History in the Making: The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s New Exhibition Honors the Institution’s Past While Looking to its Future by
Dyana White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota, b. 1976), untitled cross, 2024, acrylic on canvas, glass beads, museum purchase, 2014.
“Stretching
the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting” at the American Indian Museum
“Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting” explores how Native artists challenged perceptions of what constituted Native art and what it should look like. Featuring more than 50 works by over 40 artists, this exhibition tells the story of how American Indian art expanded after World War I and Native painters began to advocate for themselves in a world that often ignored their talent. Artists such as Fred Kabotie, Tonita Pena and Stephen Mopope made space for painting at a time when Native art was often dismissed. Later generations embraced a wide range of approaches. “Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting” opens at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian on May 15. www.americanindian.si.edu
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Anacostia River Festival
On Saturday, May 16, from 2 to 6 p.m., the 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service present the 12th annual Anacostia River Festival. This free, family-friendly event at Anacostia Park, 1800 Anacostia Dr., features events such as: guided mindfulness and movement; bookmark making inspired by Alma Thomas; seed paper making and botany chat; fishing workshops; exploring Anacostia’s water world; pickleball; fun with Building Bridges farms; arts, crafts and games; food allergy games and safety fun; nature exploration activities; creek critter discovery; community flipbook art; hands-on STEAM lab; mindful art making and community chalk art. On the stage are the Washington Ballet, Union Temple Church Choir and Chief Rocka. Reservations and safety waivers must be completed before participating in water activities. Both can be obtained from the River Activities tent located on the festival grounds. All activities are free. www.buildingbridgesdc.org
“How Sweet the Sound” Gospel Competition at The Anthem
On Saturday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), at The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, this event showcases the nation’s top gospel choirs, soloists, dance ensembles and spoken word artists. Featuring performances by award-winning artists, this one-nightonly experience inspires and energizes audiences of all ages. www.theanthemdc.com
“The Great Gatsby” at the National (The Party’s Roaring in Washington, DC!)
Based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Tony Awardwinning “Gatsby” is an unforgettable musical about love, wealth and tragedy. “The Great Gatsby” is at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from May 12 to 24. Tickets start at $67. www. broadwayatthenational.com
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
“America’s State Flowers: An America 250 Celebration” at the Botanic Garden
Through Oct. 12, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, blooms with the flower each US state and territory has chosen as its official flower. Explore the display showing the state and territory flowers with living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations and herbarium specimens. For an interactive map showing where each state flower is showcased, visit www. usbg.gov/visit/exhibits/americas-state-flowers-america250celebration. Click the icon on the map’s top right (four corners of an open box) to make the map fullscreen and even more interactive. www.usbg.gov
The official flower of the District of Columbia, the American beauty rose. Commercial color lithograph (from the flowers series for Old Judge Cigarettes), 1890.
NGA Jazz in the Garden Celebrates American Sounds
The National Gallery of Art’s Friday summer concert series returns with Jazz in the Garden: American Sounds. Kicking off on May 22, the series spotlights artists from across the country performing genres from indie, soulfunk, alternative bluegrass, salsa and jazz, to rhythm & blues, blues, Americana and brass band. Admission is free. The NGA offers registrations through a lottery system. It opens on Mondays at 10 a.m. and closes Fridays at noon at www.nga.gov/jazz. Lottery entrants are notified by email if they were selected on the Monday before each program. Limited passes will be available at all entrance gates starting at 5 p.m. On concert days, the Sculpture Garden closes from 4 to 5 p.m.; gates reopen at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 6 p.m. The NGA Sculpture Garden is located on the north side of the National Mall. www.nga.gov
“Burnished: Pueblo Pottery” at NMWA
From May 8 to Sept. 27, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW, presents a new look at Pueblo pottery in this exhibition drawn from the museum’s collection. “Burnished” affirms the continuing impact of Pueblo women potters as well as NMWA’s longstanding commitment to collecting and exhibiting their work. NMWA is open daily, except Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $16; adult 65+ and DC residents, $13. Free admission for 21 and under, visitors with disabilities and SNAP/EBT holders. www.nmwa.org
Marie Zieu Chino, seed jar, 1982, clay, 12 x 13 inches; National Museum of Women in the Arts, gift of Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay.
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
“Spain My Way: Live with Jose Andres” at the Lincoln
This spring, Jose Andres is taking his newest cookbook, “Spain My Way,” on the road, with an immersive experience that goes beyond the page. In his world, every dish has a story and every moment is meant to be shared. “Spain My Way: Live with Jose Andres” is at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, on Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.). Tickets are $56.70. www.thelincolndc.com
Jose Andres in the Feeding the Planet Summit, 2013.
Annual Fellows Art Lectures at SAAM
On May 20 to 22, the cohort of 2025-26 Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellows presents a series of talks spanning a range of topics, time periods, media and messages. This multi-afternoon program offers the opportunity to hear from a new generation of scholars delving into the Smithsonian’s collections and archives to uncover fresh perspectives on American art. The lectures are held in person in the McEvoy Auditorium, and online. Lectures are on Wednesday, May 20, from 1:00 to 2:45 p.m., and 3:15 to 5:00 p.m.; Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Registration is required and is free. SAAM is at Eighth and G streets NW. www.americanart.si.edu
Bilal at the Howard
On May 10, at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), at the Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW, Grammy Award-winning artist Bilal returns following the success of album releases in 2024. An immersive sonic experience defies genre conventions as Bilal refines his unique style. General admission is $74. www.unionstagepresents.com
Blessing of the Fleet at The Wharf
The Blessing of the Fleet tradition began centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing communities as a means to ensure a safe and bountiful season. The Blessing of the Fleet at the Wharf Waterfront is on Saturday, May 16, noon to 1 p.m., with guest speakers; and 1 to 2 p.m., with a boat procession. 30 to 50 boats will participate led by a DC fire boat with a water spray display. www.powyc.org
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Spring Festival
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Spring Festival, 2815 36th St. NW, brings the best of Greek food, drink and culture to the DC area. An annual tradition, the festival is on May 15 to 17: Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. A Greek band performs on Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 to 7 p.m. Greek Language School children perform on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Byzantio Greek Folk dancers perform on Saturday at 6 p.m. The festival also offers Greek delicacies made fresh across the festival weekend. www. saintsophiadc.org/ministries/volunteer/greek-festival
Get Down Tonight: Classic Funk at Signature
Go to “Higher Ground” as Isaac “Deacon Izzy” Bell and Shayla S. Simmons groove to classic funk. From May 5 to 17, they bring down the “Brick House” with songs such as “She’s a Bad Mama Jama,” “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “Shining Star” and more. Tickets are $53. Signature Theatre is at 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia. www.sigtheatre.org
The R&B Lovers Tour: Keith Sweat, Joe, Dru Hill & Ginuwine
Keith Sweat is an American singer, producer and songwriter known for numerous hits and solo albums. He began his career as a member of a Harlem band, performing throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. Keith Sweat is at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW, on Saturday, May 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $135. www.dar.org
WMAL Free Speech Forum at the Birchmere
On Sunday, May 17, from 7 to 10 p.m., NewsTalk 105.9 FM WMAL brings an all-ages Free Speech Forum to the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Virginia. WMAL’s personalities on stage debate the news of the day as determined by questions posed in writing from members of the audience. Personalities will include Larry O’Connor, Chris Plante, Vince Coglianese and afternoon show host Derek Hunter. $55. www.birchmere.com
Fiesta Asia Street Fair (A Celebration of Heritage, Love & Life)
The annual Fiesta Asia Street Fair is on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 400 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The fair features over 1,000 performers, artisans, entrepreneurs, food vendors and organizations on stages representing more than 20 cultures. There will be live performances by musicians, vocalists, dancers and martial artists, a diverse array of PanAsian cuisine, a shopping bazaar, kid-friendly interactive activities, a talent competition, a cultural parade, street dancing and exhibits of traditional and contemporary Asian crafts. ww.fiestaasia.org
“Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era”
Displayed together for the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are on view through Aug. 2 at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Created by leading artists of 18thcentury England, the paintings depict scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. This exhibition offers the chance to consider both the stories Shakespeare created and the stories that were created about him. www.folger.edu
“Romeo and Juliet,” Act V, scene 3, monument belonging to the Capulets: Romeo and Paris dead, Juliet and Friar Laurence. James Northcote.
Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Affordability
The District’s mayoral race has become a fight over how far government should go to make the city livable again ‒ and how long residents can afford to wait.
All candidates agree on the diagnosis: Washington is becoming unaffordable. Housing costs have soared. Federal job cuts have weakened the tax base. City finances are tightening. And an unpredictable White House and Congress continue to interfere in local affairs.
Where they diverge, sometimes sharply, is on what comes next. Eight candidates are vying to be mayor:
1. Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (janeesefordc.com);
2. former At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (kenyanmcduffie.com);
3. developer Gary Goodweather (goodweatherfordc.com);
4. civil rights attorney Yaida Ford (yaida4dc.com);
5. former At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange (orangeformayor.com);
6. federal contractor Rini Sampath (riniformayor.com);
7. real estate broker Ernest Johnson (ernestformayor2026.com);
8. former federal agent Hope Solomon (hopefordc.com).
This analysis draws on candidate websites, campaign materials and two forums: the March 15 Free DC debate and the April 20 event hosted by The 51st News and Washington Informer.
Shocking Electric Bills
The sharpest confrontations so far have not been about crime or schools but electricity.
At the Free DC debate, McDuffie and Lewis George accused each other of being responsible for the spike in electricity bills. Lewis George pointed out that McDuffie had led the DC Council committee responsible for oversight of the Public Service Commission (PSC), which sets utility rates. McDuffie retorted that both candidates had voted to confirm the current appointees.
“Do not fall for the banana in the tailpipe. It’s about leadership,” McDuffie said, arguing the District’s elected officials shared responsibility for the soaring rates. The clash revealed a deeper split: whether the problem is regulatory failure, political failure or system design.
Their answers at the April 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Library forum, hosted by The 51st News and Washington Informer, showed overlap as well as conflict. Lewis George said she would expand community and government solar options, automatically enroll more residents in low-income utility programs and appoint commissioners who “put people first.” She also wanted to explore “public utility options.” McDuffie likewise backed automatic enrollment and called for a strong People’s Counsel and PSC that prioritize affordability, while also holding data centers responsible for increases.
Both candidates are arguing for a more consumer-protective city posture, though Lewis George’s campaign website goes further in making “affordable utilities for all” a named policy plank.
