptownmainstreet.org

Taste the Philippines: DC Filipino Food Festival At this fun, family-friendly foodie fest on District Pier, you’ll sample delectable Filipino cuisine from celebrated chefs including Cathal Armstrong, Paolo Dungca, Josh Jarvis from Kaliwa, Steve Chu from Ekiben, Katsuya Fukushima from Daikaya, Javier Fernandez from Kuya Ja’s and many more. The bar will feature specialty cocktails and beer for the adults. Enjoy Filipino cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, music, giveaways, prizes and activities for kids. 2-6 p.m. Admission is free, tasting tickets are $4.50 per ticket in advance, $5.50 day of the event. The Wharf: 101 District Sq. SW, DC; www.wharfdc.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 SUNDAY, JUNE 23 27th Annual Giant National Capital BBQ Battle Kick off summer at America’s barbecue party, the 27th annual Giant Barbecue Battle.

Pennsylvania Avenue will be smokin’ with rock, reggae, jazz and blues from 30 bands on three stages. Cookbook authors and celebrity chefs like Myron Mixon, Moe Cason and Tuffy Stone of Destination America’s popular “BBQ Pitmasters” will entertain and educate with cooking demonstrations on the popular Giant Demonstration Stage. Enjoy free barbecue and grilled food samples in the Taste of Giant sampling pavilion while witnessing America’s best eaters onstage at Nathan’s Famous hot dog-eating contest. Other activities include AnheuserBusch beer gardens, and Giant Corks to Caps Microbrew and Wine Tasting tent. This year’s Capital BBQ Battle will raise funds for USO of Metropolitan Washington with the Capital Area Food Bank. Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets in NW, DC; www.bbqindc.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 All-American Bar Crawl in Dupont Circle Just a few weeks left until the country’s largest USA-themed bar crawl is back in DC. The bar crawl hits 10-plus participating Dupont Circle bars, so wear your best America-themed attire and prepare yourself for patriotic bar hopping, freedom shots, DJs and more, enjoy food and drink specials, and take home your patriotic souvenir mug. Bars to be announced. 2-10 p.m. $15$40. Various locations in Dupont Circle in NW, DC; www.allamericanbarcrawl.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Smithsonian Folklife Festival This festival honors contemporary living cultural traditions and celebrates those who practice and sustain them. The festival has featured participants from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

This year’s festival will focus on the social power of music.

Experience living traditions from around the world, as the festival works with communities to strengthen and preserve their cultures and share them with you on the National Mall.

Festival hours and events TBD. Free to attend. National Mall in Washington, DC; www.festival.si.edu

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By Jean

he way we experience commerce is changing.

In the Internet age, shoppers who make the effort to visit bricks-and-mortar expect more than an experience. They want to activate good – whether through self-improvement, support for local artists or improving the workforce.

Take the brand-new Apple store, now housed in the Carnegie Library, which was lovingly restored to include a learning atrium and upgraded space for the resident DC History Center. Initial fears that Apple would exploit and destroy the Beaux-Arts space have evaporated amid excitement that locals are promoting the stylish, revitalized platform. This includes a three-day block party hosted by creative agency No Kings Collective at the end of June to wrap up Carnegie’s six-week StoryMakers Festival.

The way we travel is going through the same evolution. In 2019, if someone is going to pause Insta and actually go somewhere, the most attractive hotels are those integrating social awareness, the arts and cutting-edge comfort with the guest experience – and enriching the local scene in the process.

Guests are not just buying a hotel room. They are selecting from a menu of self-improvement, artist and small-business support, and modern style. The stylishness is immediately obvious when you walk into Eaton DC, located on the quiet side of Franklin Square downtown. The enormous windows, lush natural foliage and blonde paneling immediately impart a sense of balmy well-being.

But style – and Instagramability – is only part of the experience.

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LINE DC’s A Rake’s Progress

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Photo: courtesy A Rake’s www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019of| ON TAP Progress

Eaton DC Radical Library

LINE DC’s guestroom detail

Photo: courtesy of Eaton DC

Photo: Adrian Gaut

LINE DC’s Full Service Radio

“Eaton DC not only serves as a hotel, but at its heart, as a platform reimagining hospitality as a vehicle for art and radical progressive social change,” says Katherine Lo, founder of Eaton Workshop, which encompasses the hotel.

The lobby includes a recording studio, home of Eaton Radio, and Lo is excited to officially launch Eaton Media later in 2019.

“As one of the core pillars of Eaton Workshop – culture, impact, media, wellness and house – Eaton Media’s mission will support underrepresented filmmaker voices and stories in line with the brand’s radical and progressive values, championing diversity and inclusivity across gender, race, identity and more,” she notes. “We will curate, develop, produce, distribute and celebrate original, rarely seen and commissioned short films from filmmakers whose development as artists and storytellers we are truly honored to support.”

Meanwhile, LINE DC leads with style and a sense of history. The hotel is an AdMo Insta-star for its location in a breathtakingly restored 19th-century neoclassical church (the church’s organ was transformed into a contemporary chandelier).

“The LINE is wholly shaped by the neighborhood that we’re part of, and by the city at large,” says Morgan H. West, creative/culture director at the LINE. Guests can peer into the glass-enclosed recording studio, home of Full Service Radio, a community podcast network and Internet radio station. Recent episodes include “Opaline: Briona Butler’s Iridescent Utopia in DC” and “WPA Live Series: Veronica Swift & the U.S. Air Force Band.”

The LINE also operates the Adams Morgan Community Center, a community and nonprofit incubator space that provides free space and capacity for the arts and philanthropic efforts, with priority given to artists and nonprofits in Ward 1.

“Whether it’s through partnerships with the DC Public Library, the Ward 1 nonprofits working in the Adams Morgan Community Center,

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Eaton DC Radio

Photo: Pierre Edwards

Photo: courtesy of Eaton DC

Pod DC

Photo: courtesy of Pod DC

or the artists featured throughout the hotel and in our rotating public art program – we’re proud of the constant cultural and creative exchanges that happen across our spaces,” West says.

But not every stylish, socially conscious hotel needs a radio station.

With a focus on modern budget travelers, Pod DC has led the way in integrating city life into its amenities and using them to move guests out into the District beyond the museums and monuments.

Guests can access Cove, DC’s homegrown coworking brand, to get work done or network with local entrepreneurs. And rather than operate an onsite gym, guests use the nearby Washington Sports Club. Local guides lead walking tours from the lobby, and guests are encouraged to use the bike and scooter sharing services to get around.

And Pod DC has not sacrificed style in the process. Guests entering the lobby are mesmerized by the 60-foot-long multimedia art piece, created by painter Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann and glass artist Joseph Corcoran. The building also features other local artists through a partnership with CulturalDC, a nonprofit that partners with real estate developers and government agencies to ensure that arts and culture efforts are showcased across the city.

DC’s urban development incentives have certainly helped hotels looking to embrace local arts and community initiatives. But these Washington hotels have baked social and cultural dynamism into their brands as well as their business plans, and in the process are anchoring themselves in local life in a way that hotels have too often missed out on. I think it’s time for a staycation.

Eaton DC: 1201 K St. NW, DC; www.eatonworkshop.com/hotel/dc LINE DC: 1770 Euclid St. NW, DC; www.thelinehotel.com/dc Pod DC: 627 H St. NW, DC; www.thepodhotel.com/pod-dc

BEAUTIFUL BATHROOMS The Cool, The Creative + The Selfie-Ready

By M.K. Koszycki

No Kisses

Photo: courtesy of No Kisses on Instagram

No Kisses’ lush rainforest-meets-the-70s vibe is apparent even in their three differently designed bathrooms. In one, lemurs, owls, peacocks and more watch over you while you do your business, or can perhaps star in your next social post. The spot’s overall use of wallpaper is enough to make me want to plaster my own home with the most interesting patterns I can find and accent everything with jewel tones. Come for the cozy neighborhood bar vibes, stay for the bathrooms and their woodland creature stars.

3120 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; www.nokissesbar.com

Call Your Mother Park View’s bagel shop has become a fast favorite for delicious bagel creations worth waiting in lines out the door for. In keeping with the theme of being a “Jew-ish” deli, the spot pays homage to another Jewish icon – musician, rapper and overall cultural phenomenon Drake.

Photos of Drake and his mom are on view throughout the bathroom, complemented by the pastel wallpaper and kitschy colors Call Your Mother is known for. 3301 Georgia Ave. NW, DC www.callyourmotherdeli.com Photo: ourtesy of Call Your Mother

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Photo: courtesy of Mi Vida

Photo: courtesy of Bayou Bakery

Bayou Bakery Arlington’s Bayou Bakery brings Southern charm to the DMV. Its bathrooms are plastered with oldschool recipes torn from the pages of Southern cookbooks. Ladies can look upon desserts and pastries, and guys can get the inside scoop on the savory side of Southern cuisine. 1515 N. Courthouse Rd. Arlington, VA; www.bayoubakerydc.com

Satellite Room The classic Shaw bar has four bathrooms, but you know you’re in for a good night when you find yourself in a stall that’s plastered with stickers. You can spot Stranger Things’ Eleven, NSYNC-era Justin Timberlake and Keith Haring drawings on the wall in this bathroom. There’s something new to be spotted with every trip. 2047 9th St. NW, DC; www.satellitedc.com

The Wharf’s destination for modern Mexican fare is visually stunning across the board, and the bathroom is no exception. The bold colors and low lighting make the spot the perfect background for your next Instagram story or selfie. Don’t just take it from us, though – last summer, People Magazine included it in a roundup of best bathrooms nationwide, and the bathroom was up for supply company Cintas’ award for “Best Bathroom in America.” 98 District Sq. SW, DC; www.mividamexico.com

Photo: courtesy of Maydan

Photo: courtesy of Satellite Room

Mi Vida

Maydan Maydan quickly became a favorite in the city’s burgeoning dining scene upon its opening in late 2017.

The large oven that centers the restaurant is a design element itself, as is the colorful food the travelinspired spot serves.

Its bathrooms feature a fish-shaped faucet, graffiti-like drawings and even a depiction of a tiger asking, “Please let me watch.”

Don’t worry, he’s just a drawing and he can’t actually see you snap a selfie. 1346 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.maydandc.com

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Photos: Trent Johnson

By M.K. Koszycki

Astoria’s Hummingbird

Design Edition

In a city filled with bars touting the best craft cocktails, local beer programs or even late-night eats, what’s bound to make patrons stick around and even more importantly, come back time and time again? The atmosphere created by a bar can make or break its overall experience, no matter how good the drinks on hand.

Two new additions to DC’s ever-growing cocktail scene, however, prove that providing the best of both is possible. And while the overall style and décor of these locations is not similar at first glance, they share a common goal: unpretentious, enjoyable sips in atmospheres unlike anything else in the city.

Astoria

Owner Devin Gong + Bartender // Partner Eli Schwarzschild “I always rode trains when I was little, and I loved the dining car of the train where you had the bar in the middle and the seating on either end,” owner Devin Gong says of the narrow but inviting locomotives that inspired the look of his newest venture, Dupont Circle’s Astoria. “When I first walked in, it was a very long and narrow space, and it reminded me a lot of a train car.”

With the help of CORE architecture + design, Gong brought his childhood nostalgia to life. With nods to his flagship spot on H Street, Copycat Co., the space invokes the kind of intimate setting you’d perhaps get from a drink on a bustling train car in the midst of a grand adventure. A talented artist himself, Gong painted the three works of art that hang over large, cozy booths – they even look like train car windows at first glance.

It’s a subtle callout, however, and Gong was careful to make sure he didn’t “hit people over the head” with his interior inspirations.

Similarly understated is the bar’s approach to food and drink. Astoria’s beverage director Eli Schwarzschild points out that while the concept is inherently creative, they aren’t trying to overthink things.

“It’s a combination of classics paying homage to drinks that have stood the test of time,” Schwarzschild explains. “If the drinks aren’t

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broken, don’t fix them is partially our philosophy. We want to respect the drinks. But on the other hand, there’s creativity in a sense. We have originals, but it’s not about us per se. We’re just trying to put out drinks that could perhaps be mistaken for a classic; not so many infusions, just going back to the basics and staying true to the ingredients, which is a very French idea.”

One thing that’s present at Astoria but not necessarily at other outposts serving classic cocktails is an array of doodles flanking the menu, hand-drawn by Schwarzschild himself. They’re incredibly detailed and time-consuming to produce, so why do it?

“Not many people notice it, but it’s the one person in a million who does that makes it worth it,” Schwarzschild says. “It’s just that characteristic of art that is almost existential. Whatever you decide and whatever matters to you, that’s what it is. It’s kind of meanderings – left-brain kind of thoughts. As long as there’s a feeling there, I let my brain go with it.”

The bar provides a welcome combination of outside-the-box elements with unpretentious but well-crafted drinks. At the end of the day, it’s clear Gong and Schwarzschild are able to incorporate personal passions into this endeavor, and the bar is even better for that energy.

“I don’t have lofty goals to change the scene or anything like that,” Gong concludes. “I know what I do, and for me this is more selfindulgent than anything else.”

Astoria: 1521 17th St. NW, DC; www.astoriadc.com

Astoria

Hex’s Kit Yarber

Astoria’s Devin Gong

Hex

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Hex

General Manager Kit Yarber The second floor of The Passenger in Shaw was home to a sporadically used space, only opened on the rare occasion that the neighborhood bar was hosting a band. Kit Yarber saw an opportunity to transform the underutilized level into what he now describes as the “a little goth, a little kitschy” Hex. As general manager of the newly minted space, Yarber decided the décor and menu would take cues from astrology, tarot and the occult.

Numerology comes into play as well, as “hex” indicates the number six and the menu is broken up into six categories. All 12 astrological signs are represented on the menu, and Yarber says he based it off people he knew when deciding what sign to name the drinks after.

“It’s been funny because people come in and want to order their sign, of course, and they’re like, ‘How did you know?’” he explains. “I just tell them I based it off of someone who was that sign.”

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can draw a rune – or divinatory symbol – from a bag behind the bar, and you’ll be presented with a drink that corresponds to the symbol hidden on the menu. There are also runes flanking the wall to the right of the bar, along with a stuffed unicorn head, lovingly called Ophelia.

“I always loved the Victorian haunted mansion, pictures on pictures on pictures look,” Yarber says of the plethora of design elements that adorn the walls and tables. “We talked about having a curio aspect.

Everything kind of mismatches but it ends up working out together.

We just had fun with it.”

The resulting space is a nod to the supernatural and spiritual without feeling spooky. It’s overall feel is intimate and inviting. Since opening, it’s been a mix of lovers of the elements present at the bar and those who are completely unfamiliar that have stopped in for one of Yarber’s creations. The spot has even caught the attention of local pan-Pagan group The Firefly House, who plans on hosting a handful of regular happy hours at the spot. You can also catch occasional tarot readings.

Whether you’re the type to pull a daily tarot reading and analyze everything through the lens of the zodiac or just want to enjoy a drink in an inviting space, Yarber wants Hex to be a place where you can sit, relax and connect.

“I wanted Hex to have a different ambiance,” Yarber says. “I love the craft cocktail scene and craft cocktail bars, but I feel like they get stuck in a certain era. I don’t want it to feel pretentious. I just want it to be chill. I want to get people up here who love talking to people and [offer] a different ambience that can still be appreciated as something unique.”

Hex Bar: 1539 7th St. NW, DC; www.hexbardc.com

HUMMINGBIRD

THE INCANTATION

St. Germain

Rittenhouse Rye

Punt e Mes vermouth

Sacred Bond Brandy

Lemon

Averna

Honey

Cocchi Vermouth di Torino

Cinnamon

Punt e Mes vermouth

GF

Orange bitters Angostura bitters

Astoria’s Hummingbird

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Hex’s The Incantation

NEW FOR 2019.

A TASTE OF SUNSHINE TART AND REFRESHING 4.5%

FEARLESS. BOLD. INDEPENDENT.