But Orange saw leverage. Utilities, he declared, always need something from the city. An effective mayor could use any ask as leverage to drive down rates, he argued at the MLK forum.
Goodweather proposes a technological solution in his Power DC plan. It involves expanding local electric production by installing solar panels on all public buildings, recovering sewer heat at DC Water’s sanitation plant, encouraging urban geothermal networks and creating community virtual powerplants. Regional partnerships could be used to lock in stable prices.
Sampath and Solomon each cast the issue as a transparency and governance failure. Sampath said that “Pepco will have to fight to continue to prove” that it should remain the sole utility provider, and criticized “backroom deals and closed door meetings.” Solomon, describing her own experience opening a utility bill “like three times the [usual] cost,” said residents need a mayor who will “figure out what the hell is going on in these backdoor conversations.” Neither campaign’s website offers a utility plan as fleshed out as Goodweather’s or Lewis George’s.
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Johnson’s campaign site focuses far more on education, jobs and public safety than on power costs. Where Johnson is specific, it is on broader service delivery and budget alignment rather than a utility strategy.
Making Childcare Affordable
Childcare reveals some of the clearest contrasts in how candidates approach affordability, particularly around cost, access and how to pay for it. Everyone agrees that the average childcare cost of $2,400 per month is excessive. But they disagree on approach.
Lewis George argues for childcare as a public good. Her Childcare for All plan would cap costs at 7% of household income by expanding the city’s subsidy program so that “everybody qualifies, no matter your ZIP Code.” Presenting childcare as a system to be guaranteed rather than supplemented, she said she could raise $500 million to pay for expansion in part by closing loopholes she says benefit Maryland and Virginia businesses.
McDuffie rejected building a new system and prefers the expansion of existing programs, such as the childcare subsidy and universal pre-K. He proposed reducing barriers to opening new providers, including in-home care and downtown facilities. Framing the issue as one of budget priorities, he called the city’s spending plan “a moral document” that should fund programs that already work.
Other candidates focused less on universal coverage and more on system constraints. Orange presented childcare as part of economic development, connecting childcare to both family stability and job creation. At the April 20 debate, he argued that the city should invest in childcare centers not only so parents can work, but also because those centers create jobs and prepare children for school.
At the same debate, Sampath claimed that “provider economics” are a major barrier, arguing that regulations such as limits on where childcare centers can be located make opening and expanding childcare difficult, and she criticized what she described as cuts to childcare funding in the mayor’s budget.
Goodweather took a different approach, linking
childcare costs to broader household expenses. His proposal to make transit farefree, he argued, could return about $1,000 annually to residents, money families could redirect toward childcare, while also building a larger early childhood workforce through his Capital Corps program. Solomon warned that candidates were making promises without honestly explaining “how we’re going to pay for it.” Her answer, while not rejecting childcare funding, stressed budgeting and fiscal choices over a new named plan.
Soaring Housing Costs
Housing is the most fully developed issue across the race, but candidates disagree sharply on pace, scale and whether the city should act mainly as regulator, partner or builder. Lewis George wants to create 72,000 new units in five years through a Dignified Homes DC plan that would drive the increase through a publicly owned, mixed-income and permanent affordable-housing developer. To attain that goal, she wants to simplify permitting, relax height restrictions near Metro stations and generally reform the zoning code. Adding supply, she argues, would bring down rents and housing prices. “This crisis is too big and too serious not to be ambitious,” she declared.
McDuffie criticized Lewis George’s goal as unrealistic. His platform takes a more incremental approach. Using the Housing Trust Fund, he plans to expand housing production by 12,000 units. He also promises to preserve another 20,000 existing affordable apartments. Believing in the power of homeownership, McDuffie wants to fund programs to assist residents in accessing the housing market.
Goodweather sits between the two. He promises to audit DC housing agencies in the first 100 days of his administration. He also supports community land trusts, social housing and targeted tax relief. His Affordable DC plan promises 50,0000 new homes by 2032, 36,000 of them being “truly affordable” units that are legally restricted, voucher supported, part of a community land trust or, alternatively, market units that meet published affordability thresholds at move-in.
Beyond those three, the debate shifts again.
Orange emphasizes execution and experience, pointing to projects like Union
Market and NoMa and proposing to use the $100 million Housing Trust Fund to build 1,000 smaller units for entry-level workers. Sampath focuses on process failure.
“It takes on average 13 months to fill an affordable housing unit,” she said. “That would never be acceptable in a high performing organization.” Solomon challenges the premise outright. “I’m not that candidate of the build, build, build” approach, she declared, and focuses instead on unlocking existing small-landlord units.
All agree that the District’s economy is not equitable, citing neighborhood disparities, barriers to employment and lack of effective workforce development to connect residents with well-paying employment.
Opportunity for All
While agreeing that DC’s economy does not distribute opportunity evenly, the candidates part ways on whether government should strengthen labor standards, build workforce pipelines, attract employers or do all three. In her platform’s Good Jobs for All, Lewis George proposes raising standards for workers, supporting unions and ensuring that economic growth translates into higher incomes for residents. Rather than focusing primarily on pipelines into business sectors, she emphasizes reshaping the terms of work itself through labor protection, benefits and government-backed investment in job creation. Her emphasis on economic opportunity as inseparable from affordability argues that higher wages and stronger worker protections are necessary to keep residents in the city.
Central to McDuffie’s platform are creating pathways into sectors like technology and expanding opportunities for small businesses, alongside wealth-building programs such as baby bonds. He proposes a Stay in DC fund to keep local shops open, and investment in tech and creative startups. At forums he often connects affordability to economic growth, and his campaign materials outside his site stress support for businesses that anchor neighborhoods.
Goodweather’s approach relies on structure and metrics. He promises to create a citywide service and workforce program, the Capital Corps, to clear pathways into employment, along with an advanced technical center in every ward.
Gary Goodweather
Rini Sampath
Kenyan McDuffie
Hope Solomon
Janeese Lewis George
Vincent Orange
His proposed RISE Act would require employers to provide 90 days’ notice when technological changes affect jobs.
Others return to growth itself. Orange touts his role in the development of Union Market and Brentwood. Job creation follows economic development, he argues.
Sampath ties opportunity to government performance. Arguing that permitting delays and service failures retard growth, she says, “We need to be a city that actually works.” Solomon echoes that from a business perspective, pointing to bureaucratic barriers. She emphasizes job access and stability as part of broader efforts to improve quality of life and public safety.
Johnson links long-term economic opportunity with educational performance and emphasizes the need for outcomes such as 95% third-grade reading proficiency, 90% math competency by sixth grade and 85% vocational certification completion,
Despite the city’s straightened finances, candidates have made promises that may increase spending.
Expand Government? Reform Government? Or Both?
All the candidates agree that the District has failed to deliver services efficiently and cost-effectively. They differ on whether to expand government’s role, improve the systems, redesign how government operates or better enforce the current laws.
Lewis George‘s vision is the most radical. Government, she argues, is the primary tool for reducing inequality and lowering costs. The city’s affordability problems are caused by underinvestment and market failure. The solution is more direct public investment when private means fall short. Increased efficiencies in government programs can fund the expansion, she argues. “Working people should not shoulder the burden of balancing the budget,” she said.
For Goodweather, public investment is the solution. His proposal to make public transit free to DC residents could return more than $1,000 annually to regular riders, he argues. Much like Lewis George, he believes savings through increased government efficiency can cover the cost.
Orange takes the call for efficiency a step further. At the April 20 forum, he cited examples of funding he claims is misaligned, from police vacancies to paid family leave and traffic camera revenues, and called for a “revenue alignment commission” to find the money. He argues that the city’s problem is
not lack of cash but management.
Taking a more measured approach, McDuffie is not anti-spending but tends to frame programs as things government should scale up if they work rather than create entirely new systems. He pairs a proposal for targeted investments, such as baby bonds, with more effective governance.
Sampath, Solomon and Johnson offer their own versions of that critique. Sampath’s campaign proposes using performance metrics and public dashboards to improve agency functioning. She is particularly focused on 311 and 911 response, and her campaign has built a 311 app. Solomon talks about wanting “a real adult in here” and stresses honest discussion about what can be paid for. Johnson says DC government should work for residents rather than “special interests or outside commuters.”
In the background, the White House and Congress increasingly are interfering in the District’s affairs.
Defending DC
It is time to “stand up for all DC,” says Lewis George. That requires an “inside-outside strategy” that combines litigation, congressional engagement and grassroots organizing. Rather than relying solely on legal challenges or political negotiation, her approach assumes the city must do both. At the April 20 debate, she said that “complying in advance is not a strategy” and argued for using every legal lever with Attorney General Brian Schwalb, while also walking “the halls of Congress” herself and building a federal affairs office inside the executive branch. Her website names this agenda Stand Up for All DC and explicitly calls for rescinding the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) order that permits officers to work with federal immigration enforcement.
McDuffie also promises to terminate MPD cooperation with immigration enforcement, yet he remains open to working with federal partners on economic development and infrastructure. He is not, however, opposed to litigating to protect the District’s autonomy. “There’s no deal that I would ever cut … that will allow them to terrorize vulnerable residents,” he stated.
Super Home Rule is Goodweather’s initiative to expand the District’s authority over its own laws and budget. He says the city needs a standing system to respond to federal interference. At the April 20 debate, he also said sanctuary protections should be strength-
ened, that houses of worship and schools should be off limits and that every resident should be protected regardless of status. Home rule is not just a legal principle, he argues, but something to be operationalized through policy, planning and institutional capacity. Orange is the clearest accommodationist voice. At the April 20 forum, he said DC autonomy and statehood are “non-negotiable,” but also argued that the city must “at least have a dialog and to find the common ground.” His website similarly speaks of “Common Ground with the White House & Congress.” Orange is not afraid to lay a major part of the blame for the District’s subservient status on the Democrats.
Sampath and Solomon each push the discussion in their own direction. Sampath emphasizes protest rights and the need to audit data-sharing across agencies so residents know if cooperation with federal immigration enforcement extends farther than disclosed. Solomon emphasizes negotiation, arguing the city needs someone who can sit across from a hostile administration and protect local interests. Johnson’s site is much thinner here, his campaign gesturing toward resident-first self-government, but home rule is not developed nearly as fully as in the platforms of Lewis George, McDuffie or Goodweather.
Choices
The new mayor will take office at a pivotal moment that requires a balancing of government investments against fiscal constraints, cooperation with the federal overlords with protecting residents or making the most of private markets while choosing public alternatives. The candidates offer different ways forward. A voter’s choice is less about policy details than about direction, about how much change the city is willing to embrace. Build new systems, fix broken ones, enforce existing rules or try to do all three at once?
For more information on the candidates in the Democratic Primary scan QR code ; or attend the debate at the Hill Center at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE on May 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. or on May 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Transmission at 1353 H St. N. Visit www.hillrag.com/2026/04/27/hear-thecandidates-attend-the-may-debates for more details. u
The Delegate Race Winning Influence, Leading the Resistance or Both?
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
The race to succeed Eleanor Holmes Norton as Washington’s delegate to the US House of Representatives has evolved into the most dramatic contest in the primary election.
At the center are two members of the DC Council: Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto (D) (brookepintoforcongress. com/) and At-Large Councilmember Robert White (D) (joinrobertwhite.com). Three others have thrown their hats into the ring: Democratic strategist and business leader Kinney Zalesne (kinneyfordc.com), former Eleanor Holmes Norton staffer Trent Holbrook (trentholbrook.com) and former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chair Gregory Jaczko (gojaczko4dc.com).
All candidates agree on the importance of statehood and the defense of home rule against federal interference. However, they offer sharply different strategies to accomplishing these tasks.
Winning Influence, Leading Resistance
Experience inside the delegate’s office and familiarity with congressional procedure, Holbrook argues, are the most relevant qualifications. His focus is on advancing statehood legislation, protecting federal workers and working within channels to secure incremental gains.
Pinto frames the delegate as a defender of DC against rising congressional intervention in local affairs. A former assistant attorney general under Karl Racine, she centers her campaign on legal expertise, governance and the ability to anticipate and counter federal threats. She argues that the District needs someone who can push back with legislative and legal tools. As chair of the DC Council’s public safety committee, she led passage of the sweeping Secure DC omnibus, a package advanced on an emer-
gency basis to address rising crime and improve public safety across the District.
Other candidates believe the delegate should lead the resistance. Zalesne says the District is “on the front lines” of federal overreach. This, she says, calls for a louder, more aggressive voice in Congress and coalition-building beyond the city. Her ideas include regional economic coordination and a commuter tax. The delegate should operate not just within Congress but across jurisdictions to strengthen the District’s leverage, she argues.
Jaczko is more of a technocrat. In addition to leading the NRC, he was a congressional staffer with expertise in science and energy, and positions himself as someone who understands how federal policy is made. This, he argues, will help him navigate Congress. Rather than focusing on local political networks, he can use his subject-matter expertise to build influence within Congress.
White bridges these two visions. Like Zalesne, he sees the delegate as an advocate capable of building relationships and exerting influence within Congress. His prior experience as a congressional staffer, he argues, gives insider knowledge and coalition-building expertise. White believes the delegate is not just a representative in Congress but a conduit for securing broader opportunity, and can also play a role in workforce development and economic mobility.
Name Recognition and War Chests
Name recognition distinguishes the council incumbents, White and Pinto. This gives them an edge in fundraising. Having competed citywide several times, White holds the clear edge in this regard.
Pinto has made up for her more limited citywide exposure with strong funding. She
has more than $800,000 in the bank compared to White’s roughly $230,000. Zalesne approaches Pinto’s haul, having raised $600,000. Money doesn’t win elections but it helps.
The candidates agree on statehood, autonomy and the delegate’s role as a District defender. The differences are more about how change should happen, whether influence should be built through legal precision and institutional knowledge or through relationships and coalition-building. Some want the delegate to focus narrowly on defending DC; others visualize a role in national policy and regional dynamics. There is also the question of the extent to which the role should be judged by legislative progress versus tangible improvements in residents’ lives.
Choosing a Vision and a Look
Those questions define the contours of the race. In a city without a vote in Congress, the delegate’s power depends almost entirely on strategy and approach. The candidates are offering different visions of both. Voters are deciding not just who will represent the District, but how that representation will look. Especially given the tenure of our previous delegate, that could define DC in Congress for decades to come.
For more information on the candidates for DC delegate to the US House of Representatives, scan QR code; or attend the debate at St. Coleta’s of Greater Washington at 1901 Independence Ave. SE, May 10 from noon to 2 p.m. or on Visit www.hillrag. com/2026/04/27/hearthe-candidates-attendthe-may-debates for more details. u
Trent Holbrook
Kinney Zalesne
Greg Jaczko
Robert White
Brooke Pinto
I’m Rini Sampath and I’m running for Mayor because DC government has failed us.
I’m an outside candidate who has spent my career fixing broken government systems. DC needs someone new. Don’t give a promotion to the same political insiders who broke the DC government.
As Mayor of DC, my priority will be to make sure our city lives up to its basic commitments to our residents. Fill the potholes and repair the broken sidewalks. Build more homes and protect our renters. Lower prices. Improve 911 wait times.
At-Large Race Split on Safety, Housing and DC’s Future
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
All at-large Democratic candidates agree that the District faces rising costs, persistent public safety issues, budget pressure and a more hostile federal environment. They differ in how to respond. As presented at an April 9 forum and across campaign websites, the differences are not subtle.
Nine candidates are running in the June 16 primary. Kevin B. Chavous is former DC Council Committee and Policy Director and a current Democratic National Committeeman (https://www.chavousfordc.com/). Dwight Davis is a longtime DC Public Schools educator and former Browne Education Campus principal (https://dwight4dccouncil.com/). Dyana N.M. Forester is a former DC Housing Authority commissioner and ANC commissioner (www.dyanafordc.com/). Business owner Fred Hill is a former chair of the Board of Zoning Adjustment (www.fredhill4dc.com/). Greg Jackson is a former gun-violence-prevention advisor to the White House (gregjacksonfordc. com/). Entrepreneur Leniqua Dominique Jenkins is a former DC Council staffer (www.votejenkinsfordc.com/). Candace Tiana Nelson is a former council chief of staff (https://www.candacefordc.com). Oye Owolewa is the shadow US Representative (https://www.vote4oye. com) and a pharmacist. And Lisa Raymond is a former State Board of Education member (https://lisaraymondfordc.com).
Public safety reveals real fault lines between candidates, who see safety as a problem of strategy, systems, opportunity or trust.
Public Safety and Curfews
At the forums, Jackson drew on his experience with federally funded violence reduction programs to argue for targeted enforcement paired with large-scale intervention. He emphasized data and measurable outcomes. His website presents a focus on gun-violence intervention and the scaling of proven programs, though it
offers fewer specifics on police staffing or detention policy.
Owolewa rejects enforcement-heavy approaches and prefers youth opportunity, mentorship and engagement as the primary tools of prevention. His website reinforces that framing by focusing on economic opportunity and costof-living issues rather than policing or curfew policy, and treats safety as a function of income and stability.
Raymond and Davis sit between those poles. Raymond emphasized schools, families and workforce systems as stabilizing forces, with her website adding support for a “well-trained, adequately staffed police force” alongside prevention. Davis framed safety as relational. “Our city moves at the speed of trust,” he said, pointing to sustained engagement between families, schools and agencies.
Curfews sharpened differences. Owolewa and Jenkins opposed them outright, calling for youth spaces and structured programming. Raymond and Davis declined to endorse curfews, emphasizing schools, families and trust. Jackson also declined to back a citywide curfew, favoring targeted, neighborhood-based interventions.
Chavous did not foreground curfews but rather emphasized governance capacity and implementation. Nelson, Jenkins and Forester similarly framed safety through stability, pointing to housing, health and economic supports as preventative tools, while Hill’s broader focus on regulatory and economic structure positioned safety as linked to development and opportunity.
The issues relating to the provision of affordable housing drew shaper divergence.
Housing
Candidates differ widely on whether affordability is driven by market supply, regulation or income.
Oye Owolewa
Lisa Raymond
Leniqua’dominique Jenkins
KevinChavous
Greg Jackson
Fred Hill
Dyana Forester
Candance Nelson
Your Vote is Your Power -
make sure to use it!
2026 D.C. Primary Election: JUNE 16th
Ranked Choice Voting
• Ranked Choice Voting will be introduced for the first time in D.C. in 2026
• Step 1: Vote for your favorite candidate 1st
• Step 2: Rank your backup choices (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th). Only rank candidates you support!
• Step 3: Your vote stays with your 1st choice. If they lose (come in last place), then your vote moves to your next choice.
• This process repeats until one candidate wins over 50% of the vote
• Try not to skip any rankings. But you are not required to rank everyone.
When you’re done filling out your ballot, it should look like this: each choice is in a different column and a different row.
VOTE411.org is the League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan “one-stop-shop” for all the election-related information you need See what’s on your ballot, register to vote, or check your registration at vote411.org. VOTE411’s D.C. Voter Guide provides information on the candidates running for every office and where they stand on key issues, which is especially important in this election, as voters will be ranking candidates on the ballot according to their preference. All 18+ year old D.C. citizens are eligible to vote in this election. D.C. resident non-citizens can vote for local (municipal) officials. D.C. residents who are in jail or prison or have returned are allowed and encouraged to register and vote.
Hill argued at the forum that easing regulatory barriers and facilitating development is key. Drawing on his zoning experience, he said the city should facilitate projects by balancing competing interests and allowing mixed-income development to move forward, even if that means accepting a lower proportion of affordable set-asides to make projects financially viable.
Raymond supports building more, “with safeguards.” At the forum she emphasized removing barriers while preventing displacement, while her website sets specific goals, including 72,000 new units at 30% affordability, and calls for increased density as key to making homes accessible.
In contrast, Forester takes an affordability-first approach. Drawing on her experience with the DC Housing Authority, she argued development must maximize affordability and protect residents. Skeptical of deals that prioritize market-rate units or trade reductions in affordability for scale, she emphasizes the enforcement of affordability requirements.
Jenkins and Nelson emphasize process and access. Nelson supports rent stabilization, expansion of funding for the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, along with transparency and community input. Calling housing a human right, Jenkins supports equitable distribution, down-payment assistance and community-based lending.
For Owolewa and Jackson, the focus on production misses the point. Owolewa framed housing as part of a broader income problem, arguing that wages drive affordability. Jackson emphasized homeownership, complaining that the city has “overlooked homeowners.” Meanwhile, Chavous and Davis did not emphasize detailed housing policy at the forum. Chavous focused on governance and oversight, while Davis tied housing stability to education and community outcomes.