Photos: Jennifer Chase

itchell

Founder and owner Francesco Amodeo

M

By Travis

on Ciccio & Figli’s herbal liqueurs were born in Italy’s Campania region, thousands of miles away from their new home in Ivy City. But walk into the distillery’s new Bar Sirenis, and you’ll be awash in the colors of their Italian seaside home.

“We wanted to do something that would bring people to the Amalfi Coast,” says Don Ciccio’s owner and master blender Francesco Amodeo, who revitalized and dusted off his family brand in 2012 and started reproducing his decades-old recipes (some go back to the 19th century) in one of DC’s hippest neighborhoods.

Features of Bar Sirenis include white- and azure-patterned tiles, turquoise chairs, and deep blue walls offset by the white bar top and tables. And then there’s the lines of colorful bottles waiting to be savored. For Amodeo, the bar’s design evokes a morning sunset in his childhood home, albeit with the sleek industrial touches expected of an urban distillery.

The bar opened this April as part of the company’s new production distillery, pouring a variety of products from bitter amari of roots and spices to fruit and citrus creations made with ingredients like limoncello, prickly pear and mandarin orange.

Guests are recommended to start with a complimentary tour and tasting, including a rundown on the entire lineup of spirits on a thermometer from bitter to sweet. The next step is cocktail exploration in Bar Sirenis, where bartenders educate consumers and guide them through the best ways to incorporate Don Ciccio & Figli’s unique spirits into drinks.

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“We wanted to capture people sitting down and watching the bartender make [the cocktail], asking questions about the application of it and really taste it in person,” Amodeo continues.

The menu is anchored around three classic Italian refreshments: the spritz, the negroni and the Americano. Working from those bases, guests can choose the bitter liqueur they enjoy the most from the tour and tasting and use that as the star of their drink.

Bartenders on staff will then adjust the vermouth, other ingredients and ratios for the perfect flavor profile. Amaro delle Sirene, for example, typically calls for a Spanish dry vermouth, while Luna amaro works best with a traditional Italian red vermouth.

Hopefully, visitors will leave a little more familiar with this category of spirits, empowered to mix up some creations at their home bar.

As an added bonus, the Ivy City location is ideal for visiting other DC distillers and brewers. It’s across the street from One Eight Distilling, a short walk away from Atlas Brew Works, Republic Restoratives, New Columbia Distillers and City Winery.

“We really wanted to give our guests and our longtime regulars something that’s really beautiful and they can enjoy even more,” Amodeo notes.

Visit www.donciccioefigli.com for current tour times and bar hours.

Don Ciccio & Figli and Bar Sirenis: 1907 Fairview Ave. NE, DC 202-957-7792, www.donciccioefigli.com

Bar Sirenis

Franscesco Amodeo

Spritz

Ambrosia Aperitivo www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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CRAFTY C Photo: courtesy of Dirty Habit

By M.K. Koszycki

Black Oleander at Dirty Habit

Photo: courtesy of Truxton Inn

The Ingredients: Tanqueray Gin, Bols Genever, acai, blackberry, fromager ash, citrus earl grey foam The Design: Flowers, foam and fun color – this summer creation from Dirty Habit’s Drew Hairston is a triple threat of delicate design elements rolled into one refreshing drink. Plus, the intricate etching on the glass provide a perfect home to all of its refreshing ingredients. 555 8th St. NW, DC; www.dirtyhabitdc.com

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The BFG at Truxton inn The Ingredients: Infused Brooklyn gin, cucumber, mint, peppercorn, Q tonic The Design: Inspired by Roahd Dahl’s book of the same name about a big friendly giant, this drink is served in a goblet that gives you a full view of the peppercorn, herbs and citrus that color this literary cocktail. Plus, you can customize the liquor to mixer ratio by adding your desired amount of Q tonic.

251 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.truxtoninndc.com

OCKTAILS Photo: courtesy of Bourbon Steak

Photo: courtesy of The Mirror

It’s not always what’s on the inside that counts, and these craft cocktails are living proof. Whether it be ornately etched glassware, literary inspiration or food accompanying the rims of the glass, these drinks provide something both enjoyable and tasty to imbibers.

Fireside Chat at Bourbon steak

Photo: Deb Lindsay

The Ingredients: High West Campfire, English Breakfast Tea, walnut bitters The Design: This smoky cocktail combination is both indulgent and refreshing, but what really sets it apart is the delivery – expect the drink to be hand-delivered to you tableside in a custom barrel. 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC www.fourseasons.com/washington/dining/restaurants/bourbon_steak/

Classic Daiquiri at The Mirror The Ingredients: Light rum, fresh lime juice, simple syrup The Design: Jeff Coles, The Mirror’s co-owner and head barkeep, explains that this classic cocktail is served in a sherbet glass, providing an example of Bohemian crystal from the Checz Republic. The delicate glass adds a twist of elegance to any drinking experience with a style of etching called Queen’s Lace and a beautiful gold rim. 1314 K St. NW, DC; www.themirrordc.com

Bloody Mary + Bloody Maria at el bebe The Ingredients: Three Olives vodka (Bloody Mary), Jose Cuervo Especial silver (Bloody Maria), house made bloody mary mix, fresh lime juice, Bebe spicy rim The Design: El Bebe is launching two variants of the boozy breakfast classic to accompany their new brunch program. While one features tequila and the other vodka, both are served in tall, embossed glasses and flanked by none other than a mini quesadilla.

99 M St. SE, DC, Ste. 120 www.el-bebe.com

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SUMMER OF

SELTZER

Introducing the Fruity Flavors of Bold Rock’s Hard Seltzer

By Kayla Marsh

Artwork: courtesy of Bold Rock

irginia’s favorite cider brand is hitting us with a whole new level of refreshing. Bold Rock is releasing their new hard seltzer, delivering a clean, effervescent taste with all-natural ingredients at a mere 82 calories per can with a 4 percent ABV. Now if that isn’t great news for this summer of hard seltzer, I’m not sure what is.

Bold Rock’s release includes two flavors, grapefruit and cucumber melon, and they’re already working on phase two with a handful of more flavors heading into 2020. We asked Bold Rock Director of New Business Development Lindsay Dorrier about the inspiration behind the simple, clean, summer-themed label design.

“We wanted to note the healthfulness and create something that looked light and refreshing to reflect the contents of the can,” Dorrier says.

Virginians and Washingtonians alike have reached for the perfect sweetness of a Bold Rock Hard Cider where they can find it in local bars and restaurants, but the seltzer packs crispness and delight like none of their other ciders have.

“The very first thing you’re going to notice is that 1 gram of sugar per serving, which makes a huge difference,” says head cider maker Ian Niblock. “Next, you’re going to notice how light and refreshing it is, and without having that sugar, it’s a totally different apple blend.

It’s not going to be super acidic. It’s really well-balanced and super smooth.”

Toward the end of last summer, the Bold Rock team saw an

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opportunity to craft something innovative in the seltzer space.

“We’re the only seltzer on the market, as far as I know, that gets the alcohol from apple and not a fermented sugar solution or something like that,” Niblock explains. “We had the added challenge of trying to make it clear and white and not look and taste like cider. That product development took a lot of time and was ultimately really rewarding.”

After working on it for 10 months, Dorrier is proud and excited to debut the new taste this summer.

“You’ve never tasted a cleaner finish than what you get with the seltzer, which is a testament to the quality of ingredients that we’re using and the way we’ve been able to approach the innovation process,” he says. “Side by side with some of the other options out there, there’s really no comparison because of how clean and superior our finish is.”

Whether hard seltzer is just a trend or the new normal, it’s definitely captured the hearts of non-beer drinkers and health-conscious consumers.

“The health stats are resonating both with younger and older consumers,” Dorrier says. “We’re hopeful that our product will place with people that care about what’s put into their bodies [and] want something low cal, low sugar, [and] made with all-natural ingredients [and] real fruit as the foundation.”

The grapefruit and cucumber melon flavors of Bold Rock Hard Seltzer will be available in local grocery chains across Northern Virginia starting June 10 with plans to expand to independent retailers in the District soon.

For more information, visit www.boldrock.com.

WHAT’S ON TAP? All What’s On Tap listings are provided by the venues hosting them.

Greetings, beer nerds! As you likely know, there are a number of fantastic spots in the DMV where you can grab a pint, and their menus are always evolving and adapting to your tastes. If you’d rather avoid the guessing game, check out what’s coming up at a few of these fine establishments.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

#PridePils Launch DC Brau and The Washington Blade are thrilled to announce this year’s winner of the third annual Pride Pils Can Design competition: local DC artist Maggie Dougherty. Her vibrant and inspiring label depicting notable LGBTQ activist and prominent Stonewall figure Marsha P. Johnson, best known for her tireless work on behalf of the homeless and transgender communities in NYC, will appear on approximately 28,000 cans of specially packaged Brau Pils this summer. Head to Dacha Beer Garden to celebrate the release. 6-9 p.m. Free to attend.

Dacha Beer Garden: 1600 7th St. NW, DC; www.dcbrau.com

Four-Course Beer Dinner Pinstripes is bringing craft beer lovers a taste of their chef’s culinary expertise with a special dinner inspired by and paired with selections from Heavy Seas Beer. A rep from Heavy Seas and Pinstripes’ chef will lead guests through a deliciously fun four-course dinner. 7-9 p.m. $60.

Pinstripes: 1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; www.pinstripes.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Art on Tap 2019 Craft beers from local breweries have been artfully paired with selected artwork. Local restaurants have chosen a brew-and-artwork coupling to serve as their muse to create the perfect complimentary appetizer. Sample the creative combinations while drinking from a take-home Art on Tap beer tasting glass and then vote for your favorite at the end of the event. 7-9:30 p.m. Tickets $45. The Art League: 105 N Union St. Alexandria, VA; www.theartleague.org

FRIDAYS, JUNE 7, 14, 21 AND 28 Tour de Pour Friday nights just got way more fun. Join us for a weekly happy hour ride series between Bike Lane Brewing and Lake Anne Brew House.

Park and gear up at Bike Lane Brewing then take a short, fun group ride to Lake Anne Brew House for a beer and pretzel pitstop before returning to Bike Lane for another. Don’t have a bike? Contact Bike Lane about a test ride on one of theirs. 6-8 p.m. Bike Lane Brewing: 11150 Sunset Hills Rd. Reston, VA; www.thebikelane.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 Rooftop Pride Kickoff Party Help Red Bear Brewing kick off their very first Pride festival with an open bar and all-inclusive party on the roof of the historic Uline Arena, directly above the brewery. Drag yourself up to the roof for open-bar brews, Stoli cocktails and delicious bites. Hosted by Desiree Dik and blasting the sounds of DJ Nico DiMarco, you might feel guilty enjoying so much fun in one afternoon if you didn’t know the proceeds were going to help fund SMYAL’s work to empower LGBTQ youth and educate their local community. 4-8 p.m. Tickets $65-$95.

Uline Arena: 1140 3rd St. NE, DC; www.redbear.beer

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 Chef Egg Live: Cooking with Astro Lab Brewing Join Chef Egg at Astro Lab Brewing for an out-of-this-world, live cooking show. The chef will set up shop in the brewery and show you how to pair vibrant recipes with Astro Lab’s craft brews. Chef Egg will cook sweet and savory recipes while giving you the culinary skills you need to succeed in the kitchen. 7-9:30 p.m. $25. Astro Lab Brewing: 8216 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD; www.astrolabbrewing.com

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SATURDAY, JUNE 15 Old Ox & Friends Old Ox turns five this June and they’re throwing a party. Come celebrate with new beer releases, old beer revivals, two awesome bands and delicious food all day long (did someone say free cake?)

Plus, this provides the chance to be one of the first to see (and drink in) the new Middleburg location. 12-9 p.m. Tickets for a bus tour from the Ashburn location to Middleburg are $50. Old Ox Brewery: 44652 Guilford Dr. Ashburn, VA; www.oldoxbrewery.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Silver Spring Block Party Mark your calendars and join as Silver Branch Brewing Company releases their Gold Line Classic American Pilsner. Hill Country Barbecue Market will be on hand to serve delicious barbecue, and Hill Country LIVE will be producing live music on the plaza with The Dirty Grass Players. 12 p.m. - 12 a.m. Silver Branch Brewing Company: 8401 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.silverbranchbrewing.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 23 Pints and Paws Studies have shown that pet ownership and beer drinking may contribute to a longer life. In that spirit, DC Brau will be hosting the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) for a meet and greet of some of DC’s most eligible kitties and canines. Join for a dog and cat adoption event. Enjoy a brew ($1 per pint will be donated to the HRA) while shopping the newest pet gear and treats from The Big Bad Woof, and maybe even go home with your new best friend. 12-3 p.m. DC Brau: 3178 Bladensburg Rd. NE, DC; www.dcbrau.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 Profs and Pints: The Real Game of Thrones Game of Thrones is one of the most popular in television history.

Come learn the history from which the show draws. It might not feature real dragons or Khaleesi, but it does have nearly all the violence, treachery and strange family relationships. It was called the Wars of the Roses because it involved a protracted fight for England’s throne between two branches of its royal family: one represented by a red rose and the other by a white one. 6-9 p.m. Tickets $12-$15. The Bier Baron Tavern and Comedy Loft: 1523 22nd St. NW, DC; www.bierbarondc.com

RosĂŠ

any season is

season

DRINKABLE

DESIGNS

By Trent Johnson

Photo: courtesy of Kendra Kuliga

“What I’m trying to do is provoke a reaction. What I see in the world, I’m trying to reflect that back.”

Michael Van Hall describes contemporary art as reflective. His work is found in all corners of the DMV, but not in galleries or on brick walls. Rather, it’s on shelves, in refrigerators and, after encounters with thirsty observers, in trash cans.

His canvas – no pun intended – is beer cans and he’s not the only artist dabbling in the craft brew world. As beverage options crop up around the city, one way for them to stand out is by having an aesthetically appealing product beyond taste.

“There’s a fandom around beer, kind of like music,” Van Hall continues. “It’s recognized as a venue for creativity. It allows and enables.

In beer, the novelty doesn’t wear off because we’re always pushing.”

Van Hall has commissioned work for a number of breweries including DC Brau, Vanish Farmwoods Brewery and Aslin Beer Company, to name a few. He views each project as a chance to create art rather than branding, which allows him to take risks others may forgo.

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“One of the primary things I tell them is you’re working with an artist, not a design company. You have to be ready to take risks and do things that are seemingly in contrast with good business. No board is going to approve what I do, but the customers will approve.”

Kendra Kuliga, 3 Stars Brewing Company’s designer, established her niche in the craft brew world by working on murals at Meridian Pint before moving onto posters, branding and labels. When 3 Stars founder Dave Coleman decided to begin bottling and canning their beer, he reached out to Kuliga to collaborate on the look.

“I wanted to see how the new craft beer scene was trying to identify itself as more independent and less corporate,” Kuliga says.

“It was very clear that the canvas for a label was extremely art-friendly. You can make cartoons or intense battle scenes. It’s really up to you.

It’s about finding a balance in detail and something that captures a customer’s eye.”

Unlike Van Hall, Kuliga works almost exclusively with 3 Stars as far as can design, so each creation carries an aesthetic she and Coleman developed and built from scratch.

“[Coleman] gives me ideas for what he wants. He’ll explain and then I’ll do the research and add details. There are label artists who are sought out for their art, but at the end of the day, I want to represent the people I’m working for. It takes a lot of people to come up with a beer and a label, and I want everyone to feel good.”

While Kuliga and Van Hall have made can design part of their careers, crating both one-off releases and year-round staples, there are other avenues for beer can art.

This month, DC Brau is set to distribute their third annual Pride Pils just in time for the District’s Capital Pride celebration. Like previous iterations of the limited brew, the famed beer company held a contest for what design would adorn the aluminum containers. This year’s winner was local artist Maggie Dougherty.