The District’s tight finances will constrain councilmembers from expanding programs and assistance. Candidates also disagreed on how to respond to those limits.
The Tightening Finances
At the forum, Chavous framed the challenge as fiscal discipline. The city must scrutinize contracts and assert DC Council authority over agencies. His campaign materials stress fiscal management and accountability rather than new spending.
Jackson argued the opposite at the forum, calling for continued investment in public safety, hous-
ing and jobs. He argued this is essential to avoid longterm costs. Nelson, Jenkins and Raymond also held that view. They identified education, healthcare and housing as priorities, with Raymond emphasizing strategic planning and execution.
Owolewa and Hill pointed to a need to spur economic growth. Increasing employment and expanding the tax base, they argued, would relieve budget pressure. Their websites reinforce that framing. Owolewa’s highlights job creation and income growth as the foundation of fiscal health, while Hill’s emphasizes business development and expanding the city’s economic base. At the forum, Davis focused on outcomes, arguing that investment in youth and education functions as a long-term fiscal policy. His campaign materials stress education and community stability over immediate budget cuts.
Forester introduced another dimension at the forum with a focus on the impact of federal workforce cuts. The city has not adequately responded, she said, adding that affected residents “feel alone. They feel like nobody knows, nobody cares.”
Dealing With the Orange Elephant
Candidates agree the White House plays a central role in the District’s fiscal outlook but differ on whether the response should prioritize discipline, sustained investment or economic expansion. Jackson called the Trump administration “vindictive,” arguing leaders must confront federal actions directly. Forester focused on local impact, saying DC needs to do more to support laid-off federal workers.
Pointing to their experience as council staffers, Chavous emphasized defending DC’s autonomy within legal constraints, while Raymond pledged to “fight congressional interference in our local laws.”
Owolewa and Hill emphasized economic resilience over confrontation. Nelson and Jenkins stressed equity and responsiveness to vulnerable residents. Davis emphasized local trust and engagement as essential elements of federal impacts to schools and families.
Chavous’ and Raymond’s emphasis on legislative experience raises the broader question of whether voters should choose an insider or an outsider.
Should Voters Pick an Outsider Or an Insider?
“Experience really matters,” Raymond said, arguing governance requires preparation and execution.
Chavous similarly stressed readiness “on day one,” noting his experience as a committee director.
Davis emphasized experience through his decades in DC Public Schools, while Forester pointed to her service at the DC Housing Authority and on the ANC as grounding her candidacy in community-level governance.
Despite his current office, Owolewa has hoisted the flag of change. “We have never had a doctor of pharmacy, a healthcare worker or a doctor on the council,” he said. “You deserve something different!”
Meanwhile, Hill casts himself as an outsider. Private-sector experience provides him with a unique perspective on government regulations, he argued. The DC Council, he said, is too internally focused.
Jenkins touts her background as an entrepreneur and doctoral student. Equity and failed government, especially east of the Anacostia River, are her rallying cries.
Embracing change, Nelson adopts a softer version of the same tone. Echoing Marion Barry’s oftquoted line, she says that residents often feel “left behind, left out and unheard.” She advocates for more governmental responsiveness and community-centered leadership.
Jackson places a foot in each camp. He cites his role in a $17-billion anti-violence federal program while nothing that he is an outsider to District government. He promises to champion new ideas regarding gun violence and unemployment.
The Choice
At-large members shape policy citywide. As the race enters its final stretch, voters face a choice, not between goals but between approaches: enforcement or prevention, growth or regulation, discipline or investment, experience or change.
For more information on the candidates in the Democratic Primary for an At-Large seat on the DC Council, scan QR code; or attend the debate at St. Coleta’s of Greater Washington at 1901 Independence Ave. SE, on May 17 from noon to 2 p.m. or on Visit www.hillrag.com/2026/04/27/hear-the-candidates-attend-themay-debates for more details. u
The At-Large Special Election The Race To Replace McDuffie
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
The June 16 special election to replace Kenyan McDuffie has drawn a compact but ideologically distinct field. Five candidates have qualified for the ballot. Interim AtLarge Councilmember Doni Crawford (www.donicrawford.com), formerly with the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI), was a McDuffie staffer. Former AtLarge Councilmember Elissa Silverman (www.elissafordc.com) was also a DCFPI analyst. Jacque Patterson is the DC State Board of Education at-large representative. Douglass Sloan (dougsloan4dc.com) is a political strategist and former vice president of the DC NAACP. Khalil Lee (www.lee4dc.com) is a community activist.
The winner serves the remainder of McDuffie’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2026, and must compete in the November general election to serve another term.
On paper, the candidates appear similar. All focus on affordability, schools and public safety. All promise more efficient, effective government. However, they are deeply divided over the proper role of the DC Council. Whether it’s affordable housing or improving education, how can government improve things? Who is best trusted to reform it?
Each candidate places affordability at the center of the campaign.
Affordability
Silverman frames her campaign in explicit, measurable terms related to wages, childcare and housing costs. DC should be “a community where people can afford to raise a family.” Silverman co-authored the District’s family leave law, which provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave, and emphasizes expanding worker supports and job training tied to “living-wage careers.” Silverman is not afraid of getting her hands dirty. While overseeing the Department of Employment Services (DOES), she sat in the agency’s call center answering the phone to assess the challenges during the height of the COVID crisis. She also took calls at the Unified Communications Center (UCC), which handles 311 and 911. Crawford looks at affordability from a fiscal management perspective that focuses on preserving services in a tightening budget environment. Patterson and community advocate Lee frame affordability as a
question of equity and access. A Ward 8 resident, Patterson is particularly concerned with disparities east of the river. Sloan sits somewhere between, leaning on advocacy experience and civil rights framing but with less detailed policy architecture.
As the candidates move from how families afford to live in the District to how they are educated, the same divisions of outcomes, equity and implementation carry into their approaches to schools.
Education
All five candidates frame education as essential to longterm opportunity and, in many cases, to public safety. They differ in their focus on the specifics and elements of the education system.
Silverman offers the most detailed policies. Her platform highlights concrete issues such as chronic absenteeism and the need to expand universal pre-K to include childcare and aftercare so the school works for working parents. That reflects her general approach to problem-solving: identify measurable problems and then scale or refine programs to improve outcomes. Schools, she argues, are part of a larger ecosystem tied to family stability, childcare and economic security.
Patterson, a former charter school leader with KIPP DC, emphasizes equity in resources, student outcomes and representation, particularly for communities east of the river. Drawing on his role overseeing education policy at the state board level, he is less about introducing a single new program and more about ensuring the system serves all students effectively.
Crawford discusses education in broader terms related to affordability and economic opportunity rather than outlining a standalone schools agenda. Her framing emphasizes investment in teachers, mental health support and modern classrooms. Schools appear in her platform as part of a larger set of services that must be funded and managed effectively rather than as a policy arena with specific reforms.
Sloan and Lee are less specific in their public materials. Sloan’s campaign references education as part of a broader public safety and opportunity framework, without laying out detailed proposals,
while Lee emphasizes community voice and responsiveness, suggesting a focus on how families and neighborhoods interact with schools rather than on specific policy levers.
The differences in emphasis between systems, services and lived experience become even more pronounced when the candidates turn to public safety.
Public Safety
Public safety is a big issue. All five agree that it is not simply a matter of policing. They relate it to housing stability, school quality, economic opportunity and youth programming. They diverge, however, on how much weight to give enforcement, specifically whether the youth curfew is a meaningful tool.
Silverman is the most skeptical about curfews. She wants to see investments with measurable outcomes in wages, childcare, housing and youth programs. She argues that the District’s paid family leave law, her signature legislation, is designed to stabilize families. Curfews, she believes, raise questions. Do they measurably reduce crime? Are their impacts racially disparate? Could the resources be better directed elsewhere?
Patterson accepts curfews as part of a broader public safety response. Short-term interventions like curfews, he argues, can help stabilize conditions but must be paired with investments in schools, engagement and community resources, particularly east of the river.
Sloan is open to targeted enforcement tools but wants them balanced with broader policy responses. His campaign calls for expanding youth programming and workforce opportunities as part of a prevention strategy. Arguing that public safety requires more than policing alone, he emphasizes better coordina-
JacquePatterson
Doni Crawford
Elissa Silverman
tion between agencies, including police, schools and social services, to respond to youth crime and repeat incidents. At the same time, Sloan supports focused enforcement in high-risk areas, while cautioning that such measures must be paired with services and applied equitably, a stance that reflects both his platform and his background as a former vice president of the DC NAACP.
Crawford has moved from a limited role in the curfew debate to a more active one as current legislation has evolved. She did not vote on an earlier committee action advancing a permanent curfew bill, but she helped shape a compromise measure after the council failed to extend the existing law and Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a temporary emergency curfew. The revised bill, which the council advanced on an initial vote in April, allows the police chief to designate curfew zones but adds guardrails, including requirements for advance notice and mandates the provision of alternative youth programming during curfew hours. Crawford has supported those changes, framing her approach around how the policy is implemented rather than treating curfews as a standalone solution.
Lee, by contrast, has offered fewer detailed policy prescriptions but frames public safety through community experience and responsiveness. He emphasizes his experience as a DC native and the need for stronger relationships between institutions and residents rather than relying primarily on enforcement tools.
The result is not a simple split between supporters and opponents but a layered debate over whether curfews are necessary tools, marginal interventions or symptoms of a deeper mismatch between policy and the communities it is meant to serve.
Candidates’ views of the District’s roughly $22 billion DC budget offer another key differentiator.
The Role of the Council and the Budget
Silverman declares that the DC Council must ensure the budget “delivers programs that work” and produce measurable results. She grounds her candidacy in spending oversight, improved performance and holding agencies accountable.
Crawford’s approach is different. Her career has centered on shaping budgets from within, particularly through equity-focused fiscal policy. Her months as interim councilmember have also been shaped by such debates. While oversight is important, she remains focused on budget design and implementation.
Aligning more closely with Crawford, Sloan touts his business experience, which he believes gives him an advantage in navigating political systems. Patterson and Lee shift the conversation. Declaring that budgeting cannot be separated from representation, they promise to be at the table when the funds are handed out.
Who to Trust?
In a race where candidates largely agree on the problems, the choice may come down less to policy specifics than to which governing philosophy is the most trusted. Should the DC Council prioritize execution or oversight? Is the problem how government works, or who it represents? Does experience inside the system matter more than independence from it? The answers to those questions, rather than talking points about affordability or schools, may determine the outcome on June 16.
For more information on the candidates for in the Special Election to elect a DC councilmember finish the term of At-Large Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie (I), scan the QR code. u
Where Is the Outrage? The Man From Anacostia
by Philip Pannell
During April, I participated in the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellows Program. It was a rigorous program of lectures, workshops and study groups. I was by far the oldest fellow and at age 75 no longer read as fast as I used to. But I managed to keep up by sleeping three hours per night and drinking almost a half a gallon of coffee a day. The fellows were a diverse group from other states and countries. Hearing about the challenges they faced on their jobs and in their communities demonstrated how we humans are so much alike.
I read cases written by academics focusing on challenges faced by communities, leaders and activists and how they dealt with them. I was particularly captivated by a Harvard Business School case about the “Boston Miracle.” It was a 1990 community effort led by Black ministers in Boston that resulted in there being only one juvenile homicide during a two-and-a-half-year period. That case has been taught nationally and internationally. Rev. Jeffrey Brown, the chief organizer of that effort, spoke to my class, and the fellows gave him a standing ovation. After the class I waited in line to meet Rev. Brown and take a picture with him.
When I returned to my seat and checked my cellphone, I saw the devil was busy back in DC. The headline read, “Teen Shot on MLK Avenue as Southwest D.C. Reels from Youth Shootings.”
After hearing a two-hour lecture about the “Boston Miracle” and getting that tragic message from home, I was overwhelmed by the coincidence and the irony. When I returned to DC, I assumed that the uptick in violence against juveniles had generated activities that I could immediately connect with.
How Wrong I was.
I had been away for nearly a month and was catching up on my reading. A Washington Post headline read, “DC Sees Seven Homicides in Five Days, the Deadliest Stretch of 2026.” April was a bloody month for DC. I asked friends about the community response to the violence. There was a vigil for one of the teen victims, I was told.
Where is the Outrage?
One of the teens was shot two blocks from my church, the Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ. The pastor, Rev. William Young, for the past year has held monthly peace walks in the Bellevue neighborhood. That community has no active civic association, and the turnouts have been light. But the spirit is high. Maybe, as more people join those monthly peace walks, we will be on the road to a “DC Miracle.”
Long-time Ward 8 community activist Philip Pannell can be found at philippannell@comcast.net. u
ANC 7D Report
Stadium Parking and Transportation
by Sarah Payne
Commissioners discussed updates to the RFK campus redevelopment project and the importance of community feedback. Ongoing concerns about the implementation of parking garages and redesign of surrounding roads dominated discussion.
“I continue to hear concerns from residents about the redesign of the transportation network, including many of the roadways that will be local to our communities on the RFK campus,” Commissioner Alcorn said, noting the commission’s commitment to amplify community concerns.
The redevelopment also plans 11-story garages in lots six and eight around the stadium, Commissioner Payne reported. This spring, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) hosted several meetings and intends to review plans for parking decks at a future meeting.
There is “a lot of skepticism” about the preliminary plans for these parking spaces, Payne said, noting that community members are interested in how the city plans to cover the structures and wants to see them reduced in height. She encouraged residents to register to testify and submit written comments online highlighting their concerns.
The District hosted several community engagement events this spring, including inperson site walks for residents and community members, to learn more about the redevelopment and share feedback about the project as a whole. Commissioners encouraged residents to stay involved as the process continues.
“This is an ongoing conversation and a very important opportunity for community input,” Alcorn said. “We urge our constituents to remain engaged, ask questions and talk to their commissioners, but also be present at the various engagements the city is offering.”
The commission took no vote on this matter.
Other Matters
George Jordan of The 51st briefed commissioners on the newspaper’s community connector program. The program aims to close the gap between the outlet’s reporting and the District’s communities. “We think there’s a great need to make sure that we have diverse news and that we are covering more news from as many different voices as we can,” Jordan said.
The commission voted to designate the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC) as an agent related to District Integrated Financial System (DIFS) and Procurement Automated Support System (PASS) Accounting System Maintenance.
Commissioners Artilie Wright (7D03), Ebony Payne (7D05), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10) attended the ANC 7D meeting on Tuesday, April 14. Commissioners Joshua Taborn (7D01, vice chair), Katie Murphy (7D04), Dominic Pacheco (7D06, secretary) and Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer) were absent. 7D02 remains vacant.
ANC 7D will meet next on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at www.7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u
AANC Notes Problems in I-695 Ramp Project ANC 6/8F Report
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
t the April 28 ANC meeting, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented on the “D4 Ramp Project,” targeting safety and traffic operations around the eastbound I-695 ramps to 11th Street SE, 11th Street between I and O streets SE, an area near Virginia Avenue Park and a segment of DC-295 near the Pennsylvania Avenue SE exit. Project manager Dhvani Patel and engineer Ravindra Gamir said the project is about 65% designed, with final design expected by mid-June, bidding in the fall and construction in spring 2027.
DDOT aims to reduce crashes and confusion at the ramps while improving pedestrian and bicycle safety along 11th Street. Planned changes include reconfiguring I-695 ramps for safer queuing, refining signals, increasing pedestrian crossing times and adding a raised refuge island. The project also extends the shared-use path near Virginia Avenue Park to connect Garfield Park and 11th Street, with added lighting. On DC-295, DDOT proposes lengthening the merge area near Pennsylvania Avenue and upgrading signage.
Along 11th Street, DDOT proposes a two-way protected cycle track on the west side between I and O Streets, separated by a buffer. Intersection upgrades at I, M, N and O streets would add protected signal phases for pedestrians and cyclists, restrict left turns to protected-only movements and shorten crossings. At O Street, the facility would connect to the future 11th Street Bridge Park.
Commissioners focused on continuity north of I-695. The existing bike lane north of the freeway runs on the east side, while the proposed track south is on the west, raising concerns about how cyclists, including children, would transition safely. DDOT said the project scope ends near I Street and includes a marked crossing and planned transition, but acknowledged a continuous facility north to Pennsylvania Avenue has not been finalized. Commissioners also noted a potential conflict with previously proposed Eighth Street bus lanes.
Commissioners also raised concerns about how the O Street and 11th Street design would interact with heavy, irregular Navy Yard gate traffic, requesting coordination with Navy leadership.
DDOT said projects are prioritized based on safety, mobility, community impact and equity. Officials framed the project as part of a broader push toward walking, biking and transit, noting the challenge of shifting away from car use. They cited M Street and NoMa cycle tracks as comparable examples and said they would incorporate ANC feedback as design advances.
Humane Rescue Alliance
The ANC heard a presentation from Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) Director of Public A airs Kelly Whittier, invited in response to complaints about o -leash dogs and waste in the neighborhood.
Whittier said that as of early 2025, animal control services are handled by Brandywine Valley SPCA, which responds to stray animals, bites and dangerous dog investigations. HRA retains Humane Law Enforcement authority, focusing on animal cruelty and neglect, including pets abandoned in vacant units. She said HRA is seeing more animals left behind in apartments, reflecting housing instability.
HRA distinguishes between intentional cruelty and lack of resources. In severe cases, they work with the US Attorney’s O ce to pursue criminal charges and remove animals. In other cases, such as seniors or low-income owners unable to provide grooming or veterinary care, HRA prioritizes keeping pets with their families by o ering support, including eld grooming and connections to low-cost veterinary services.
Whittier highlighted a new HRA clinic on MLK Avenue in Anacostia, located in the former Whitman-Walker building. The clinic o ers a ordable vaccines and basic care, with surgeries handled at HRA’s Oglethorpe facility. She said the site addresses a lack of veterinary services east of the river and may expand to include grooming, training and pet supplies.
Commissioners raised concerns about off-leash enforcement, which HRA said is primarily handled by animal control and MPD, though HRA supports education and outreach. Questions also addressed limited care options for non-traditional pets and the need for greater outreach, including presence in dog parks. Whittier said residents can report concerns anonymously, including by text. There was no vote.
Extension in Yards
The ANC voted to approve a time extension of the approved design review in a Zoning Case at 110 N St SE. Developer Brook eld representative David
Avitabile of Goulston & Storrs briefed the ANC on the project. The site already has Zoning Commission approval for a commercial o ce building supported by the ANC about four years ago, but Brook eld has been unable to proceed due to a weak o ce market, di culty securing a tenant and increased construction costs. Apple said a prior two-year extension was granted and those conditions remain. Brook eld is now seeking another two-year extension to preserve approvals while it seeks a tenant and nancial viability. The ANC resisted supporting an extension, citing concern about inde nite delay. The attorney said the project needs to weather economic conditions and agreed to return in one year with an update.
In Other Business
The ANC voted to:
• oppose a DDOT Notice Of Intent (NOI) to convert 25 feet of regulated parking to 40 feet of no parking or standing anytime at 50-55 M St SE,
• oppose DDOT NOI to change a Pick Up and Drop O (PUDO) zone to No Parking on the 1100 block of New Jersey Avenue SE.
• reschedule the June meeting from June 23 to a virtual meeting on June 30.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6/8F met in person and online. On the dais were Commissioners Nic Wilson (6/8F01), Vice Chair Markita Bryant (6/8F02), Chair Brian Strege (6/8F03), Secretary Edward Daniels (6/8F04) and Treasurer Dayan Reynolds (6/8F05).
The next meeting of ANC 6/8F will be held on Zoom and in person at DDOT Headquarters, 250 M St SE, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26. Details are available at anc8f.org. ◆
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Board of Commissioners (“Board”) requires a qualified professional firm to provide a thorough and detailed executive level search for a
Executive Director for the agency.
SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Tuesday, May 5, 2026 full solicitation documents will be posted to our e-procurement system Housing Agency Marketplace at:
To access files respondents are required to Register on the Housing Agency Market Place platform. Respondents must log in to view this RFP for all related documents. It is the respondent’s responsibility to check the Housing Agency Market Place site regularly to stay current on all available documents as this is the primary communication site solicitation.
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, May 18, 2026, at 12:00 P.M.