“I have been following the competition the last few years and I had a sketched design for the past two competitions, but I didn’t submit it,” Dougherty says. “With this year’s theme about Stonewall and its 50th anniversary, I thought it was a challenging mechanism to tell a story.”

Photo: courtesy of Maggie Dougherty Photo: courtesy of Tenbeete Solomon Photo: courtesy of Michael Van Hall

Photo: courtesy of Michael Van Hall

Dougherty’s bright yellow design displays different colored flowers, each carrying its own significance, wrapped around an illustration of notable transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson.

As with any artistic depiction of a weighty subject, Dougherty spent countless hours reading and learning.

“I’m really honored to be the third design in this line, and I did feel the pressure to represent a community that I’m an ally to,” she says. “I wanted to highlight the life of someone who gave their life to this in a way I couldn’t possibly understand.”

But getting creative with cans isn’t exclusive to the craft industry. Pabst Blue Ribbon has held their annual Art Can contest since 2014 in an effort to inspire creative cans for their iconic beer. One of this year’s winners was DC visual artist Tenbeete Solomon, perhaps best known as Trap Bob. “I was hoping to get my name in front of them, not even considering actually winning,” Solomon says. “I’ve never designed a beer can before but I am a beer drinker, so I’ve always wanted to.”

Her design will adorn 5 million of the company’s 24-oz. cans distributed starting on October 1. Rather than the traditional ribbon look, these special editions feature a more science fiction appeal featuring a spaceship and a large hand reaching out.

“Hands and space [and] aliens have always been major inspirations for me,” she says. “I wanted to really get out of the box and weird with my design, because I knew that was something not only PBR would appreciate but also people just walking through the grocery store. The design on a beer can is the most distributed form of branding for a [beer] company so having something creative, eye-grabbing and on top of that, supportive of the creative community, is the best branding you can have.”

Both Daugherty and Solomon indicate that designing a beer can was an enjoyable experience and one they’d revisit. Just as there are countless brewers behind the scenes working on new ways to bring you explosive flavors on the inside, there are now just as many hungry artists looking to make a splash on the outside.

Van Hall has noticed the growth in the medium and is on board for more people joining him in pushing the boundaries. For him, it’s justification for the work he’s become known for.

“It’s a magnet for artistic creativity and in a way, that’s very harmful to my business but I love it,” he says. “When I come up with a good label, it’s because I’m being pushed by the industry. There are so many people that are doing very good work, and that brings everybody up.”

Maggie Dougherty: @dockerty_creative; www.dockertycreative.com Kendra Kuliga: @cielo.productions; www.cieloproductions.com Tenbeete Solomon: @trapxbob; www.trapbob.com Michael Van Hall: @opprobriations; www.opprobriations.com

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Photo: courtesy of Junction

Junction’s pistachio red fruit mousse

NEW & NOTABLE

By Lani Furbank On Tap keeps locals in the know about the hottest new food and drink spots around town and the top culinary happenings of the month. Read on to get the inside scoop on what’s new and notable in the DC area.

Bandoola Bowl

Open: April 23 Location: Georgetown Lowdown: The team behind Mandalay in Silver Spring has moved into the fastcasual game with a new Burmese salad shop named after two national heroes: General Maha Bandoola (or Bandula) and his namesake elephant. Bandoola Bowl takes the most popular recipes from the restaurant and gives them the bowl treatment. A staple of Burmese cuisine, the salads are all about texture. They start with a base of shredded cabbage and thinly sliced vegetables like carrots, peppers and onions. Each salad is customized with a star vegetable, fruit or protein like green beans, tomato, ginger, papaya, mango, fried tofu, steamed shrimp, grilled chicken or roasted pork. To finish it off, they are dressed in a mix of citrus and fish sauce and topped with toss-ins like fried garlic and shallots, crispy yellow split peas, chopped peanuts, and sesame seeds. The menu offers a curated selection of bowls, but you can also make each your own by adding protein or veggies. The salads can be made

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to order, or you can grab a ready-made one if you’re in a hurry. You can pair the bowls with naan-style breads plus seasonal soups and specials. End on a sweet note with a shweji: a Burmese semolina cake. 1069 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; www.bandoolabowl.com

Cane

Open: April 22 Location: H Street Lowdown: After rave reviews of his jerk wings and smoked meats at Spark at Engine Company 12, chef Peter Prime now has his own restaurant where he can share his family recipes and the flavors of his heritage.

The Trinidadian chef opened Cane with his sister Jeanine Prime, and the two are serving Caribbean street food paired with tropical cocktails. There is some overlap from the menu at Spark, but there are plenty of new things to try like cow heel souse and spicy oxtail stew. The most fun way to dine is with the paratha tiffin box, a stack of stainlesssteel tins filled with curries – either veggie (potato, channa and butternut squash) or meat and poultry (beef and chicken) –

and Indian flatbread. Street food classics like doubles topped with cumin-spiced chickpeas are represented as well. The bar is stocked with the Prime family’s favorite rums, which can be enjoyed with fresh juices made in-house or in Caribbean cocktails like the Carnival with two kinds of rum, coconut orgeat syrup, pineapple shrub and angostura bitters and the Purple Poison with white rum, sorrel-basil syrup and lime.

Cane: 403 H St. NE, DC; www.cane-dc.com

Chop Shop Taco

Open: May 1 Location: Alexandria Lowdown: An old chop shop in Alexandria has gone from garage to taco joint. The original garage door and floor remain, the old lift is being used for table legs, the banquettes look like the seating in a classic car, the dining chairs resemble old-fashioned sports car bucket seats, and the plateware is reminiscent of hubcaps and mirrors.

The rest of the mechanical operation has been replaced by knives and gadgets for a different kind of chopping. The menu

Nicoletta Italian Kitchen & Brew’d

Open: April 19 Location: Mount Vernon Triangle Lowdown: James Beard Award-winning chef Michael White has expanded his restaurant empire in DC. White’s Altamarea Group is behind Osteria Morini in Navy Yard, and now he’s brought Midwestern-style pizza and Italian “lunchables” to Mount Vernon Triangle. Nicoletta Italian Kitchen is an evolved version of the Nicoletta Pizzeria concept, adding house-made pastas, fried snacks like arancini and veggie fritto misto, three types of meatballs, and rotating

Location: Ivy City Lowdown: Chef Matt Baker already goes to great lengths to keep things Gravitas, but he’s taking it one step further with the opening of The Conservatory, a garden café on the restaurant’s roof. The space includes 16 open-air seats surrounded by a functioning garden brimming with edible flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs in raised garden beds and hydroponic planters. Curation and maintenance of the

Photo: courtesy of General Design Company

Location: Del Ray Lowdown: Soon after chef James Duke joined pastry chef Jonni Scott and the team at Junction, they launched a dinner menu that extends the daytime coffee shop and bakery into a family- and wallet-friendly evening gathering space. Duke changes the menu often, but many of the offerings are Asian-inspired and there are several simple but quality family-style dishes designed to feed a crowd on a budget. Highlights include the Thai street noodle bowl with vermicelli, shredded chicken and red curry, the General Tso’s cauliflower, and the Memphis-ish slow smoked pork ribs with spiced honey glaze.

Don’t skip dessert because Scott’s pastry selection is divine, from pistachio red fruit mousse to butterscotch eclairs. 1508 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.junctionbakery.com

Gravitas Conservatory

Photo: Lani Furbank

Junction Bakery & Bistro

Photo: Spencer Starnes

Photo: courtesy of Chop Shop Taco

Cane

Chop Shop Taco

Dinner Service at Junction Bakery & Bistro

Brew’d

Photo: courtesy of Credit Leading DC

Bandoola

The Conservatory at Gravitas

garden is a joint effort between Gravitas and Up Top Acres. There are also 32 seats in a glass-enclosed bar and lounge designed to resemble a greenhouse. The rooftop will be open Thursday through Sunday for evening cocktails and bites, as well as brunchtime weekend service. The menu offers tartines, raw bar standards, cheese, charcuterie, cocktails, house-made pastries, coffee and tea. Of course, the food and drink menus feature seasonal produce, herbs and microgreens, much of it from the roof itself.

1401 Okie St. NE, DC; www.gravitasdc.com

Photo: Erich Morse

parms to the menu. Pizza is still front and center, and the thick crust (made with dough fermented for three days) is sturdy enough to stand up to heaps of toppings like fried eggplant and mozzarella or thickcut pepperoni and fennel sausage. The cooking is classic and comforting, evocative of the spirit of the Italian piazza that White aimed to bring to life. Next door to the neighborhood restaurant, you’ll find Brew’d coffee shop. An oval coffee bar is the heart of the compact space, serving espresso drinks, fior di latte soft-serve affogatos, cold brew soft-serve floats, DC-made snacks, and to-go boxes of Italian meats, cheeses and olives.

Pastries and breads are made fresh daily, ranging from biscotti, muffins and scones to Sicilian pizza bread and ciabatta breakfast panini. 901 4th St. NW, DC; www.nicolettakitchen.com & www.drinkbrewd.com

Photo: courtesy of Junctiion

mixes and matches various cuisines, fusing them into one. Choose from tacos like pork roasted in banana leaves topped with cilantro, radish, salsa and pickled red cabbage or quirky small plates like “fried rice” – cheese croquettes with huitlacoche and porcini mushrooms – and smashed avocado with pomegranate and za’atar. The casual spot invites you to order food at the counter and seat yourself. Beverage director Jon Schott designed the seasonal cocktail menu, using only homemade ingredients and citrus juiced daily. His current menu features variations on margaritas like a mezcal version with orange juice, agave and Tajín or the Garden Grove with jalapeño, mint, lime and cucumber bubbles. There are also twists on classic cocktails like the Corpse Reviver with mezcal, plus wine and beer including a house Mexican-style golden lager by Founders Brewing Company. 1008 Madison St. Alexandria, VA; www.chopshoptaco.com

Nicoletta www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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Photo: Greg Powers

Punjab Grill

DC’s Vibrant Restaurant Designs

An Ode to Culture, Community + Instaworthy Photo Ops

By Sabrina Medora

As we reach the halfway point of 2019, we’re finding that chefs and restaurateurs are prioritizing interior décor as highly as their culinary offerings. To some, like chef Adam Greenberg of the island-fantasy restaurant Coconut Club, “the décor was as equally important as the brand of stoves I wanted in the kitchen.” For others, like James Beard Award nominee Erik Bruner-Yang of Spoken English, Brothers and Sisters, and Maketto, it’s all about looking at space from a nontraditional standpoint. Here are our top picks for one-of-a-kind, stunning restaurant décor.

Coconut Club Since opening in late January, Coconut Club has been on every single hit list in the city. Known for whimsical, island-style cuisine, a pup-friendly patio and summertime cocktails, the NoMa spot that’s just a stone’s throw from Union Market also happens to be an Instagrammer’s paradise. In keeping with its tagline “Vacation starts now,” you can walk into Coconut Club in the dead of winter and feel like you’re on vacation in Hawaii.

“My architects [at Edit Lab at Streetsense] did an amazing job of getting to know me, the concept and what we were going for,” owner Adam Greenberg explains. “Design Army did our branding as well as the exterior signage.”

The floating bar, the shamelessly grammable bathroom décor, the lush greenery and the adorable swing chair vibes all lend themselves to a relaxed, tropical paradise feel. The piece that ties all the little details together is a massive mural that covers an entire wall of the restaurant. Greenberg and his wife searched for ages to find the right artist for this mural.

“I needed something I could look at every day and not feel like I’d be sick of it in a year.”

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Enter artist Meg Biram, who they reached out to over Instagram. A baby pink background lays a beautiful canvas to teal, blue and aqua palm trees and fronds, drawing palette inspiration from Coconut Club’s signature branding colors. The entire mural was brush painted by hand solely by Biram and took three weeks to execute perfectly.

540 Penn St. NE, DC; www.hellococonutclub.com

Kaliwa From Bad Saint to Thip Kao, Filipino restaurants are becoming all the rage in Washington. But Kaliwa, located on the Wharf, is a true immersive experience into Filipino culture.

At its heart, Kaliwa is a love letter in restaurant form. It embodies the love of a culture, the love of a grandmother’s family recipes, and the love between a husband and wife who choose to work together every day. It’s the concept of Meshelle (Meshe) Armstrong, wife to award-winning chef Cathal Armstrong, and was inspired as a call to remember the indigenous beauty of where she’s from: the Philippines.

“All the graphics and furniture, including our coco-shell chandeliers, came from artists and designers from various islands of the Archipelago,”Meshe says.

All across the restaurant and even in the logo, diners will see tattoo designs.

Coconut Club

Mi Vida

Spoken English

Photo: courtesy of Coconut Club

Photo: Rey Lopez

DBGB

Photo: Rey Lopez

Photo: courtesy of DBGB

Service Bar M

Photo: courtesy of Service Bar www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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“These are represented as the ancient people of the Philippines, who believed that tattoos were a token of passage into the afterlife.”

A tattoo mark allows a spirit to be easily recognized and embraced by ancestors after passing to the other side of the veil.

A large painting hangs above the chef’s counter, depicting a tattooed woman in repose. It’s called “Binukot sa banig.” The traditional symbols and the style with which they’re arranged on her body are from the central and western Visayan regions of the Philippines. Each of the individual motifs convey her relationship to her ancestors, as people of the Philippines believe that their ancestors’ spirits appear specifically in recognized animal forms. The fact that these symbols are tattooed on the woman signifies that their memories have been internalized within her skin.

Two other prominent paintings along the walls are of ancient Baybayin characters. These individually translate into Lakas (strong) and Mahal (love).

“The goal of Baybayin art is to strengthen unity within our community by telling the rich history of the motherland,” Meshe continues.

These displayed paintings are the works of artist Kristian Kabuay.

On one side of the restaurant, white blossoms are painted across a teal backdrop. These depict the Salingbobog tree, which is similar to Japanese cherry blossoms but a native species to the Philippines.

Go for the incredible food. Stay for an illuminating lesson on a culture’s vibrant history.

751 Wharf St. SW, DC; www.kaliwadc.com

Punjab Grill Before its doors even opened, Food & Wine dedicated an entire article to Punjab Grill, calling it a “game-changing Indian restaurant.”

The Penn Quarter restaurant’s approach to elevating Indian cuisine to a fine dining format isn’t the only aspect that makes it so unique.

“I wanted to redefine what the U.S. market thinks of when they think of Indian food and Indian fine dining,” says owner Karan Singh.

“I wanted to do traditional Indian food in a tasteful, classy and relevant-to-2019-Washington, DC way.”

Singh chose to collaborate with Amit Gulani of Incubis, Ayush Kasliwal of AKFD and Jose Toha of Grupo-7 to bring this concept to life. After realizing that the elements needed to set the scene were very specific, the decision was made to build the entire restaurant in Rajasthan, India.

“The whole thing was built there and then taken apart – the entire ceiling, the entire private dining room, the overbar, the stone structure – every element.”

The “Sundowner” bar with high-top food service is a low-lit, stunning structure of tiger marble. The main dining room is designed to reflect the royal saloon train car from E.M. Forster’s classic A Passage to India. Each table is pure marble structure, adorned with bespoke crockery and cutlery. Inlaid along the walls are gemstones reminiscent of the Taj Mahal’s stunning ancient craft of inlay work and marble carving.

Still, all that beauty pales in comparison to Punjab Grill’s pièce de résistance: the Palace of Mirrors. Guests are led through thick, ornately carved doors into a “palace of mirrors,” referred to in Hindi as Sheesh Mahal, where 150,000 glass and mirror pieces have been meticulously hand-laid across the entire room to create the same striking effect as the prominent Amer Palace of Jaipur.

In the center is a long, black table made from one singular piece of marble that seats up to 10 people. The table is set with Hermès dishes – the patterns on which mimic the pattern of mirrors on the ceilings – and surrounded by chairs that were each individually custom-upholstered by Peter D’Ascoli. Yes, each chair was designed specifically. So are the drapes.