Email Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist (OAS) at lwashington@dchousing.org for additional information.
neighborhood news
NRP Group and Marshall Heights Community Development Organization Break Ground on Affordable Community
The NRP Group, a builder and manager of multifamily housing, in partnership with Marshall Heights Community Development Organization Inc., has announced the financial closing and groundbreaking of The Waymark, a 109-unit, affordable community in Ward 7. The new housing development will be reserved for families and individuals earning up to 30%, 50% and 80% of the area median income. Located at 4435 Benning Rd. NE, the community is one block from the Benning Road Metro station and multiple bus lines. The site provides nearby bike-share access and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The project coincides with the District’s broader revitalization efforts, including the planned redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site and the return of the Washington Commanders in 2030. The housing development is located one stop away from the Stadium-Armory station, giving quick access to the RFK Stadium campus, which is undergoing a redevelopment that will fuel economic growth in Ward 7. Construction of The Waymark will be completed by the end of 2027.
Anacostia Community Museum Reopens
As the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, prepares to mark its 60th anniversary in 2027, the exhibition “We Make History” explores how communities in the DC region record their experiences and contribute to the nation’s story. The exhibition opens May 30, the 185th anniversary of the first entry in the diary of Adam Francis Plummer, and celebrates Washingtonians whose work as change makers and history keepers has had a lasting impact. Plummer’s diary serves as a centerpiece of the exhibition, through January 2028. To celebrate the opening, the museum will host a weekend of free programs Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31, including guided tours, family storytelling and art activities, conversations with the curator and portrait and writing workshops that invite visitors of all ages to reflect on and document their own histories. On Friday evening, visitors ages 21 and over are invited to “After Dark,” a signature af-
ter-hours experience featuring live jazz and barbecue in a relaxed social setting. All programs are free and open to the public. www.anacostia.si.edu
Ceremonial Bridge Beam Signing
On April 9, Mayor Bowser joined the Department of General Services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, former DC First Lady and Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) founder and CEO Cora Masters Barry and members of the community to mark a major construction milestone in SETLC’s expansion. The event marks the placement of the final structural beam in a bridge over Oxon Run that will connect the existing center to the new facility. This $23 million investment expands SETLC to six outdoor hard courts, one outdoor clay-tech court, four new outdoor US Tennis Association (USTA) courts, three new indoor USTA courts and four pickleball courts, as well as an event plaza, playground, parking area and outdoor shade structure. The expansion is expected to
L to R: Scott Hutter, DC Housing Finance Agency; Wendell Felder, Ward 7 councilmember; Lisa Williams, DC Department of Housing and Community Development; Colleen Green, director, DC Department of Housing and Community Development; Tori O’Brien, Strategic Value Partners, vice president, business development officer, US Bank; David Retland, chair, Marshall Heights Community Development Corp.; Babatunde Oloyede, president & CEO, Marshall Heights Community Development Corp.; Charles Moreland, former shadow member of the US House of Representatives; Chris Marshall, vice president of development at NRP Group.
NGA Jazz in the Garden Celebrates American Sounds
The National Gallery of Art’s Friday summer concert series returns with Jazz in the Garden: American Sounds. Kicking off May 22, the series spotlights artists from across the country performing across genres including indie soul-funk, alternative bluegrass, salsa, jazz, rhythm & blues, blues, Americana and brass band music. Admission is free. The NGA offers registrations through a lottery system that opens on Mondays at 10 a.m. and closes Fridays at noon, at www.nga.gov/jazz. All lottery entrants will be notified whether they were selected the Monday before each program via email. Limited passes will be available at all entrance gates starting at 5 p.m. On concert days, the Sculpture Garden closes from 4 to 5 p.m.; gates reopen at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 6 p.m. The NGA Sculpture Garden is located on the north side of the National Mall. Entrances are at Seventh Street, Ninth Street and Constitution Avenue and Ninth Street and Madison Drive NW. www.nga.gov
LEFT:
10AM - 3PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
neighborhood news
be completed this summer and establishes SETLC as a premier destination capable of hosting USTA-sanctioned international junior tournaments.
Free DC Ward 8 Meeting
On Thursday, May 21, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., the Ward 8 Free DC May meeting is at Harriet’s House, 30 Atlantic St. SE. Join Free DC’s Ward 8 team to build the local movement to protect DC Home Rule and win lasting dignity for the community. www.freedcproject.org/eventlist/ward-8-monthly-meeting
Learn Chess at Bellevue Library
On Thursdays, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., learn chess at Bellevue Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW. Any age level can learn chess with participants from all levels. www.dclibrary.org
2026 DC Bike Maps Available
Memorial Day Concert and Dress Rehearsal
The Annual Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol is on Sunday, May 24, at 8 p.m. The grounds open at 5 p.m. Checkpoints are set up, and all bags and parcels are checked. Guests will be required to enter through a metal detector. The gates are located at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds. There are viewing areas for the use of guests with disabilities. The dress rehearsal on the Saturday before the concert is also open to the public. General admission gates typically open at 5 p.m. The same safety procedures and admission policies apply to the dress rehearsal. www.pbs. org/national-memorial-day-concert
The new map includes the latest bike infrastructure updates and features all types of cycle routes, like protected bike lanes, off-street trails and shared lanes, along with amenities such as Fixit stands, secure bike parking and trail access points. Download a copy at www.godcgo.com/ wp-content/uploads/DC-Bike-Map or request a printed version by emailing info@godcgo.com with name and mailing address.
CPR/AED Certification Classes at Francis A. Gregory Library
On Sunday, May 17 and 24, from 1 to 4 p.m., visit Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE, for a free, handson certification course. Class is held in the large meeting room on the second floor. Students will learn essential lifesaving skills, including how to perform CPR, provide basic first aid and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in emergency situations. No walk-ins allowed; registration required. To register, click www.nzinga.coursestorm.com.
Ward 8 Nonprofit Receives Grant
The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation has awarded a $125,000 grant to Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso (FAN DC), 2815 Stanton Rd. SE, to support its youth focused, peer operated center in Ward 8, which provides trauma informed programming, mental health services and wraparound sup-
ports for foster and other vulnerable youth in a high need community. www.fan-dc.org
Drive-In Movies at Union Market
The Drive-In at Union Market is back for the 14th season. Get tickets to watch from the comfort of your car ($25) or bring chairs and blankets for a picnic-style setup in front of the market. No tickets are needed to watch on Neal Place. Summer movies start at 7:30 p.m. Here’s the lineup: May 8, “Mulan”; June 12, “Barbie”; July 10, “Iron Man”; Aug. 14, “F1: The Movie”; Sept. 4, “Mean Girls”; Oct. 5, “The Addams Family.” www.unionmarketdc.com
The Great Brookland Yard Sale
The annual Great Brookland Yard Sale is Saturday, June 6 (rain date, June 13), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sales are all over the neighborhood in individual seller’s yards, businesses and churches. Check closer to the date for an interactive map. Printed maps are available for pickup on sale day at Yard Sale Central, 12th and Newton in front of the BNCA Kiosk, Brookland Farmers Market and 12th Street Cleaners. www.brooklandcivic.org/gbys
Golden Gears: E Bike and Scooter Rides
AARP DC, in partnership with Vision Zero, hosts Golden Gears: E Bike and Scooter Rides, a beginner friendly way to explore DC’s trails on two wheels. The rides are designed for adults 50+ and are open to riders of all experience levels. Thanks to collaborators Lime and Capital Bikeshare, participants will have free access to shared e bikes and scooters while enjoying a guided ride along some of DC’s most scenic trails. There is an upcoming ride on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. on the Anacostia Trail and Anacostia Park (www.tinyurl.com/May 16VZride). Advance registration is required and space is limited. You are encouraged to sign up early and join a safe, active and social riding experience. For questions related to registration, email Renee Moore, special assistant at the Mayor’s Vision Zero Office, renee.moore@dc.gov.
DC Pop-Up Brings Local Designers Together
Through October, Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., The Stacks has partnered with neighborsdc.com to launch Creative Collective Retail, a rotating pop-up featuring a curated mix of DCbased designers and vintage sellers at 101 V St. SW. Visitors can browse one-of-akind pieces and meet the makers behind them, with rotating vendors throughout the season.
DC Dragon Boat Festival
The 23rd annual DC Dragon Boat Festival is on Saturday, May 16 (rain date, June 13), 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Georgetown Waterfront Park and Thompson Boat Center. The festival includes eye dotting ceremonies, lion dances and other cultural demonstrations. Dragon boating is based on the legend of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and statesman who in the ultimate form of protest committed suicide in the Mei Lo river around 278 B.C. Local fisherman thrashed the water to scare the fish away from eating his body. www.dcdragonboatfestival.com
Bird Walks at the Arboretum
On Saturday, May 9 and 16, from 9 to 11 a.m., spot birds alongside spring blossoms. Learn about bird behavior and identification tips from experienced guides from the DC Bird Alliance. Free; donation requested. www.fona.org
The National Memorial Day Concert is held every year on the West Lawn of the US Capitol and is broadcast worldwide.
Pups in the Park Returns
Skip the dog park and come to Nationals Park. Pups in the Park is a unique opportunity to bring your dog to a Nationals game. Special ticket buyers and their dogs are invited to participate in a postgame parade on the warning track. Remaining Pups in the Park dates this year are: May 20, 6:45 p.m. vs. Mets; June 23, 3:45 p.m. vs. Phillies; Aug. 25, 6:45 p.m. vs. Rockies; Aug. 29, 4:05 p.m. vs. Marlins; Sept. 27, 3:05 p.m. vs. Mets. If you are planning to attend Pups in the Park with your dog, purchase separate seats for you and your pup. All proceeds from the dog ticket sales will be donated to the Humane Rescue Alliance. www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/specials/ animal-days
The Armed Forces Cycling Classic
The 2026 Armed Forces Cycling Classic takes place on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, and is open to cycling enthusiasts of all abilities. The 12-mile Challenge Ride course includes both Arlington and DC, with the start and nish in front of the US Capitol. The ride o ers a car-free, closed course for up to three hours. Finishing medals await participants, with gold, silver and bronze awarded based on distance completed. Enjoy at a casual pace (stay to the right) or challenge yourself (pass on the left). Read more and register at www. cyclingclassic.org.
Tour the NAS Building
Take a one-hour guided tour of the National Academy of Sciences Building, the “nation’s home of science in America,” at 2101 Constitution Ave. NW. Dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, the building’s is a unique fusion of classical elements and “irregular” forms. On this tour, admire Hellenic, Byzantine and Egyptian architectural in uences and touches of Art Deco. www.cpnas.org
Do you have a notice for the Bulletin Board? The East of the River Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. Send your notice to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆
History in the Making
The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s New Exhibition Honors
the Institution’s Past While Looking to its Future
by Matthew McClure
In late November 1969, John Kinard, the newly appointed director of what was then called the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, opened an exhibition that would set a trend for museums across the country. “The Rat: Man’s Invited Affliction” explored Anacostia’s fraught relationship with the irksome rodent, and how a failure of basic city services had led to an explosion in the rat population east of the Anacostia River.