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“It’s over the top but in a tasteful way,” Singh proudly explains. “It’s a lot to take in but it’s not sensory overload. It all comes together nicely.”

If your experience should take you to the bar or the dining room, you can always request a tour of the opulent Palace of Mirrors.

Prepare to be wowed.

427 11th St. NW, DC; www.punjabgrilldc.com

Service Bar In keeping with its quirky vibe, Service Bar just added a walllong mural to add brightness to the normally darker atmosphere.

Co-owner Chad Spangler reached out to Henley Bounkhong, a 31-year-old, self-taught painter, on Instagram in search of something “different.” He was in luck as Bounkhong had just begun experimenting with a new style of painting.

“When I first went in to check out the space, I loved all the cool cups they have, the colors and the vibe of the space,” Bounkhong describes. “I suggested an octopus serving drinks because, having worked as a server, I feel like the octopus is the best representation [of] someone who has to do a million things at once. So, we ran with that.”

Bounkhong’s new paint style consists of multiple panels laid out, almost like the pages of a comic book. The Service Bar mural contains several separate paintings that are all ultimately connected through the tentacles of the octopus. Throughout are other little elements inspired by those cute cups Bounkhong loved so much.

“I felt it would be right to have cherry blossoms and the monument there to represent DC and then the rest of the panels were of flowers and nature. Everything flowed together naturally, and the end result was a little more than I imagined.”

926-928 U St. NW, DC; www.servicebardc.com

Spoken English This standing room-only restaurant within AdMo’s LINE Hotel stole the hearts of the DC dining community when it opened early in 2018.

According to founder and chef Erik Bruner-Yang, “we always had the intention of doing Spoken English. It was originally going to be more sit-down, fine dining. When we got closer to opening, we realized it didn’t fit with who we are as chefs overall. So, we made a massive pivot to do the tachinomiya service style.”

Spoken English shares a kitchen with Bruner-Yang’s Brothers and Sisters. His company Foreign National worked with Design Army to create custom branding for the intimate space, like a bright floral wall that’s the perfect Instagram backdrop for the spot’s chicken skin dumplings. The mural is actually custom wallpaper that was designed specifically for the Spoken English space.

“When we were looking at the floor plan, we saw that there was enough space to do what we needed with Brothers and Sisters that we didn’t need an overly large kitchen. So we took that box of space to do something interesting and different.”

Diners can enjoy a variety of memorable, Hong Kong-style street foods while gazing out at Adams Morgan or watching the chefs run both restaurants through one small kitchen. While many tachinomiyas are more bar-style, this space highlights the best of the cooking that Foreign National is known for.

“Spoken English has its own unique energy that comes from the space, the style of restaurant that it is and the people that work there,” Bruner-Yang says. “It somehow all came together as a unique restaurant experience.”

1770 Euclid St. NW, DC; www.spokenenglishdc.com

Photo: Jennifer Hughes

Punjab Grill

E I D O FO DESIGN INSPO DBGB Kitchen + Bar Chef Daniel Boulud’s “great bistro” concept in CityCenterDC holds a fun surprise for first-time visitors and an exploration activity for regulars.

“Daniel arranged to send all his chef friends a set of permanent markers together with an unadorned, plain white plate, along with a personal note asking them to customize the plate for DBGB [when it first opened],” says Michael Lawrence, executive director of operations for The Dinex Group. “Some chefs simply signed the plates, others drew pictures of their favorite ingredients and a few of them sent back designs that were quite abstract and hard to decipher.”

Another Oaxacan-inspired spot with attention-grabbing artwork at every turn, each mural in Shaw’s Espita Mezcaleria was handpainted by renowned Oaxacan artists Yescka and César Chávez as commentary on political issues facing the world.

Kaliwa

Espita Mezcaleria

Photo: courtesy of Kaliwa

931 H St. NW, DC; www.dbgb.com

1250 9th St. NW, DC; www.espitadc.com

Hanumanh The highly anticipated new installment from mother-and-son duo and chefs Seng Luangrath and Bobby Pradachith holds more than a stellar Laotian menu. Cheeky murals in reference to the monkey deity that inspired the Shaw restaurant’s name surround the restaurant. These are also done by Henley Bounkhong.

“It was a super interesting project to paint because being a Laotian myself painting for Laotians, I actually had to do research and learn about my own country since I was born and raised as an American,” he says.

1604 7th St. NW, DC; www.hanumanh.com

Mi Vida This 9,500-square-foot waterfront restaurant has a panoramic view of the Potomac River with its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Wharf spot’s design mixes industrial aesthetics with historic Mexican décor for a modern, elevated feel. The star of the show is the “Arbol de la Vida,” a 19-foot clay sculpture of the tree of life adorned with Oaxacan-inspired flowers and designs.

98 District Sq. SW, DC; www.mividamexico.com

www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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cultivates neighborhood hospitality

By Trent Johnson

Photo: Trent Johnson

streetsense

Brian Miller and Jason Maringola

ars are more than the drinks they serve. Behind the beer, cocktails and spirits is the lay of the land, the setting, the vibe. It goes without saying that without good product, any establishment will falter, but a backdrop that melds with its culinary offerings will only serve to heighten the experience for the customer.

One way to achieve this elevated interior ambiance is by allowing professionals to take over, because it’s often not as simple as taking the ideas from your brain and putting them into practice.

That’s where Edit Lab at Streetsense comes in. The company is described as an experience-focused design and strategy collective, and has continually delivered spectacular interior architecture on an international level. You’ve likely seen their decadent design around the District, including at Ivy City’s Coconut Club, Shaw’s The Dabney and Penn Quarter’s Daikaya, to name a few.

One step into their Bethesda office and you’re greeted with a number of creatives all huddled up, sketches adorning drafting boards, posters lining the walls and retro knick-knacks placed throughout the space. And while the Streetsense office has a certain feel, the company’s aesthetic is as diverse as their extensive roster of clients.

“We do more than just design and we think differently because we actually understand the analytics and demographics of our areas and bring people to the table,” design director of interior architecture Jason Maringola says.

Variables for the Streetsense process include the typical timeline, budget and service, but one goal that never wavers regardless of scope is the team’s ability to connect with the client. This can mean traveling to South Carolina and visiting dive bars or hopping on an international flight to tour dojos in Japan.

“There are a number of restaurant projects I’ve worked on where we’ve gotten to travel with the clients to really dig in beyond mood boards, Pinterest and Instagram and figure out what they’re trying to draw from,” says Brian Miller, senior design director of interior

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architecture and co-establisher of Edit Lab. “We want to know how they think people get together over food and drinks, how people socialize, about how communities are oriented around those concepts.”

This part of the process is what has always driven Miller and Maringola, who both grew up with a strong unwavering desire to work in architecture. As a child, Miller’s family moved around from town to town and he took note of buildings commanding attention.

And for Maringola, even at an early age he’d memorize floor plans of homes his parents toured, sketch them out and offer critiques.

The collective childhood wonderment of all things hospitality design is reflected in their day-to-day, including the neverending goal of getting inside the brains of bar and restaurant owners to render artistic mockups that reach beyond visually interesting interpretations of what could be pretty or trendy. Instead, Streetsense seeks to establish a dominant thematic concept able to operate as a focal throughline. From there, they’ll determine one clear option with secondary layouts.

“I think we try to drive an approach that’s not to get us excited or the client excited, but [that’s] about the people walking in the door of that business,” Miller says. “What’s going to make a really good experience for them? Is it a quiet night out? Is it a birthday?”

Maringola adds that their design isn’t really for the client. And while discussing the looks and feels of their babies, striking a balance between doing something personal and artistic is the toughest part of the process.

“Our clients are taking a risk, they’re putting a lot of money out to create a space and to trust us. The most rewarding thing for a client to tell us is that it’s better than they imagined. Most clients aren’t visual, so when they see the space and people interacting in the space, it goes from night to day. Then, they realize we really created something unique for the community,” Maringola says.

Some of the clients they work with aren’t backed by a corporate

entity with limitless coffers, Miller says. When dealing with mom and pop shops, decisions are made with an understanding that livelihood could be on the line.

On the flip side, with larger clients, out of towners might require an entire education on the culture of a location or neighborhood.

What makes this particular area unique? What does it need? For this, Streetsense sets up tours and activities to help the companies learn about their future clientele.

“The work our studio does [is] with extremely neighborhood driven places,” Miller says. “Clients look to us for that understanding, and some of our more exciting projects are when we get to work on a lot of places within a small area. This allows us to kind of create an

ecosystem like [we created] in Blagden Alley.”

Big or small, Streetsense’s interior hospitality designs craft unique experiences for visitors. And with backdrop details such as lighting, theme and decor under their supervision, our favorite restaurants, coffee shops and bars can do what they do best; serve you.

“I always think of it as production design for a movie,” Miller says. “If that setting isn’t right, you know it’s not right.”

“But, the big thing is we could do all the beautiful design in the world but if the food sucks, service sucks, whatever we do won’t mean a thing,” Maringola says laughing. “That’s the catalyst.”

Daikaya

Bygone Four Seasons

Photo: courtesy of Moxy

Photo: Rey Lopez

Moxy ATL

Photo: Maxine Schnitzer Photography

Coconut Club

Photo: Nikolas Koenig

To learn about Streetsense, visit www.streetsense.com

www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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Photos: courtesy of No Kings Collective

S G N I K NO E V I T C E L L CO R E V E R L AY FO

P O T E R IS HE

No Kings Collective’s Brandon Hill and Peter Chang

rd ica Alfo

By Mon

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“A mural’s not going to stop anybody from getting murdered. But is it less likely for bad things to happen on a super visible corner? Probably.”

I’m sitting across from Brandon Hill and Peter Chang when Hill tells me with full earnestness that it’s easy for an artist to tell the narrow story of, “We painted a mural, so things are better now.” But it’s the ability to shift a community’s perception by making a street corner feel safer that truly makes an impact.

We’re sharing a high-top overlooking an eerily empty Nationals Park on a recent Saturday morning, just a stone’s throw from the pair’s latest mural capturing the Americana spirit of DC baseball. When I arrive, the artists are putting some final touches on their new work, and it’s immediately apparent to me that the founders of creative production brand No Kings Collective embrace the hustle.

I don’t mean this in a buzzwordy kind of way. They’re not “creatives” or “tastemakers” that press the flesh at events and slap their name onto a project for brand recognition. They haul gallons of paint, set up ladders, break down scaffolding, brave the elements. They paint for a living.

But that isn’t to say they don’t use their brand for good. They’re both adamant about supporting the city’s art scene, especially in neighborhoods that benefit directly from their work.

“We’re all about bringing accessibility for arts and culture to the DC community,” Chang says.

He brings a fierceness and intensity to the conversation, one that commands respect, as he and Hill open up about some of the misconceptions of how No Kings came about and what they actually do.

“I’ll take this chance right now to set that straight. We’ve done a mural for Turner Elementary in Southeast. We have multiple projects in Ward 7 and Ward 8. We work with so many different nonprofits in the city. We’re all about not taxing the artists, not taxing the people.

Almost all of our events have been 100 percent free.”

The artists say community projects like Turner Elementary are nobrainers, and while they are working artists relying on paychecks from commissioned pieces, they go above and beyond on a regular basis to give back to the city’s many neighborhoods – especially those that are struggling.

“I think artwork in public spaces is the bee’s knees,” Hill says after letting me know that he’s about to get super meta for a second. “I just think that it’s the bee’s knees to be able to get paid for something that benefits the public.”

A SCRAPPY START No Kings is a familiar name in the District, attached to a myriad of projects and pop-ups. But like so many of us that play in creative spaces, what they actually do sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of their hip factor.

“It’s interesting to hear how we’re perceived because I know what the story is, and it’s a lot more scrappy than it might seem,” Hill says.

The pair banter like an old married couple, ribbing each other mercilessly and bouncing ideas around weighty topics off one another in the same breath. Their friendship goes back 14 years to senior year of college; Hill hails from Baltimore originally, but has called DC home for the last decade, and Chang grew up in Silver Spring.

Chang says as a brand, No Kings stretches back to 2009 but became a business in 2013.

“A lot of people don’t understand a lot of the things we’ve done even before No Kings was a brand,” he says. “They think we’re just this thing that popped up out of nowhere.”

I ask the guys for clarity: No Kings is a group of artists that does largescale public fine arts projects and gets people really excited about art content and art happenings. They use the term creative agency(ish) to demonstrate they’ve got the resources to take on projects much

broader in scope than what a typical artist or art group could tackle.

When it comes to division of labor, Chang gives Hill full credit as creative director for the past year. And Hill says Chang’s ball game is creative direction in the agency(ish) space, “where murals or public artwork can be merged with social happenings or activations and require real strategic planning.” They split administrative work, business development and other unsexy parts of the daily grind evenly; they both have zero interest in taking all the credit or making it about themselves.

“We just do what we have to do when we have to do it to get things done,” Chang says matter-of-factly. “Everything just falls under the No Kings wheelhouse, so anything we produce, we just tell people we [are doing it].”

Their refreshing lack of pretention extends to their team of five part-time artists who support projects as needed. They’re not looking for the biggest names in the local art world. They need problem solvers who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

“Just because someone’s a really, really talented artist doesn’t mean they’d be a good worker to paint murals because you have to problem-solve a lot of practical issues, and those issues do not exist in a controlled studio,” Hill says. “Sometimes you’re just fighting the weather or you’re coming in at night to do your projection work.

You’re always defeating something and none of that can aesthetically be shown. People see flowers. You need a mixed bag of art and contractor: someone who can think with both of those brains.”

GOOD ART FIRST It’s been a busy year for No Kings, with no plans to slow down anytime soon. The agency(ish) turns 10 this year, and Chang says they’re going big. Next up is their three-day block party to close out Apple Carnegie Library’s StoryMakers Festival on June 27-29, and the launch of a No Kings-themed corned beef and kimchi sandwich at old-school Brentwood deli MGM Roast Beef on July 13.

Hill says they’re also currently working on 15 walls throughout the city, and while the Nats mural had its big unveiling in mid-May, he still plans to make minor changes throughout the summer to ensure it’s fan-proof. He wears the hat of a sentimentalist and a pragmatist simultaneously, walking me through the symbolism of this homage to America’s favorite pastime while also being real about the hightraffic location of the artwork.

“A really good piece of art can age, so that was a challenge to think through. How can we execute these more pressing goals – to reflect the organization and baseball as a whole and to make it as Nats-y as possible – but then also make sure it’s something that can age well both from an aesthetic and technical perspective? There’s going to be beer and popcorn and children and people leaning on the wall. How do you keep this thing looking good?”

Hill takes the collaboration seriously, especially because the team approached No Kings directly and had a vision in mind for what they wanted the piece to represent. He likens murals to getting a tattoo, where you navigate any gray area with your tattoo artist before deciding what that rose or anchor is going to look like on your body.

But with the Nats, he and Chang had to encapsulate the feeling of newness in the ballpark while also reflecting the nostalgia and family values tied to the sport.

“Baseball is a really unique thing because it goes back to the 1850s, but it’s [also] a completely modern thing. Everything in this ballpark is modern – alien grass, alien dirt, Under Armour – there’s technology in this park, right? But we still think about it with a nostalgic lens. That’s a constant challenge [with] anything that’s OG: trying to always be relevant, [and] trying to explain its newness and oldness at the same time.” www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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Hill and Chang had another first this spring in terms of creative direction for a commissioned project. Amtrak contacted them to help visually inform its annual Sustainability Report, taking form in a mural behind social sports company DC Fray’s Brentwood office [full disclosure: No Kings shares office space with DC Fray, which owns On Tap Magazine]. Hill collaborated with Amtrak’s creative team to tell a visual story about what Amtrak does through the piece, including the incorporation of lesser-used colors in the railroad service’s color palette.