What set Kinard’s exhibition apart from what the museum had done before was that it was a direct result of community feedback, of locals telling Kinard what they wanted to see. This was revolutionary. At the time, museums across the country and the world generally curated exhibitions of content that they thought visitors should see, not what they wanted to see.
Humble Beginnings
Located in the old Carver Theater on Nichols Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE), the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum had officially opened to the public two years earlier. Kinard had curated small-scale educational exhibitions intended mainly for children and a few exhibits related to Black history and culture. When he noticed local kids repeatedly attempting to kill the caged mice kept as food for the museum’s pet snake, Kinard got to thinking about a new approach to forming exhibitions around what the community wanted to see, versus what the museum wanted to show them. Tell us more about rodents, said the children. How can we understand them? How can we get rid of them?
The imperative to be “of the community,” as Ella Howard Pearis recalled in a 1986 interview, led to the opening of “The Anacostia Story” in 1977. This pivotal exhibition positioned ephemera gathered from and donated by Anacostia families at the center of the museum’s exhibition and collection strategies. This exhibition was the genesis of the museum’s core collection of more than 5,000 objects.
Growing Up
The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, or ACM (the museum changed its name in 2006 to more closely reflect its connection to the Anacostia community), moved into a larger building in the hills above Anacostia in 1987 that was designed to evoke
the ruins of Great Zimbabwe in southern Africa and the intricate patterns of Ghanaian Kente cloth.
The ACM has become a template for a successful community museum. Researchers come from across the globe to parse the museum’s collections and to learn how community museums are operated and sustained. “Part of our ongoing practice here is to work with communities around the world to talk about best practices and how this work is done, how to fundraise and work with local governments,” explains Katelynd Anderson, the ACM’s interim director, who works with specialists and curators to challenge the notion of museums and archives as dusty and irrelevant spaces accessible to a privileged few.
Unlike its sister museums on the National Mall, the ACM’s collections and exhibitions aren’t limited by topic, category or discipline. The objects and papers in the collections span generations of Washingtonians, bringing together in often unlikely and unexpected ways the overlapping stories of people from across the country and the world. “We collect things that people don’t think are collectable, that then help to tell stories that people don’t think to tell,” explains ACM’s head of collections Miriam Doutriaux. “That’s our work. That’s our reason for being.”
“We Make History”
On May 30, the ACM cuts the ribbon on a new exhibition that marks “America 250” and also honors the museum’s venerable his-
The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. Photo: Courtesy Anacostia Community Museum
In 1969, museum staff work with residents and local organizations to develop the exhibition “The Rat: Man’s Invited Affliction.” Photo: Courtesy Anacostia Community Museum
east washington life
tory and the many ways communities have gathered, preserved and shared their histories at the museum over the last 59 years. “We Make History” was curated by Jennifer Sieck, who, with ACM’s archivist Jennifer Morris, has identified objects and archival documents that speak to the central theme of the exhibition.
“The introductory panel for the exhibition talks about history as a dynamic practice,” says Sieck. “We hope that visitors will learn some of the tools and learn about the craft of making history.”
“We Make History” has been categorized into four sections that are color coded for ease of reference and navigation, with section one being all about change makers and history keepers. At the core are the Plummer-Arnold family papers, which include pages from what is likely the only multigenerational diary kept by a former enslaved individual in the United States. Started by Adam Francis Plummer in 1841, the diaries – originally running to over 200 pages – are a fragile testament to living history, having been added to over the years by various descendants of the Plummer-Arnold family.
The papers were donated to the ACM in 2004 by Rev. Jerome Fowler, a Plummer-Arnold family descendent. They document the journey of a family deeply impacted by the Maryland slave trade, and
the triumphs and successes of people who made an outsize contribution to the region’s history.
The Plummer-Arnold family papers include documents related to the historic Bladensburg Burial Society, founded in 1870 by Henry Vinton Plummer, great-uncle to Rev. Fowler.
Jennifer Morris has combed through these records to surface the impact of this civic body and the way it shaped the Bladensburg community and the Plummer-Arnold family. “You really get to learn a lot about the community,” Morris explains. “This is how communities used to sustain themselves.”
Nellie Arnold Plummer was Adam Francis Plummer’s daughter. Her 1927 book “Out of the Depths, or the Triumph of the Cross” used her father’s diaries – which she contributed to extensively – as source material. Last exhibited in 2015, the Plummer-Arnold family papers exemplify how first-person sources are a critical part of preserving history and of understanding the context of the communities and individuals that forged paths for themselves.
For the sports fans, section two of the exhibition is all about game changers and scorekeepers. Can sports statistics be a form of history? This section argues yes, placing particular emphasis on DC sport-
ing legends like “Gentleman Boxer” William “Billy” Banks, the first Black boxer to fight a white opponent at the old Griffith Stadium in 1940.
Section three embraces DC’s connection with the arts and creativity. The luxurious fur coat worn by contralto Marian Anderson during her performance at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 will be exhibited, in addition to an intricately beaded evening bag dated to the 1930s that once belonged to libraryscience scholar Dorothy Porter Wesley. Wesley helped develop the core collection of what would eventually become Howard University’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. Get your feet moving to the beats of uniquely DC mambo music and check out a jukebox salvaged from an historic Black music venue.
The fourth and final section of the exhibition turns the lens to the viewer. What,
it asks, can you do to preserve your own family’s history? Is it keeping a diary as Adam Francis Plummer did back in 1841? Is it printing and framing family photos that only exist in cyberspace?
Forging Forward
Though the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget did not include funding for the ACM, the 2026 Interior Appropriations Bill allotted $3 million for this critical neighborhood resource, whose work continues unabated. The ACM is buzzing with events and public programming, like the Coffee & Collections series once a month on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where visitors can interact directly with objects from the collections. Child-focused programming pairs youngsters from surrounding schools with elders like Rev. Plummer so they can learn about how to care for and share their own family histories. As the ACM prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, there’s never been a better time to visit.
Details about “We Make History” and other Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum events are accessible at https:// anacostia.si.edu/. u
Archivist Jennifer Morris and Plummer family descendant Rev. Jerome Fowler talk with students from Bladensburg High School while examining artifacts in the Anacostia Community Museum’s collection, 2017. Photo: Courtesy Anacostia Community Museum
A robe worn by DC native William “Billy” Banks (1921-2006) during his professional boxing career in the 1940s. Photo: Courtesy Anacostia Community Museum
ABOVE: Collection specialists Lisa Anderson and Alejandra Garcia-Silva prepare an evening bag that belonged to libraryscience scholar Dorothy Porter Wesley for exhibition. Photo: Matthew McClure
LEFT: Records from the Bladensburg Burial Society in the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s document collection. Photo: Matthew McClure
Changing Hands
kids and family
by Kathleen Donner
DC DPR Outdoor Pools Open for the Season
DC Department of Parks and Recreation outdoor pools will open for the season on Memorial Day weekend and remain open, for weekends only, until school lets out. At DC’s outdoor pools, 15-minute safety breaks occur on the 45th minute of every hour. All children and guardians must exit the pool during safety breaks to lessen the risk of spreading water illnesses. Additionally, poolgoers can hydrate, use restrooms, reapply sunscreen and seek shade. During periods of excessive heat and peak utilization, DPR may require patrons to leave the water, regardless of age. Find a pool and read the rules at www.dpr. dc.gov/page/outdoor-pools.
Semper Fred 5k
The Semper Fred 5k, on Saturday, May 16, is a family-friendly, all-ages event in historic Fredericksburg on the day before the Marine Corps Historic Half. $56. Register for this 3.1-mile experience at www.marinemarathon.com/event/ semper-fred-5k.
Family-Friendly $24.99 Lobster Tuesdays
Join Roofers Union, 2446 18th St. NW, to in-
Family-Friendly NoMa Outdoor Movie Nights
On Wednesday evenings, May 6 to June 10, NoMa BID presents CiNoMatic, an outdoor movie series at Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE. Here’s the lineup: May 6, “Pirates of the Caribbean”; May 13, “Jurassic Park”; May 20, “Top Gun”; May 27, “National Treasure”; June 3, “Night at the Museum”; June 10, “The Princess Bride.” Movies begin at sunset, with lawn seating opening one hour prior to showtime. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, as seating is first-come, first-served, and to bring their own blankets, chairs and picnic dinners. NoMa restaurants are open for takeout; food and drink will also be on sale from food truck partners. On-leash dogs are welcome. For more information and weather-related schedule updates, visit www.cinomatic.org.
dulge in 1.25-lb fresh whole lobsters with potatoes, half a corn on the cob, lemon and lots of butter for just $24.99. The full regular menu is also available, and not every diner at a table needs to order lobster. Walk-ins are welcome, and walk-in lobster requests are accommodated if there are extras, but availability can’t be guaranteed without a reservation. www.adamsmorgan.com/go/roofers-union
Capitol Hill Classic Kids’ Fun Run
The National Capital Bank Capitol Hill Classic, on May 17, is an annual 10k, 3k and Fun Run ‒ the only race run exclusively on the roads of Capitol Hill. Funds raised through the event benefit the Capitol Hill Cluster School, a DC public school serving over 1,100 students. Now in its 45th year, the 10k is the oldest and biggest in DC. The 10k ($55) starts in front of Peabody Primary School, a few blocks from the US Capitol. Runners traverse Capitol Hill, passing Stanton Park, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, Lincoln Park, the RFK stadium campus and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. The 3k ($45) course also begins at Peabody Primary School. Runners head to East Capitol Street and trek to Lincoln Park and back. The Fun Run ($20) is a single lap around Stanton Park (approximately a third of a mile). www.capitolhillclassic.com
Children’s Business Fair of Washington, DC
The annual Acton Children’s Business Fair of Washington, DC, is on Saturday, May 9 (rain date May 16), 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Dupont Circle neighborhood at 1521 20th St. NW. North America’s largest entrepreneurship event for children gives children the opportunity to showcase their own businesses. Children aged six to 14 are invited to create a product or service and sell to customers. Prizes will be given for the best businesses by age and category. Past businesses have included handmade greeting cards, a pet-sitting service for exotic birds, a photobomb booth and a lemonade stand that donated a percentage of profits to protect honeybees. Join the mailing list at www.dcchildrensbusinessfair.org/email-updates.