Now, he’s working with Amtrak’s head designer in the sustainability department to bring the report to life by the end of this summer, with

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photos of rail workers and other Amtrak employees in front of the mural on hand. Hill is all about the process: he’s drawn to projects that give him the opportunity to inform the public, and possibly shift their perception of a piece or area.

“I love the ability to be able to defend work and tell a story. If you were already familiar with a piece, that’s the best kind of art because you get to learn new things about a thing you thought you were already familiar with.”

I’m not the first reporter to ask the artists how they feel about the potential impermanence of some of their work, but they tell me it’s

something they take into consideration often. Hill says in a weird way, painting a building that might be demolished soon is actually desirable because they can take greater risks with the content and attract more eyeballs.

“If it’s a really awesome piece and it’s got a shelf life, people are going to rush and make sure to catch it before that shelf life’s over.”

I ask another common question because I find it truly fascinating: how do they feel about their work being so Instaworthy? Hill doesn’t view the selfie as a unique issue for art but says it’s strange nevertheless to have an entire group of people who have nothing to do with fine art distributing your work.

“When I’m on the computer designing, I am not inserting a little character of a person to figure how good they will look,” he says.

Still, he says it’s a net win for artists if their work is included in a vanity shot on someone’s Instagram, and someone in another city can easily follow the photo credit back to the artist’s website and consume their content. Chang cuts to the chase with a more direct answer.

“A lot of our clients will say, ‘We want it to be Instagrammable.’ And we’re just like, ‘Why don’t we make good art first? And if it’s good, then people can decide [if they want to post it to Insta].’”

BREAD + BUTTER Nearly 90 percent of No Kings’ current output is commissioned work pitched to Hill and Chang, but they remain selective about what projects they take on. The real bread and butter, they tell me, is the opportunity to take projects they’ve been asked to approach in a traditional way to the next level. Sometimes this happens by chance, and other times because they’re charged up about the subject matter and know they can take it up a notch in record time.

The former “Work It, Gurl” mural on 14th Street is their self-described bread-and-butter case study. The piece (originally meant to be a 20 x 20-foot mural on a building wall) was commissioned by the WhitmanWalker Clinic at Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center to bring visibility to their work in the LGBTQ+ community.

When the guys learned about the clinic’s efforts, they refused payment, got a grant from the DC Office of Planning and reached out to their sponsors for support. No Kings painted the entire building and threw 14 events in two months.

“We just ballooned that,” Hill says. “We had this public art thing, but we went beyond the aesthetic to try and figure out: How can it be used? Who can we help? But we don’t know everything so it’s kind of like if you build it, they will come, right? We knew people would interact with it. But we didn’t know how, so let’s execute the aesthetic and then let’s just see what else can happen.”

The inspiration for these projects seems to be mostly altruistic in nature, but I see a bit of a competitive flicker in their eyes – not competitive with other artists in the market, but with themselves to face the challenge of making something bigger than anyone originally though it could be.

“That’s why our goal for every event that we do, every mural we put out, every project and collaboration that we do, [is to] push the bar further,” Chang says.

A more recent example, and undeniably their most successful art event yet, was 14th Street’s UMBRELLA in April. The opportunity to plan the three-day pop-up in a mixed-use development fell into their laps; they were approached about using the space before it was torn down and decided to put something together with people they respect who are doing cool things in the District.

“Afterwards, our project manager was like, ‘Wow, I think that was the most successful art fair that DC’s ever done,’” Chang says. “And Brandon and I were like, ‘We threw an art fair?’ And then we looked back at it and we were like, ‘Yeah, it was an art fair.’”

The guys are particularly proud of this effort, as they should be – the event was planned in a whirlwind month-and-a-half and brought in at least $100,000 for participating artists.

“We made zero dollars on UMBRELLA,” Chang continues. “We didn’t take a commission. That money directly impacted those artists.”

They also speak in earnest about the crowd that UMBRELLA – and all No Kings events – brought out. Chang says it’s super diverse, which feels uncommon in what they describe as a segmented city that still self-segregates itself along money lines.

“When you go to our events, it’s all ages, all races, all different demographics. I think that’s the biggest thing we’ve been proud of is to create excitement for the arts for everyone.”

REAL RECOGNIZE REAL I’m admittedly surprised when Chang and Hill get real with me about how they’ve had to fight to carve out a space for themselves as working artists in DC’s creative scene. They recall countless galleries and “creatives” who wouldn’t give them the time of day a decade ago; and now, some of those same folks are reaching out to collaborate with No Kings. In fact, Hill says their name is reflective of their struggle to get into the “polished art scene” in their early days.

“It strikes a nerve because we’ve been busting our asses for 10 years and no one gave us the time of day or recognition,” Chang says. “Now [when] we get a little bit of it, people come out of the woodwork just hating.”

Hill keeps it light, inviting the haters to come out and work one of his days.

“Be my guest,” he says, chuckling.

Even still, he says the memory of No Kings’ evolution is long, deep and littered with lack of acceptance from DC’s art scene. “[The haters] are still just not getting that a smaller city can make a bigger footprint by working together and not being divisive. If someone is going to say ‘No,’ I already can’t work with you. So we’re just going to do our own content and work with people that want to work.”

At the end of the day, the guys remain unphased because they knows the proof is in the pudding.

“When it comes down to the actual creatives in the city who are doing stuff, it’s just real recognize real,” Chang says. “I know who is actually putting in the work and they command respect, as we command respect from other people in our industry. The more you can open people’s eyes up about what’s going on in the city, and what artists are doing and what real creatives are doing, then the people who have just been masquerading really can’t get away with it anymore. I think it’s slowly happening.”

But Chang and Hill are still playing the game, because they are in DC for the long haul and they’re not about burning bridges – as tempting as it may be.

“I mean look, this ain’t 8 Mile,” Hill says. “I’m not going to drop a mic after the rap battle and be like, ‘F--k you all,’ you know? It’s a small town.

You’ve still got to work with these people. It’s not personal, right?”

Resiliency seems to be the secret sauce for No Kings; there’s a lot to be said for maintaining a thick skin and positive attitude when you have to play in the same sandbox with artists determined to compete for the same resources instead of banding together to create and promote interesting content.

“They view us as this new guard or whatever, but me and Brandon have been here 14 years,” Chang says.

“On a lift working,” Hill chimes in, before Chang tells it like it is yet again.

“We’ve seen trends come and go, but we’re here to play forever.”

Follow No Kings Collective on Instagram @nokingsdc.

Learn about their projects at www.nokingscollective.com. www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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A Day

Life in the

with

DC ARTISTS MAKING SOCIAL IMPACT

By Courtney Sexton Maps Glover

Photos: Timoteo Murphy

Living in the DMV spoils us.

We have free access to world-class art at nearly every turn. But beyond its revered and iconic collections, the District is also home to an incredible array of artists working in experimental forms, crossing disciplines, and breaking down boundaries between tradition, style, design, politics and social justice. These artists are creating and chronicling the cultural landscape of DC today. They are not just leaving their mark on the city, but are also asking us to examine our own place in it – in a multitude of unexpected ways.

Consider Northern Virginia native JD Deardourff, with works installed everywhere from overpasses to the bottom of a pool, who is helping to literally repaint the face of the city. Or Xena Ni, a designer who describes her interactive installations as “civic journalism storytelling physical sculpture lawsuit art,” and that’s in addition to her line of feminist superhero underwear. Or a performance by Maps Glover, which may as well be a portal into a whole other experience of the world you think you inhabit.

While their mediums and inspirations vary, their commitment to making a social impact will never go out of style.

JD DEARDOURFF On Tap: There is sometimes tension around the term “street artist” and what it means to different people. Do you identify as a street artist?

JD Deardourff: I probably would just say artist. The way I got into it was primarily as a screenprinter – that’s sort of my go-to art form – and one of the cool things about it is a rich tradition of wheatpasting and dissemination of imagery, either giving it away or pasting it in alleys or on light boxes. I was doing it before I was doing more “corporate stuff.”

I’m an artist who does screenprints, murals, paintings and collages.

OT: When you’re getting ready to start a new project, what are the main factors that you consider and what motivates your creative process? What draws you toward a new project?

JD: I like to think of it as a “one for them, one for me” situation. Some of the work I get to do pays for me to do other projects for free.

Murals and commissions are probably half the time. The other half of the time is some personal projects I’ve been working on. I had a show last year where I sold all of the artwork I had and it was also the

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release of my first zine, Uncanny Fantastic. It’s basically a catalog of all of the personal art that I’ve done in comic book form. I’m working on volume two of that zine, so making a new body of work, which will correspond to the pages of the zine I’m going to drop in September.

OT: It seems like your career has progressed pretty quickly. Does it have to do with DC? JD: It feels like I planted a shitload of seeds like five years ago and the way that they’ve built up is that they all bloomed simultaneously. For example, conversations for one mural project I’ve been working on near Hotel Hive started in 2016. Sometimes, there’ll be something that’s like two years in production and that will coincide with something where I get an email the week before.

OT: What are some of your favorite projects?

JD: I love doing shows. Last year, a highlight was a solo show I did with CulturalDC’s Mobile Art Gallery at Union Market. And then I’m super proud of Uncanny Fantastic. The recycling truck for the DC DPW [Depart of Public Works] has my artwork on it. This pool in Silver Spring is super cool. It’s in a building call Central. When the art direction is solid, those murals look the best.

hy

JD Deardourff

Photos: courtesy of JD Deardourff

OT: Do you think that mural arts are rivaling the “high art” that DC is known for?

JD: I think definitely it’s one of those things where this art form has gained momentum. More and more people are commissioning murals. Initially, there were more bar and restaurant-type clients and now I think it’s cool to get, for example, law firm types interested in that kind of vibe. You get more of a critical mass. I don’t know if it’s a bubble sort of situation, but it’s definitely on the uptick.

JD CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

OT: How do you feel that impacts both the physical and cultural landscapes of the city?

JD: I think it’s good. For instance, Pow! Wow! just happened in NoMa and it’s is super cool in terms of the murals making that neighborhood what it is. It’s all the flavor. I understand some people might call it art-washing or make arguments that it can be bad for the community, but I don’t feel that way. And I think those battles are kind of over. It’s creating a cool flavor that wasn’t there 15 or 20 years ago.

COMIC BOOKS

MY FAMILY (ESPECIALLY MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW), MY GENIUS GIRLFRIEND KELLY + MY FRIENDS, BUT MOSTLY JUST MY DOG BRUCE SPOTIFY, LIVE SHOWS + MUSIC (THE RAMONES, THE CLASH, CLASSIC ROCK) ACTUALLY MAKING ARTWORK POP’S SEABAR MY LITTLE FIELD NOTES BOOK

Find Deardourff on the web at www.deardourff.com and on Instagram @jddeardourff.

Photos: Peter Gonzalez

Xena Ni

XENA NI

I moved to DC. I’d been assured by one of my coworkers that there were people doing weird things in DC.

On Tap: What brought you to DC and the art space that you exist in now?

Xena Ni: I had just finished my fellowship at Code for America and was leaving Oakland where I was living. I was just sitting on the train and intentions for the next year popped into my brain. I wanted to make weird art with people. I was keeping an eye out for that when

OT: And did you find them?

XN: Yes! I’m a designer and I’ve always been adjacent to art. But it was really coming to DC and finding my dream job that gave me mental space to take my art practice more seriously. An organization that’s been really great in DC has been The Sanctuaries. I participated in one of their fellowship programs. We were learning more about how www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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art can respond to events like protests, and also to think more about how to work with communities in a respectful way.

OT: Do you feel like the people or places or themes or issues that you’ve encountered here have guided the work or the projects that you’ve chosen in a specific way artistically?

XN: I have met a lot more working artists or artists who are taking their practice seriously, and realized how important it is to just know and be friends with other artists who are going through the grind.

Collaborations have been so energizing.

OT: Any other notable projects?

XN: I also like traditional, representational art. [This project] started off with not having any photographs of what my older relatives looked like when they were young because they couldn’t afford photography or they had to destroy [photos] when the Communists took over, and I just started drawing what I thought my grandmother looked like when she was my age. It felt like I was reclaiming my history and also underscoring that I could never actually access that history. It has morphed into this less personal project, which is drawing possible portraits from the future.

OT: What are a few projects you’ve worked on in the past couple of years that really stand out to you?

XN: One that’s been really top of mind: the most recent iteration of it is called “Transaction Denied” and it is a room-sized, immersive multimedia installation, which showed at UMBRELLA in April. It tells the story of what it takes to apply for food stamps in DC and what happens when the government spends a lot of money to make the system work, but there’s not a lot of accountability and the government and the vendors dispute responsibility and as a result, thousands of people in DC either lose their benefits or face unusually long delays that are also really damaging.

OT: How do you draw portraits from the future?

XN: It’s like time travel in portraiture. It’s work that usually happens one-on-one with someone interested in orienting. It’s partially like a guided meditation [or] playful interview where I transport people to a scene from their possible future life. What I’ve really enjoyed about it is both what people come up with and their emotional reactions.

Usually someone cries.

OT: What did that look like, visually?

XN: It takes abstract oppressing social issues and creates interactive, immersive big pieces to bring attention. I also wanted people to do something. People left their reactions, or their own stories on the walls of the exhibit.

XENA CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

OT: Where will the installation go next?

XN: That installation is evolving. My co-artist Mollie Ruskin and I learned about a lawsuit a collection of legal aid organizations had brought against the city to seek justice for all the people who had lost their benefits or faced delays. We are now working with one of the main organizations that brought the suit, Bread for the City, and they are going to install it temporarily in their space.

Follow Ni on Instagram @msknee and check out www.averyseriousdesigner.com.

THE ARCHIVE (A DAILY WRITING RITUAL) MY IUD (AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM MAKE SO MUCH POSSIBLE) A CLUNKY, SQUEAKY, DEPENDABLE RALEIGH SPRITE BIKE PUBLIC PARKS (KALORAMA PARK, KINGMAN ISLAND, BANNEKER) OVERFLOWING CART OF ART SUPPLIES

MAPS GLOVER On Tap: You do a lot of performance art, as well as working within more traditional mediums. What drives you creatively?

Maps Glover: DC has this electric energy that forces you to address social issues on a daily basis, and so that’s really what has kept me here and fueled my practice. A lot of my work really is a commentary about social dynamics. Where are we going? What are we trying to understand?

OT: Is that why you came back to DC? MG: Yes. I started making art in college and transitioned into doing things in New York. Coming back home, I wanted to see what I could contribute to this scene. There weren’t a lot of artists that were doing performance and I really wanted to dive into understanding what that felt like in DC. I felt like DC was a really good space to do it because it’s the intersection of politics and anti-establishment.

Maps Glover

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Photo: Ashley Llane

OT: When you’re approaching a new project, what are the most important factors?

MG: Sometimes it’s a matter of what is fueling me at the time.

Sometimes it’s something I feel really passionate about, or sometimes I have personal relationships with the subject, whether it be police

MAPS CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MY SKETCHBOOK MICRON PENS TALENTI MINT GELATO HUGS FROM MY VERY SPECIAL FRIEND MY MOM’S COOKING (TRIES TO GET DOWN TO HER HOUSE EVERY OTHER WEEK TO GRAB A PLATE OF FOOD) violence or some of the work that really feels like an introspective experience of me analyzing my internal dialogue through visual interpretation. As an artist, I personally feel like it’s our responsibility to be social commentators. There are issues that may come up that we may not be fully familiar with, but to creatively explore those topics, I think that artists should try to be more fearless in taking on different spaces that don’t necessarily relate to them.

OT: In those instances, how do you get to the point of understanding something well enough to create something that you feel can open the dialogue?

MG: I think that you should educate yourself first and foremost. At the same time, the artistic process is a learning one. It’s kind of like this experimental method and then it becomes this conversation of how does this connect to the larger picture?

OT: There are times when it must be a struggle between letting this process happen and also being aware of what it means to people once you put it out there.