Ms. Niki In Concert
Nicole “Ms. Niki” Addison is a classically trained singer/songwriter from Washington, DC. Described as a New Age cross between Mary Poppins and Ms. Frizzle, she will lead audiences of all ages on a colorful adventure through upbeat original songs and classics with a twist. Ms. Niki is at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, on Friday, May 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. $10 admission. www.hillcenterdc.org
Anacostia Park Skating
Skate anytime at Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion ‒ the National Park Service’s only roller-skating rink. Free skate rental is available from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Sundays to Wednesdays,
Photo: Courtesy NoMa BID
Explore the outdoors with exciting nature hikes, treasure hunts, field trips, and creative challenges.
Create masterpieces in art, science, theater, dance, and crafts while discovering new talents.
Full Day: 8:0 0 AM – 5:00 PM
Half Day: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Half Day: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
(PK3-5th Grade)
This summer, let your child unleash their imagination, explore new adventures, and create unforgettable memories! At Polite Piggy’s, we believe that fun is not just an activity — it’s an experience, and it starts with you!
Be…The Fun! Embrace your inner adventurer, make new friends, and enjoy endless laughter through games, performances, music, and wacky competitions! • Registration Fee: $150 per child (non-refundable)
• Sibling Discount: 15% OFF (after the first child)
• Limited scholarship spaces are available, subject to eligibility. – Household income limit: $65,000 – Weekly camp rate: $280
Registration Fee: $150 Per Child
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last skate rentals are distributed 30 minutes before closing. Rentals are free with a government-issued ID. Socks are required to rent skates. www.nps.gov/anac
Girls on the Run Spring 2026 Celebratory 5k
The Girls on the Run Spring 2026 Celebratory 5k is at Anacostia Park on Sunday, May 17, at 8 a.m. (pre-race fun, 7 a.m.). This non-competitive, inclusive gathering welcomes participants of all ages and fitness levels for a supportive atmosphere and scenic trails while helping a meaningful cause. Registration is $45, and day-of is $55. Registration is now open at www.gotrdc.org/5k.
Library of Congress Experiential Gallery for Children and Teens
The Library of Congress will open an experiential gallery in May for children and teens with families and school groups. The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery is spearheading a shift toward participatory, youth-centered learning in one of the nation’s most historic spaces. Created especially for visitors ages eight to 15, the gallery encourages engagement in creative, personalized ways. At interactive stations youth can investigate items from image, film, sound and text collections through guided exploration and open-ended discovery. www.loc.gov
123 Andres at National Theatre’s Saturday Morning Live
On Saturday, May 9 and 23, at 10 a.m., in the National Theatre’s Helen Hayes Gallery, 123 Andres give concerts in Spanish and English. Andres and Christina perform on stages across the US and Latin America and are cohosts of the award-winning PBS podcast “Jamming on the Job.” Pre-registration is now live. Free admission. The new schedule for Saturday Morning Live! has one 10 a.m. performance on the second Saturday of the month. www.nationaltheatre.org/saturday-morninglive. Saturday
Meet America’s National Mammal: “Bison Standing Strong”
(Opens May 7)
Love & Diapers: Inaugural Mother’s Day Diaper Drive
On Saturday, May 9 (rain or shine), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the New Samaritan Baptist Church and Capital Community News are conducting a Mother’s Day Diaper Drive at the New Samaritan Baptist Church (drivethrough or walkup), 1100 Florida Ave. NE. They’re asking for donations of diapers, pullups and wipes. Donations are tax-deductible. It costs an average of $1,200 to diaper a metro-area baby for one year. Diapers are more than just a basic need, they’re a lifeline. They keep babies clean, healthy and dry. They allow caregivers to send their children to daycare so they can go to work or school. The recipient of the donated diapers, pullups and wipes, the Greater DC Diaper Bank, delivers diapers to over 40,000 vulnerable families in the metro area per year through a network of 80+ social service partners. www.greaterdcdiaperbank.org
Explore a remarkable exhibition about the American bison at the Natural History Museum. This iconic animal once shaped North American landscapes and Indigenous lifeways but was pushed to the brink of extinction. Today, it stands as an enduring symbol of survival and resilience. Explore a full-sized bison specimen, an immersive soundscape, cutting-edge scientific research and Native objects and stories shared in collaboration with community members. www.naturalhistory.si.edu
Chiarina’s Family Concert: Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”
On Sunday, May 17, at 2:30 p.m., at St. Mark’s Church, 301 A St. SE, in an original adaptation by musicologist and children’s book author Anna Harwell Celenza, Chiarina presents the story of Antonio Vivaldi’s concerti, “The Four Seasons,” and the pupils in Venice who first performed the work. The program features soloist Audrey Wright and includes narration and visuals. It is best enjoyed by audience members ages five and up. Tickets are $23.18; free for ages 18 and under. www.chiarina.org
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure at Air and Space
On Thursdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., at the National Air and Space Museum, join Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from “Zhima Jie,” the Chinese co-production of “Sesame Street.” Together they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the Moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. They also journey to Zhima Jie to learn about the similarities in our view of the sky. The program runs 25 minutes and is appropriate for families with young children. Free; tickets required. www.airandspace.si.edu
The Speedwell Conservation Carousel at the Zoo
Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting, the Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel offers a one-of-a-kind experience, where you can ride a naked mole rat, panda or armadillo. Located across from Lemur Island at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the carousel features carved and hand-painted animals under a brightly colored open-air pavilion. $4 tickets can be purchased at the carousel. Riders under 42 inches must be accompanied by an adult. All pro-
ceeds support the zoo’s animal care and conservation science initiatives. Wheelchair accessible. www.nationalzoo.si.edu
“Under the Baobab Tree” at Discovery Theater
At Discovery Theater, on Wednesday through Friday, June 3 to 5, at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., “Iya” Bashea Imana and her troupe of Kuumba Kids perform traditional songs, dances and stories. Their interactive show features puppets, movement and motivational music. Recommended for ages three to eight. All seating is general admission. Adult tickets are $8; kids, $7; and under 2, $3. www.discoverytheater.org
Hill Family Biking: Tiny Streets 4 Ride
On Sunday, May 17, from 4 to 6 p.m., join Hill Family Biking for a four-mile ride on some of the most picturesque oneblock streets on the Hill, followed by free ice cream at the Cap ital Candy Jar. Marshals will ensure participants stay together as a group. A bike team from the Metropolitan Police Department will join the ride to connect officers with the community. Riders with bikes needing attention should come 15 minutes early for tools or advice from experienced amateur bike mechanics. Meet at Maury Elementary parking lot on 12th Place NE. Participation is free. www.hillfamilybiking.org
Observe the Sun at Air and Space
On Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m., become an astronomer and observe the Sun safely with a filtered telescope. Join Air and Space at the corner of Seventh Street and Independence Avenue to view a variety of features. Staff will answer questions and guide observing. No reservations are necessary. This program will be canceled if the weather does not permit observing (clouds, rain, extreme temperatures). The programming area is accessible, step-free, via the public sidewalk and the museum’s terrace. Written and touchable explanatory materials are available for learners of all types. www.airandspace.si.edu
The Sun by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observation.
Family Workshop: An Ode to the Gardens at the Folger
On Saturday, May 16, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, families can connect with nature in Shakespeare’s plays and throughout the Folger itself. In the gardens, participants will be invited to compose an “Ode to the Folger Gardens,” using lines from Shakespeare and Rita Dove’s poetry. Attendance is free with a recommended $3 donation. Two sessions are available with these recommended ages: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., ages five to seven; and 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., ages eight to 11. www.folger.edu
Botanic Garden Family Program: Sorting and Shaping Seeds
On Wednesday, May 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Botanic Garden offers a close look to learn about different strategies that plants have evolved for seed dispersal. Sort seeds into categories based on their shapes and structures to predict their primary mode of dispersal, then engineer your own seed to conquer the challenges of dispersal via water and/or animal. A dropin program, no registration is needed. www.usbg.gov
Army Ten-Miler Youth Run Registration Opens
The ATM Youth Run is a non-competitive 400-meter race for children ages 12 and under. The Youth Run is held immediately following the Annual Army Ten-Miler race at the Penta-
Spring Lambs at Mount Vernon
Each spring, Mount Vernon welcomes more than a dozen baby lambs. Planning a trip to Mount Vernon? Stop by the Paddock and welcome the new additions. www.mountvernon.org
gon. Each registered runner must pick up their ATM Youth Run packet, including a race bib and T-shirt, at the ATM Expo on Oct. 9 and 10 at the DC Armory, 2001 E. Capitol St. SE. No packets will be mailed. Finisher medals will be distributed to registered youth-run finishers at the conclusion of the event. The cost of the ATM Youth Run is $35 plus processing fees. www.armytenmiler.com/registration/youth-run-registration
Children’s Village at Gaithersburg Book Fair
The Gaithersburg Book Festival, on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is a free annual celebration of great books and great writing. At the festival’s Children’s Village, award-winning children’s and YA authors speak about their recent books. Visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/childrens-workshops for topics and schedule. All books are available for purchase on site from Politics and Prose bookstore. The festival is in Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, Maryland. Admission and shuttles from Shady Grove Metro and Lakeforest Mall are free. www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org
“Bluey’s Big Play” at the KC
“Bluey’s Big Play” is at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater from June 24 to July 5. It is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning children’s television series. Tickets start at $44. www.kennedy-center.org u
“Tints”
by Myles Mellor
Across:
1. Transportation 4. Habit
7. ___ Claire, PA. 10. Writer known for her detective stories
16. Russian tennis star, first name
18. Road runner
19. Long skirts
21. Corrupt practices
22. Alice Walker’s classic
25. Start of a Beatles’ hit
26. Land in South America
27. Everglades grass
28. Campaigned for political office
30. Site of three World War I battles
31. “The heat ___!”
32. Nova follower
36. Small ammo
39. “Naughty!”
41. Opposite of a Federalist
44. Crushing
48. Tres y tres
50. Most likely to win
51. South American mammal
53. Pixel density
55. Directional abbreviation
56. Sean Connery starred in it
63. Title character in Shakespeare
64. Top performers
65. Like sandals
66. Young fish
70. Corporation type
71. Scholarship criterion
72. Lost
75. Swords
78. ____ Dhabi
81. Childrens’ book
87. Half of D
88. Danson of “CSI”
89. It may be used with wireless devices 90. Lodge 94. Festive celebration