MG: That happens all the time, honestly. I’m always looking for the experience that I’m having to be real and true to myself and then I just see other people witnessing that – the authentic experience that I have within myself. For example, I did an exhibition at the Transformer gallery back in October and I really wanted to create a space that was a response to the spiritual connection that I was really beginning to have a dialogue about in my work.

OT: DC is in an interesting place in terms of what it does and doesn’t support in the arts. What do you think that looks like in terms of opportunities right now?

MG: We need safe spaces for artists to be able to live and support themselves in a city that is continuously changing. If you don’t incorporate or consider the creatives who are part of the fabric of why people even come to this city, then what’s the point? The amount of channels and space for artists of all kinds to show is just very limited and everyone is scratching for the same resources. To get to the higher levels of creativity, people leave the city.

Learn more about Glover at www.acreativedc.com/maps-glover and follow him on Instagram @mapsglover.

Photos: Kimchi Photography

OT: How did you do that within the bounds of a gallery?

MG: We had six weeks with each artist. We transformed Transformer.

My religious background is Christian, so I was eventually crucified within the center of the stage. I had a friend who grew up in a cult, so she did a kind of ritual ceremony. I had a friend create a website live and DJ at the same time. It just had so many layers, and that is why I felt like the piece was successful.

The CityDance DREAM Gala featured talented dancers and acclaimed companies in jaw-dropping performances on May 11. Guests enjoyed the gala’s after-party at the Thurgood Marshall Center.

www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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Photo: courtesy of Anchyi Wei

DC’s sense of style has improved a ton over the last decade. While there are still those confined to the rigid rules of offices – meaning pencil skirts and blazers, and not always in the best fit – a lot of locals have begun to display their creative side through garments and fabrics. Though some of this is just an organic change in mindset, there have been tastemakers in the District using their own sense of style to lead the charge. We talked to a few of the many stylish people in the city and asked about the life of an influencer, where DC’s trending and the feedback of their Insta followers.

THE FASHIONABLE MAN Cory Luckett On Tap: When did you start your blog? What sparked that decision, particularly with DC in mind?

Cory Luckett: I probably started five years ago, and the reason why I started was because my aunt told me I should. My aunt was talking to me about my interests, and how I enjoy clothes. One day, she was like, “You should start a blog,” and I immediately figured it was a good point.

Anchyi Adorned

OT: How do you differentiate between things you’re sponsoring and things you just enjoy?

CL: I try not to differentiate at all. I try to keep everything as organic as possible. I try to make it appear to the outside audience like everything is authentic, because ultimately it is. I’m not going to take a sponsorship I’m not going to wear from a company I don’t like. Just because I got free shoes, it doesn’t mean I’m going to post about [them]. If there’s shoes that I’m getting paid to promote that I really like, and if there’s shoes that I bought at a boutique that I really enjoy, the posts for those are going to be very similar. I’ll shout out both companies. I want to show that I like these things, and I always try to mix it up.

INSTA FASHION IN THE DISTRICT

By Trent Johnson

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OT: How much research do you do before putting together outfits?

CL: I don’t do much. I dress through observation, and my style is based on things that I like that I see people wearing. It’s really just my personal sense of style.

Follow Luckett on Instagram @the_fashionable_man and check out his blog at www.thefashionableman.com.

DISTRICT OF CHIC Elisabeth Pendergraff On Tap: How would you describe DC fashion?

Elisabeth Pendergraff: I’ve always thought of it as a melting pot, in a way. There are a lot of international people that have moved here, and it’s a transient city so you get influences of Southern style and New England preppiness and an urban element as well. It depends on where you are, but it’s not like New York because you just don’t have the [same amount] of people. It’s fairly

diverse and it’s definitely more than just suits.

OT: What kind of feedback have you gotten since embarking on this journey?

EP: At the beginning, there was a little bit more negative feedback because you’re putting yourself out there, [but] nothing that was ever enough to make me feel like I made a mistake. I’ve definitely discovered this supportive community through it and met some incredible, creative people through the years. There’s definitely been great feedback from readers, and it’s always really encouraging.

OT: Do you go through waves of trends?

EP: I’m just always looking at trends. If it’s a beauty or fashion trend, I put a lot of work into it. The most intensive work I do that people don’t see is photo editing in [Adobe] Lightroom. That’s what I spend the most time on. That, and writing content. I try to be very thoughtful.

Follow Pendergraff on Instagram @districtofchic and readher blog at www.districtofchic.com.

BLONDE IN THE DISTRICT Danielle Sauter On Tap: How did Blonde in the District begin?

Danielle Sauter: I started Blonde in the District in 2014 as a creative outlet with the goal to encourage women to look at style as a tool to boost self-confidence as it had done for me.

The Fashionable Man

Photo: courtesy of Cory Luckett

Blonde in the District

Photo: courtesy of Danielle Sauter

OT: What are some things about DC’s fashion scene you’ve noticed since starting your blog?

DS: DC fashion has come a long way from when I started my blog. I’m seeing more people having fun with what they wear – as it should be – and breaking outside of the whole DC stigma of professional wear.

I used to think DC style was stuffy, but I’m happy to see it changing.

I think DC style influencers have had a huge impact in shaping DC’s fashion scene for the better.

OT: How much experimentation do you go through when piecing together outfits?

DS: I do love to experiment with trends, but I won’t wear something just because it’s on trend if I don’t love it. I spend a lot of time putting together outfits, especially if it’s for a styled shoot. I always put thought into what I wear each day. You never know who you’re going to run into, so it’s best to be prepared.

Follow Sauter @blonde_inthedistrict and check out her blog at www.blondeinthedistrict.com.

ANCHYI ADORNED Anchyi Wei On Tap: What inspired you to start displaying your style?

Anchyi Wei: I’ve always had people stopping me to ask about my outfits, but what really kicked this off was my coworkers taking photos of what I wore to work every day and putting them on a Tumblr [account] called “Anchyi at Work.” After a couple years, and with much encouragement from local bloggers, I started to transition that into my own blog [and] Instagram.

OT: How much does the work culture of DC play into its fashion scene?

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AW: It is still conservative and practical overall due to the nature of most of our workplaces. Plenty of people love what I wear but say they can’t get away with it on a daily basis. I work as a contractor in a federal agency, and I definitely stand out. If we collectively all take “workwear” to another level and incorporate more creativity, I don’t see why it can’t become the norm.

OT: What’s your favorite part of keeping up with the fashion world?

AW: Putting together outfits is the most fun part of the whole process of content creation. I generally don’t do too much research but already have an idea for styling based on trend reports, street style and runway images I’ve came across. If I’m stuck about an item, I’ll Google “street style” to get some ideas.

Follow Anchyi Wei on Instagram @anchyi and read her blog at www.anchyiadorned.com.

A COSTUME CONVERSATION with Trove Founder Kelly Carnes “Halloween doesn’t hold the monopoly on dressing up.” DC-based Kelly Carnes, founder of the new virtual store Trove Costumes, is extremely enthusiastic about accurate costumes. Her new e-market is set to launch this month and will offer people a vast database of rentals, with elaborate costumes for anything from themed parties to cosplayfriendly conventions. In the lead-up to the store’s opening, we chatted with Carnes about how there’s no excuse not to wear costumes, how their staying power goes beyond October 31 and how pop culture fashion affects her everyday wear.

District of Chic

Photo: Pablo Reyes

On Tap: What made you want to start Trove Costumes?

Kelly Carnes: I think the power of play is transformative and Trove will make costumes accessible to everyone. People can make money renting out their own costumes or save money by renting other people’s costumes, giving them greater access to this creative, empowering medium.

OT: What would you tell people that may be skeptical about dressing up for a convention or movie premiere?

KC: Costumes are empowering. One of the beautiful things about the cosplay community is how inclusive it is. Every kind of body and ability can be celebrated. There’s particularly strong representation by cosplayers of different ability, in part because assuming the qualities of a character you admire and respect can make you feel more powerful.

OT: How often do wardrobes from pop culture inspire your personal style on a day-to-day basis?

KC: A lot. I’m wearing Deadpool leggings right now! I find so much creative expression in curating and donning elaborate costumes to bring a character to life that to then put on “muggle clothes,” as we say, makes me feel like Superman putting my Clark Kent glasses back on.

I don’t feel fully myself. Living this costume lifestyle has made me far more bold in my style choices.

OT: What are some of the elaborate costumes people can look forward to on Trove?

KC: It will serve as a platform for people to exchange directly with each other. But as its founder and best customer, I will certainly be renting out my extensive wardrobe on Trove! I have a list of almost 300 costumes and accessories I’ll be listing in my wardrobe, which include some of my most valuable and elaborate pieces.

For more information on Trove Costumes, visit www.trovecostumes.com.

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Trove Costumes’ Kelly Carnes

Photo: Caitlin Beamer

Take Metrobus and Metrorail to the...

Tickets at dcjazzfest.org | @dcjazzfest

DC JAZZFEST AT THE

901 WHARF STREET, SW • 8:00 PM (DOORS 6:30 PM)

FRIDAY 6/14

SNARKY PUPPY LEAN ON ME: JOSÉ JAMES CELEBRATES BILL WITHERS

SATURDAY 6/15

A New Orleans Throwdown

JON BATISTE & STAY HUMAN BRASS-A-HOLICS

SATURDAY 6/15 • SUNDAY 6/16

FADRMISESIOEN DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF Three outdoor stages, Meet the Artists, vendor marketplace, food and drink galore!

FOR ARTISTS AND COMPLETE SCHEDULE, VISIT DCJAZZFEST.ORG PRESENTING SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

The Washington Post is the official media sponsor of DC JazzFest at The Wharf

SILVER SPONSORS

The DC Jazz Festival®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization, and its 2019 programs are made possible, in part, with major grants from the Government of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, Mayor; with awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment; the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; and, in part, by major grants from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Galena-Yorktown Foundation, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, Gillon Family Charitable Fund, the NEA Foundation, Venable Foundation, The Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, The Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation, and the Reva & David Logan Foundation. ©2019 DC Jazz Festival. All rights reserved.

STUDIO THEATRE UNVEILS

SHOWROOM FOR SUMMER

By Trent Johnson

The summer season brings more than high temperatures to Studio Theatre. Local theatergoers can escape the waves of heat in shorts and sunglasses, ditching suits and cufflinks in Studio’s casual, fourstage space. To mirror DC’s slow season in the real world, Studio’s productions during this time of year are typically a little easier and breezier than standard theatrical fare.

Though the seasonal programing is always a little more laidback in summer, 2019 brings a sizzling new addition to Studio’s offerings: SHOWROOM. The curated lineup is set to feature one-man shows, LGBTQ performances and different kinds of karaoke.

“The idea of doing something a little more dressed down has been part of our DNA,” says David Muse, Studio Theatre’s creative director.

The first production, one-man show Every Brilliant Thing, begins on June 19, kicking off the series that includes six different pieces ranging from one-night shows like Mortified on July 13 to the extended run of Bright Colors and Bold Patterns from July 9 to 28.

The headlining productions both tackle weighty topics: Every Brilliant Thing offers a compassionate view of depression, and Bright Colors and Bold Patterns highlights assimilation and liberation, delivered by the worst wedding guest of all time. “[SHOWROOM] is another way to do one-offs, so I thought we’d combine the two ideas in one: to continue to do something summertime festival-spirited, but instead of one performance with bells and whistles, to do a series of things,” Muse continues.

Aside from the variety SHOWROOM is prepared to offer, Studio creatives are currently in the process of transforming the Milton stage into that of laidback club including tabled seating, a bar and a vibrant aesthetic.

“We talked about the big idea, and how it should feel different than our regular season,” says Debra Booth, Studio’s director of design. “We decided they deserved a different type of space and different form of thinking because it’s not regular fare.”

Booth says the house normally requires little to no modifications, noting that keeping it clean is typically priority. However, SHOWROOM has required a complete overhaul including the removal of fixed seating to create a more open area.

“We’re creating a decking structure that turns every two rows into one,” Muse says. “On the slightly larger semi-circle, we can place a cafe and chairs. It will feel more like a hangout: part bar, part SHOWROOM space.”

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Muse says SHOWROOM is another example of how diverse theatre can be. Yes, there is a time and place to wear button-downs, blazers and dress shoes, but this series isn’t meant to attract only one type of crowd.

“People associate Studio with high-stakes drama and high production value, and this is trying to set a different expectation,” Muse says. “What you’re coming to see is not setting out to be great drama with a capital D, which is not to say that there’s not terrific acting and writing. But it’s, ‘Hey, want to drop in during the summer and have a few drinks and see a show? Come here.’”

Though SHOWROOM doesn’t carry the literal moniker of “festival,” Muse and Booth feel it’s important to incentivize audiences to check out multiple productions throughout the series.

“I think the festival feeling is quite important to our thinking,” Muse says. “The spirit is so terrific. I could see a show that’s shorter, and likely, before or after [enjoy a drink at the bar]. I can do that not just once, but several times. I think the prospect of offering that to our audience got us excited.”

And while SHOWROOM will have a distinct look and feel, the Milton stage itself will provide surprises.

“There are a couple shows that really have a real set of some sort,” Booth says. “On the other hand, some won’t have very much. It’ll change quite a bit from show to show.”

To truly accomplish this sensation, Studio put together a diverse range of productions with direct audience interaction like Spokaoke, a karaoke bar-themed show with speeches supplanting songs.

“This is the first time we’ve done this in one sense,” Muse says. “This sort of breaks the mold in what people imagine a theatre experience to be. In all of that, having some sense of show diversity, we wanted to be purposefully wide-ranging.”

Studio Theatre’s SHOWROOM performance series kicks off on Wednesday, June 19 with Every Brilliant Thing and concludes on Sunday, July 28 with the final showing of Bright Colors and Bold Patterns. Tickets to the two headlining productions are $45-$55.

For information on the full lineup including tickets and times, visit www.studiotheatre.org.

Studio Theatre: 1501 14th St. NW, DC 202-332-3300; www.studiotheatre.org

EVERY BRILLIANT THING`S

Photo: Stan Barouh

Photo: Russ Rowland

Jeff Hiller in Bright Colors and Bold Patterns

Alexander Strain in Every Brilliant Thing

ALEXANDER STRAIN

Studio Theatre’s SHOWROOM kicks off on June 19 with one-man show Every Brilliant Thing, starring Alexander Strain. Fresh off its run at Olney Theatre Center, the heartfelt story from playwrights Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe comes to Studio with director Jason Loewith at the helm. The play focuses on a little boy whose mother commits suicide when he’s seven years old. Growing up, he makes a list of things in life worth living for – everything from ice cream to the alphabet – as a coping mechanism. The hilarious work takes a realistic, compassionate look at depression and the human condition. As the lone man on stage, we spoke with Strain about his relationship with the character, some of the major themes and the importance of a responsive audience.

On Tap: What initially drew you to this role?

Alexander Strain: I had taken a step back from working in theatre. I had gone to grad school and gotten a degree in psychology, and in that time, I was very invested in what I was learning. I missed theatre, but I wanted it to be something I could be invested in. I thought this play was incredibly apropos with things I was learning, and I just thought it was an amazing piece.

OT: The play is about depression, but the synopsis almost posits a pretty positive way of looking at life. Was it difficult to get into the mindset of this character?

AS: It’s definitely a challenge. It’s dealing with some very difficult subject matter and dealing with it honestly. At the same time, the positivity of it comes from depression and mental illness in general as something that so many people experience, but don’t talk about.

Because I was going through a psychology program and developing empathy for what this experience is, it was a bit easier for me to get into what the message of this piece [is]. I think one of the key messages of the piece is depression and mental illness in general is not something that can be brushed away by looking at the bright side. That isn’t how depression works.

improvisation and the hardest part is to trust that it’s going to work.

You need the audience to come on that journey with you. I had a lot of trepidation about this when I first started the piece, but we found that there wasn’t an audience that rejected it. For some reason, the piece and the energy I’m bringing to it really invited people in, and after that, it was easier to go on that journey.

OT: You’ve been performing as this character for some time now.

Has it gotten easier to inhabit this space or more difficult?

AS: It’s easier. On paper, when you look at the show and what it asks of the performer, it seems daunting and like there’s no way it could work. It deals with very heavy topics and requires interaction and participation. There’s prominent comedic elements, and it seems like it wouldn’t work. Yet, the structure and gentleness of the piece, and the sense that it’s kind of a collective conversation as opposed to a performance piece – you realize it’s a very inviting space.

See Every Brilliant Thing as part of Studio Theatre’s SHOWROOM series from Wednesday, June 19 through Sunday, July 7.

Tickets are $45-$55. Learn more at www.studiotheatre.org.

OT: What are some of the hardest parts of bringing this person to life? What aspects of his mindset you actively relate to?

AS: I think one of the hardest parts is being by myself, because it involves so much audience reaction. There’s a lot of room in there for

Studio Theatre: 1501 14th St. NW, DC 202-332-3300; www.studiotheatre.org

www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

Jeff Hiller in Bright Colors and Bold Patterns

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STAGE & SCREEN EVENTS

By Aliviah Jones

Jubilee

Blackbeard

THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Jubilee For centuries, the Fisk Jubilee Singers broke racial barriers internationally by entertaining kings and queens across the world.

The acapella group first established themselves as entertainers at Fisk University in Nashville and used their collective musical talent to raise money for college. Tazewell Thompson’s Jubilee brings creativity and emotionally provoking music to the stage by highlighting themes of suffering, strength and endurance. Various dates and times. Tickets $92-$115. Arena Stage: 1101 6th St. SW, DC; www.arenastage.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 4 - SUNDAY, JUNE 7 Hello, Dolly!

Broadway legend Betty Buckley stars in Hello, Dolly! at the Kennedy Center this month. Acclaimed as “the best show of the year” by NPR, the musical takes audiences back to 1955 and follows the story of the matchmaker as she travels to Yonkers, New York to find a match for the half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, played by Lewis J. Stadlen.

Various dates and times. Tickets $49-$159. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: 2700 F St. NW, DC www.kennedy-center.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 - SUNDAY, JUNE 30 A Doll’s House, Part 2 Nicole A. Watson’s A Doll’s House, Part 1 ends with protagonist Norma Helma leaving her husband Torvald by the slam of a door. The followup production to this feminist battle cry opens with Helma knocking on that same door in search of closure, but she’s ultimately surprised by the reactions from those she left behind. Various dates and times. Tickets $55-$70. Round House Theatre: 4545 East-West Hwy. Bethesda, MD; www.roundhousetheatre.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 Kennedy Center x Frank Brown and DC Millennials with Port City Brewing Co. June 3 marks the first Records on the Rooftop event, the Kennedy Center’s free summer happy hour series offered in partnership with local and national partners who curate each event. The rooftop will transform into a modern lounge space with an eclectic lineup of live

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music featured throughout the series. Three of DC’s top DJs will set the scene mixing summery, feel-good hits atop one of the District’s most unique rooftops with brews from Port City Brewing Co. 5-8 p.m.

Free to attend. Kennedy Center Rooftop Terrace: 2700 F. St. NW, DC www.kennedy-center.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 - SUNDAY, JULY 14 Blackbeard Blackbeard takes a look at English pirate Edward Thatch, who navigated by ship through the West Indies and North American colonies. The production staged entirely on a pirate ship begins with Blackbeard learning he’s a wanted man by the British army. But perhaps Signature Theatre’s website sums up the new production best: “Blackbeard and his crew of maritime marauders embark on a fantastical journey across the globe to raise an undead pirate army from the depths of the sea.” Various dates and times. $40-$84.

Signature Theatre: 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA www.sigtheatre.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 - SUNDAY, JULY 21 Twisted Melodies This immersive one-man show performed by Kelvin Roston, Jr. takes a look at the life of 70s soul singer and composer Donny Hathaway, best known for his duets with Roberta Flack like “The Closer I Get To You.” Twisted Melodies provides a glimpse into the musician’s last days, his inner struggle with mental illness and the muses that inspired him. Various dates and times. Tickets $20-$68. Atlas Performing Arts Center: 1333 H St. NE, DC; www.atlasarts.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 - SUNDAY, JUNE 23 A Sense of Wonder A Sense of Wonder by Dance Exchange brings a creative performance that innovatively brings science and dance together on the Dance Place stage. As always, Dance Exchange is meant to inspire change and connect people of all ages to the questions that often provoke the medium of dance and its many beautiful performances. Starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets $15-$25. Dance Place: 3225 8th St. NE, DC; www.danceplace.org

FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES 2019

7-9pm at Yards Park | 355 Water Street SE Right on the Boardwalk!

New

Tingey Street N Street

Nationals Park

Americana Country/Bluegrass Rock Reggae Americana R&B/Pop/Soul Rock Soul/Funk Reggae Latin/Celtic Pop Bluegress

Water Street

Yards Park

Anacostia River

ve cA

ma

o Pot

Beer & Wine Available Onsite (must be 21+, no outside alcohol)

yardspark.org | capitolriverfront.org | @YardsParkDC

4th Street

y Ave

3rd Street

Jerse

Pop/R&B Country Rock/Funk/Pop

1st Street

Pebble to Pearl Shane Gamble Band Driven To Clarity Justin Trawick and the Common Good US Navy Country Current Practically Einstein Jah Works The 19 St Band The Jarreau Williams Band 7 Deadlies Aztec Sun Brent & Co La Unica Trailer Grass Orchestra

Half Street

6/7 6/14 6/21 6/28

6/28 7/5 7/12 7/19 7/26 8/2 8/9 8/16 8/23 8/30

Navy Yard

Photo: courtesy of Sony Music

ZARA LARSSON Is Proud to Speak Her Truth

By M.K. Koszycki

Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson has been making waves since the tender age of 15. Now 21, the outspoken singer of hits like “Ruin My Life” and “Never Forget You” prioritizes using her massive platform to advocate for herself and what she believes in. She’s headlining this year’s Capital Pride concert on June 9, and spoke to us about why Pride is important to her, being a role model to her fans and sticking up for herself.

On Tap: Why do you want to perform at the Capital Pride concert?

Zara Larsson: I always try to go to Pride in Stockholm. It’s something I really support. I’m lucky enough to have parents who raised me to believe that everyone has the right to love whoever they want. It’s really an honor to be performing at Pride, because it’s still needed. It’s an important cause for people to come out and be able to celebrate being themselves.

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OT: What can your audience expect from your performance? Do you have anything different planned?

ZL: I know we’ll have a great time because I know when I perform with my band, we always have so much fun. Most of my set is up-tempo and fun and dancey, so I hope to bring a little party. I’m very spontaneous, but I have something rehearsed that I’ve been doing for awhile.

OT: In addition to your participation in Pride, you’re known for being outspoken about your beliefs in general. Is this something you always wanted to use your platform for?

ZL: I think that some people might be worried because they have a career in singing and acting, and might be scared of voicing their opinions because of what other people might think. I think that human rights will always be more important than my career. I just believe it’s a part of me. I stand up for what I believe in. I have no problem with voicing that.

OT: Why is that something that’s very important to you in both your personal and professional life?

ZL: I think it’s important for me to do that because I know I have a lot of followers who are young people looking up to me. I’d like to be a good role model in that kind of scenario. A good role model to me isn’t to not drink or party or curse. It’s more how you treat people. That’s what defines a good person to me. I’d like to influence as many people as possible. I’m very loud. If I don’t agree with something, I’ll let you know. In school, I was always arguing with teachers and my parents. They raised me in a way where they allowed me to have discussions with them, question things and ask, “Well, why is that?”

I think that kind of shaped me into the person I am.

OT: That’s a very admirable way to be, especially as someone in the public eye. Do you ever feel pressure when acting as a role model or voicing your opinions?

ZL: It’s hard because of course you want to make people open their eyes and be more empathetic and understanding. But it is hard to argue and be sensitive when someone is saying, “Oh, but if you are gay...” Some parents will say, “You don’t deserve to live under my roof anymore. I don’t want to have any contact with you.” And when things are to that point, it’s very hard to realize how to talk sense into someone like that. It’s a f--king art form. It has to be. But it’s hard. I don’t think it’s impossible.

I think that’s why we need to have this debate and talk about it all the time.

OT: You’re a huge advocate for yourself, too, especially in having creative control over your work. What’s it like for you as an international pop star to exercise that kind of agency?

ZL: I think that everyone can kind of relate, whether you’re in music or not, just as a woman in regular life [can]. I feel like women in general don’t get a lot of credit. People don’t really want to believe immediately that you did all this by yourself or you’re capable of doing it. The songs that I love that have been doing well are songs that I had to fight for. Growing up, I had to learn that I don’t need to listen to every single person who has an opinion on what I do. I know what’s good and what’s not, and should have control over that.

Catch Zara Larsson at the Capital Pride concert on Sunday, June 9 from 6-7 p.m. at the Capitol concert stage. The concert begins at 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public, with VIP and pit passes available for purchase. For more Capital Pride programming, visit www.capitalpride.org.

For more on Larsson, visit www.zaralarssonofficial.com.

Capital Pride concert: Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street in NW, DC

LIVE MUSIC | BOURBON | BURGERS

JUNE SA 1 SOUL CRACKERS TOMMY LEPSON & THE TOO MUCH SISTERS SU 2 CAROLINE SPENCE w/VIM & VIGOR TU 4

HAPPY HOUR w/ THE ICEMAN SPECIAL

TH 6

BROOKS HUBBARD

FR 7

THE RAD TRADS BLACKFOOT GYPSIES

SA 8 BACK TO THE 90’s 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF “CALIFORNICATION” BY...,THE GOOD TIME BOYS (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS TRIBUTE) w/ LITHIUM (NIRVANA TRIBUTE), BACK TO THE 90’s ALL STAR SU 9 THE CANVAS PEOPLE w/ NAH., CAT JANICE TH 13 CHRISTIAN LOPEZ FR 14 DYLAN LEBLANC – THE RENEGADE TOUR w/ ERIN RAE SA 15 (2:30PM) DC JAZZ FEST – DC JAZZPRIX FINALS FEATURING AMYANAA + ERNEST TURNER TRIO + MIXCLA SA 15 (8PM) ALL GOOD PRESENTS GHOST-NOTE SU 16 DC JAZZ FEST – INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE FEATURING EL VIOLIN LATINO + OLEG BUTMAN QUARTET + ANNE METTE IVERSEN + AUSTIN GIORGIO + WITNESS MATLOU TRIO TU 18 JOHN THE MARTYR w/KING SOLOMON HICKS TH 20 NICOLE BELANUS w/THE GREY A FR 21 BOBBY THOMPSON & FRIENDS “EP RELEASE SHOW” w/ REBECCA HAVILAND & WHISKEY HEART SA 22 ROD MELANCON TU 25 HAPPY HOUR w/ SOUTHPAW COUNTRY TH 27 SHINER HONKY TONK NIGHT WITH THE WIL GRAVATT BAND, SUMMER DEAN, BONNIE MONTGOMERY FR 28 CBDB SA 29 NOVO PRESENTS A TRIBUTE TO AMY WINEHOUSE FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS TBA + ALL-STAR DC HORN SECTION

pearlstreetwarehouse.com

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DC’s

Bacchae B ACCH AE

on the Expansiveness of Punk Bacchae’s Katie McD, Rena Hagins, Andrew Breiner, Eileen O’Grady

By Monica Alford

I think it’s time this asshole knew // I do not exist for you These two lines from Bacchae’s song “Read” perfectly capture the DC punk band’s ethos. Whether it’s calling out toxic masculinity on this track from their 2018 self-titled EP or wrestling with not meeting societal expectations of adult success on their new single “Everything Ugly,” they’re direct, they’re fierce and they’re not taking any shit.

I quickly learn this over a heaping plate of nachos with Bacchae (pronounced “Bock-Eye”) at Wicked Bloom, post-practice at neighboring 7DrumCity, and just around the corner from where three of the four musicians live together. I also learn that they’re insightful and quirky and full of self-deprecating charm (the best kind, really), and take the messages behind their music quite seriously.

(guitar) posits. “Whatever the options, you’re kind of expected to do all of them. You should have the family and the career and also be a bohemian that’s unmarried and living free – all incompatible things that you’re expected to do but all at once. That’s impossible.”

O’Grady views the new track as universal, speaking to different levels of the collective feeling of being lost in a sea of how you’re not measuring up – relationships, home ownership, stable job, you name it.

“I feel like the song can mean many different things to many people, but the thing that ties it all together is not being able to live up to this expectation of what adult success and stability should look like,” she says.

Hagins gets visibly choked up when we wax philosophical about the song’s meaning, speaking in earnest about how much she loves

Eileen O’Grady (drums) tells me about a work trip where she traveled solo and not once but twice was trapped into conversation with middle-aged men while just trying to read her book in peace.

The second encounter escalated to the point that she had to literally duck behind a barrier and hide from the guy because he came back to the bar looking for her. She sent Katie McD (vocals, keyboard) a lengthy email about the experience and suggested they write a song about it. McD was game.

“Read” resonated with Rena Hagins (bass, vocals) too; she’s introduced the song to audiences on several occasions as being about “dusty ass motherf--kers who won’t leave us alone.”

“I feel like ‘I do not exist for you’ fully encompassed everything we were feeling,” the bassist says. “We’re sitting out here just living our lives trying to simply exist and you think this requires you to be in our space and talk to us, but we’re not welcoming that.”

But the band’s candor doesn’t stop there. We dig into the inspiration behind the May release “Everything Ugly,” speaking openly about how it feels like you can’t win no matter what when it comes to checking off the obligatory boxes of where we should be in life by a certain age.

“I feel like people more and more live outside of established life paths but still feel pressure to adhere to them,” Andrew Breiner

the relatability of the lyrics and McD’s distinctive pipes on the track.

McD, who writes the bulk of Bacchae’s songs, says she drew from the complaints of our generation as she penned the track about being depressed and feeling isolated.

“I think we feel [societal pressures] more so as women,” she says.

“We’re pulled in all these different directions and we can never be good enough in every single arena or even just good enough in one arena. I feel like you don’t have to do that when you play punk rock.”

Bacchae embraces the label of punk, but McD is quick to clarify that the genre isn’t confined by a set of musical rules. “[Punk] doesn’t have to sound a certain way because it’s more tied to ideology and attitude than to a certain sound.”

O’Grady responds in kind, noting that punk is expansive.

“There’s a lot of room within punk to be whoever you want to be, and I think that’s part of what punk is.”

Even the band’s name is directly connected to the core meaning of what it means to them to be punk. Breiner points out that Bacchae were the followers of Bacchus, the Greek god of wine and agriculture, and known for making a ruckus in their worship, “which is very fitting for a punk band.” O’Grady gets a little more academic, citing Anne Carson’s queer, feminist translation of Euriphides’ Greek tragedy Bakkhai that

There’s a lot of room within punk to be whoever you

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Photos: Kara Donnelly

We’re lucky to be a DC band for sure.

I’ve seen a shift in terms of the diversity onstage. There’s a lot more people you can connect to just representing who you are.

embraces playing with gender and “ripping some guy’s head off.”

When you narrow the scope of punk to its sonic components, Hagins says there’s such a range of different styles that can be listed under that umbrella.

“Although we might not traditionally fit with somebody’s thought and vision and aesthetic of what punk is, it still works.”

Though the band has some shared influences (Screaming Females and Pixies chief among them), they pride themselves on having an eclectic sonic palette and drawing from different styles.

“I think that’s what defines us,” O’Grady says.

Breiner is quick to respond with, “Yeah, it’s our best thing, I think.”

Though Bacchae’s toured outside of the District since forming in

backstage, as am I) and Comet Ping Pong (the host of their next local show on July 8) and scrappy creative spaces like Rhizome and Dwell.

They’re also energized by the talent of their peers, rattling off a long list of local artists they are smitten with including Ex Hex, Bat Fangs, Mock Identity, Bad Moves, Homosuperior and most bands on Dischord Records, a DC-based punk label from the mid-2000s.

But the gravitational pull to the District seems to extend beyond Bacchae to the band’s day jobs, ranging from digital healthcare and professional writing to strategic research for a labor union. Oh, and McD’s gig as a part-time beekeeper. While playing music full-time might be the dream, they each seem connected to their professions in meaningful ways.

2016, the bandmates have strong roots in the nation’s capital. Not only do three of the four hail from MoCo, they all emphasize how supported they feel by the DC music community.

“We’re lucky to be a DC band for sure,” Hagins says. “I went to a lot of punk and hardcore shows growing up and I’ve seen a shift in terms of the diversity onstage. There’s a lot more women, queer people, nonbinary people – just a variety of different people on the stage instead of just white males that typically take up the space in those scenes. It’s a lot more enjoyable because you don’t feel as othered in DC. There’s a lot more people you can connect to that are there in the crowd and also playing music and just representing who you are.”

The bandmates mention that part of their association with the local punk scene directly correlates with how many hardcore shows they’ve been asked to play, so they’ve “ended up feeling like that’s our group of people,” according to Breiner.

He mentions that the punks are the ones often putting on the house shows, which help keep the DIY music scene alive in the District. But as the noise complaints continue to roll in and accessible, affordable shows held in music lovers’ homes seem to be on the decline, the musicians advocate for DC’s other options: smaller venues like Black Cat (they’re still mourning the closing of the

Beyond the daily grind, they can be found exploring some combination of the National Arboretum, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, and Hirshhorn, indulging in authentic Vietnamese nosh at Falls Church’s Eden Center, or hanging out with their cats (three felines total are connected to the band). And the four friends don’t seem to get sick of each other either; they catch shows and meals together regularly.

“There’s a whole conspiracy theory that we’re the same person,” Hagins says.

“A lot of people in our music community scene have commented on the fact that we travel in a pack,” O’Grady says, before ending her thought with earnest laughter. “We just like to hang out. It’s not weird.”

Catch Bacchae at Comet Ping Pong on Monday, July 8 at 9 p.m. with Potty Mouth and Colleen Green; tickets are $12. And stay tuned for their new album this fall, as they’re set to record in September. Learn more about the band at www.bacchae.bandcamp.com and follow them on social media at @bacchaeband.

want to be, and I think that’s part of what punk is.

Comet Ping Pong: 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC 202-364-0404; www.cometpingpong.com www.ontaponline.com | JUNE 2019 | ON TAP

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Lake Street Dive’s Akie Bermiss, Mike Calabrese, Bridget Kearney, Rachael Price and Mike Olson

Fifteen Years Later,

Lake Street Dive Is Still Evolving

By M.K. Koszycki

Boston-based Lake Street Dive has been a band for an impressive 15 years as of this May, and their unique conglomeration of pop, soul, bluegrass and more has made them a fast favorite for listeners of many genres.

While at first glance, their crossover appeal would seemingly make them an instant hit, the band has slowly and steadily climbed to the top 10 of the Billboard 200, received critical acclaim from a whole host of outlets and toured internationally in support of 2018’s Free Yourself Up. Rachael Price (vocals), Mike Olson (trumpet, guitar), Bridget Kearney (upright bass), Mike Calabrese (drums) and Akie Bermiss (keyboards) decided to forego any outside help and self-produce their most recent record, making it a true reflection of the band’s dynamic and skill.

Kearney explains that after being a band for that long, they looked at self-production as a way to challenge each other in a way they hadn’t before in their career.

“It was intimidating in some ways because you always rely on a producer as someone outside the band to make little decisions about the technical aspects of the record,” she elaborates. “But also, big picture elements of the record like what songs are going to be on it and what the general thrust of the album [is]. Those are often times the producer’s role. Not having a person to be the definitive decision maker was scary.”

The group surprised themselves, though, embracing the change in

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dynamic and each other when the going got tough.

“In the end, it was a really great flow for us. We found that working in that way, especially as a collaborative unit, was really fun. [There were] several of us on board to make democratic decisions, or at times to pass the producer hat around to another person in the band and say, ‘Look, I’m exhausted and I can’t tell which guitar part I should use. It’s your day to decide!’”

The resulting album deals with interpersonal relationships, gender dynamics and ever-so-subtly, but still effectively, politics. The songs are so catchy it’s easy to skim over the convictions present, but Kearney confirms their inclusion and lyrical subject matter were a conscious choice as they set out to create an album in the world post2016 election.

“We were just shocked and devastated by the results of the 2016 election and the ensuing chaos,” Kearney says of the political lilt present in songs like “Shame, Shame, Shame,” for one. “At the same time, I always want to take some genuine feeling and inspiration and make it into a song that can be not just for people right here, right now, but for people that might hear it 20 years from now and are in a completely different situation – be it political or interpersonal. You want to leave some elements up to the listener to interpret the song as they would like.”

In keeping with the band’s ethos of diverse influences both lyrically and systematically, Lake Street Dive drew on an impressive list of influences on Free Yourself Up. Kearney recalls how they were able to

Photo: Shervin Lainez

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“You want to leave some elements up to the listener to interpret the song as they would like.” use the collective sorrow surrounding the deaths of iconic musicians as a way to explore genres they may have otherwise not considered. “[We said], ‘David Bowie just passed away – let’s check out his music and what he was doing.’ Tom Petty also passed away while we were in the studio, so we were listening to [his] records in the studio and going ‘Whoa, this thing is super cool that he was doing.’ It was little things, like the way the rhythm guitar was being played on a track or an improvised ambient foundation we hadn’t tried before.”

The small improvisational energies that make Free Yourself Up such a compelling record will be evident as the band embarks on a summer tour in support of the record, including the band’s stop at Wolf Trap on June 8. Kearney notes that she’s anticipating getting back on the road with The Wood Brothers, and even plans to showcase some special collaborations with the band onstage.

“They’re a really amazing band and they have an incredible bass player, Chris Wood, who I am excited – as a bass player – to get to listen to every night. I think we have six or eight shows with them, so we were like, ‘We should take some time to get some extra special things together for those shows.’”

Whether in the studio or on the road, the band’s willingness to evolve and create together is evident in all they do. Catch them at Wolf Trap on Saturday, June 8. Tickets begin at $40 and gates open at 6 p.m. For more on Lake Street Dive, visit www.lakestreetdive.com.

The Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA 703-255-1900; www.wolftrap.org

By Trent Johnson and Aliviah Jones

Ocean Alley

MONDAY, JUNE 3

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Local Natives This indie band hasn’t really changed much since I was in college, when I first heard them at the recommendation of several friends.

While that may seem like an insult, I think there’s something refreshing about a band who doesn’t feel the need to constantly change it up, and why would you if you unlocked a near perfect formula for making emotional, enjoyable pop music? You wouldn’t, at least not for awhile.

Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets $36. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

Davina and The Vagabonds How often have you heard 30s music? I’d wager that the answer is somewhere between “barely” to “never.” That being said, the musical stylings of old-fashioned era specific New Orleans jazz is part of the appeal of Davina and The Vagabonds. With pianos, bass, trumpet, drums and trombone all accompanying the soothing vocals of Davina Sowers, who draws influence from legends like Billie Holiday, this band is a throwback revelation. See this quintet harness the powers of music from nearly 90 years previous. Show at 8 p.m. $17.50-$37.50. AMP by Strathmore: 11810 Grand Park Ave. NW, DC; www.ampbystrathmore.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 The English Beat The racially diverse group The English Beat got its start in the late 70s and early 80s as an alternative-pop band. Fronted by vocalist Dave Wakeling, the group perfects a balance of pop and rhythmic melodies, which led to mainstream popularity in the U.K. and a cult status in the United States. Their latest album Here We Go Love was released in May of last year, making it their first release in 36 years. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $35. The Birchmere: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.birchmere.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers One of the most recognized and prolific saxophonists, Grammy nominee Mindi Abair is back with her collaborators The Boneshakers.

The sound vacillates between country and blues, providing twangy lyrics in between the big wind sounds. The band’s new record No Good Deed hits stores on June 28, but you’ll likely hear tunes off their latest at the Birchmere. Doors at 7:30 p.m. $35. The Birchmere: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.birchmere.com

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SATURDAY, JUNE 8 Pink Sweat$ Everything about Pink Sweat$’s music is scaled back. His production is minimal, his vocals are subdued and his lyrics are as subtle, sweet and seductive as his favorite beverage: Coke & Henny. The Philadelphia takes the moniker to new levels in all his appearances, often clad in various shades of pink whether he’s rocking track suits, sweaters or an astronaut suit. Doors at 6 p.m. Tickets $20. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

MONDAY, JUNE 10 Lazy Bones Far from Lazy, this DIY indie pop band is still new to the scene, only forming in 2017, but that doesn’t mean their music sounds inexperienced. In such a short time, this group has opened for genre standouts such as Charly Bliss, Wolf Parade and Diet Cig, putting them on equal footing with some of the best indie rock groups going.

Doors at 8:30 p.m. Show is free, but a $7 donation is recommended.

Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe: 2475-2477 18th St. NW, DC; www.songbyrddc.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 11 Nots This four-piece punk band from Memphis, Tennessee makes sporadic sound good. The music is breakneck, all fueled by an unflappably pulsating bassline and a chant-like vocal method. While the music is fun to listen to (or headbang to) in a car, there’s no doubt that this kind of sonic wave is more enjoyable in person, preferably front row. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets $10-$12. Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe: 2475-2477 18th St. NW, DC; www.songbyrddc.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 Will Varley Will Varley began is career in London performing at open-mic nights blending personal storytelling and ancient folk traditions. Varley signed with Xtra Mile recordings after self-releasing two studio albums in 2015. Varley’s latest album “Spirit of Minnie” was released in February of last year and touched on a lot of political undertones.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $32. DC9 Nightclub: 1940 St. NW, DC; www.dc9.club

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 An Evening with Star Kitchen Star Kitchen features bassist Marc Brownstein from The Disco Biscuits, drummer Marlon Lewis (Lauryn Hill and John Legend), guitarist Danny Mayer of the Erik Krasno Band and keyboardist Rob Marscher of the Addison Groove Project. Star Kitchen will take you beyond the universe giving you an improvisational performance of funky, R&B music. Doors open at 7 p.m.Tickets $15. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 15 Ghost-Note Percussion-based group Ghost-Note draws their influences from artists such as James Brown, J Dilla and Herbie Hancock as well as West-African and Afro-Cuban sounds. Their sound can be described as a mix of hip-hop, jazz, EDM and rock. Their latest studio album, “Swagism” featured heavy-hitting beats rich in instrumental sounds.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets $15-$20. Pearl Street Warehouse: 33 Pearl St. SW, DC; www.pearlstreetwarehouse.com

MONDAY, JUNE 17 San Cisco “Heartbreak never sounded so good,” is the way San Cisco describes their brand of indie pop quartet describes their more moody tunes.

The band generally keeps the sound light and bouncy, but that doesn’t mean the subject matter can’t deal in the serious. With synths, dynamic thumps and appealing vocals, this Australian outfit is one not to miss. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $18. Black Cat DC: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; www.blackcatdc.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 Kikagaku Moyo This Japanese outfit is all about their honoring their psychedelic forefathers. Harnessing all the powers of trippy guitar riffs that can leave your mind wandering and pondering and thinking and blinking.

Listening to Kikagaku Moyo (Japanese for geometric patterns) is not dissimilar to taking in a piece of art in a gallery, you need to take time past the initial glance and truly take in the work in totality. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets $18. U Street Music Hall: 1115 U St. NW, DC; www.ustreetmusichall.com

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 Flasher Listening to DC’s own Flasher is like hearing music in a time machine.

No matter how new the release, their music contains a timeless classic appeal. From shoegaze to punk, the band has carved out a niche in the local scene, and are often mentioned as some of the city’s best.

2018’s Constant Image provided a look into their inner anxieties and how they overcome them via music and art. Doors at 9 p.m. Tickets $12. Comet Ping Pong: 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; www.cometpingpong.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 21 Ariana Grande Grande’s “Thank U, Next” single provoked a nostalgic feeling for millennials with inspiration from romantic comedies such as “Mean Girls” and “Legally Blonde.” The video highlights the importance of self-care during heartbreaking situations. “Thank U, Next” delves into the theme of heartbreak with the death of rapper ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and the ending of her engagement to actor Pete Davidson.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $175. Capital One Arena: 601 F St. NW,DC; www.capitalonearena.com Sizzy Rocket Las Vegas native, Sizzy Rocket pulls influences from the punk-rock genre with a mix of catchy pop lyrics. Rocket released a cover of Beastie Boys’ “Girls” in 2014 which became a viral hit and then later released her debut single “I Wanna Rob.” Her latest EP “Mulholland” features catchy lyrics of pop love songs with instrumental beats.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets $15. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Ocean Alley Ocean Alley hails from the Northern beaches of Sydney, Australia and have been described as having a sound perfect for cruising down the coast or hanging out at the beach.There sound is considered a mix of modern reggae and alternative rock with influences from artists like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Pink Floyd. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Tickets $15. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H. St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Faye Webster Atlanta native and Indie artist Faye Webster comes from a family of musicians with her grandfather being a bluegrass guitarist and her mother being a former guitarist and fiddle player. Webster’s sound is a mix of country and pop melodies. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10-$12. DC9: 1940 9th St. NE, DC; www.dc9.club

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Rich the Kid: The World is Yours 2 Tour Atlanta native, Rich the Kid has appeared on tracks from The Migos and Kendrick Lamar blowing away the trap music scene. Head of Rich Forever music, Kid’s sophomore album The World is Yours 2 debuted in March and features some of the biggest artists in hip-hop such as Big Sean, Nav and Takeoff. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets $27. Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.fillmoresilverspring.com

BOBBY BROWN & BELL BIV DEVOE

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

CARACALLA DANCE THEATRE

ROCK OF AGES

SWV

JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE

JUN 7

JUN 12

JUN 18 + 19

METTAVOLUTION TOUR

RBRM – 4 THE LOVE OF IT TOUR

JUN 2

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES DEER TICK

PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO MELISSA ETHERIDGE

JUN 20

JUN 25

MAGGIE ROSE

ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS

DIANA ROSS

TENTH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS TOAD THE WET SPROCKET

JUN 27

THE POSIES

LIZ PHAIR

JUN 30

LAKE STREET DIVE THE WOOD BROTHERS

DISPATCH

WHEELS OF SOUL 2019 TOUR

ANDERSON EAST JUN 29

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND

JUN 8

JOHNNY MATHIS

JACKSON BROWNE

BLACKBERRY SMOKE SHOVELS & ROPE JUL 17

CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PERFORMS:

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE™ IN CONCERT

THE VOICE OF ROMANCE TOUR JUN 15

PINK FLOYD’S THE WALL 40TH ANNIVERSARY JUN 22

BUDDY GUY KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND SAMANTHA FISH JUN 23

RAIN

A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES JUN 28

JUL 3

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

STEVE MILLER BAND MARTY STUART

AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES

JUL 5 + 6

MATT ANDERSEN JUL 31

JOSH GROBAN

LENNY KRAVITZ

BRIDGES TOUR JUL 7

“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC

THE STRINGS ATTACHED TOUR NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JUL 16

AUG 21

FARRUKO LARY OVER AUG 23

MARY J. BLIGE SEP 3

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)

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FRIDAYS AT Fort Totten PRESENTS

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Jimi Smooth Band Jarreau Williams Xperience Jah Works Allthebestkids The Monster Band Pebble To Pearl Sol Roots Cecily Oh He Dead The JoGo Project Feel Free Deacon Izzy & The Congregation RAIN DATE

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www.FridaysAtFortTotten.com *Bands are subject to change. Please check website for updated schedule.*