Issuu

NOVEMBER 2025

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N OVEMBER 2025 N E X T I S S U E : D E C E M B E R 13

neighborhood news 12

IN EVERY ISSUE

Fort Dupont Ice Arena: Future Uncertain After Friends Group Withdraws by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ANC 7D Report: ProLogis To Develop Benning Rd. Pepco Site by Sarah Payne

ANC 6/8F Report: Crossing DC Community Benefits Allocated by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Bulletin Board

Residents Share What Thanksgiving Means to Them: Wards 7 & 8 Go Beyond Traditional Thanksgiving Celebrations by Lynne Harris Where Art and Life Collide: Luis Del Valle’s Life Inspires the Art He Creates and the Exhibitions He Curates by Matthew McClure

The Crossword

The Classifieds

Woven Thread: Where Latino and African-American Diasporas Collide in Color, Portrait, and Abstract Expressionist Power Changing Hands

kids & family 28

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

on the cover: Luis Del Valle at his group exhibition Woven Thread: Where Latino and African-American Diasporas Collide in Color, Portrait, and Abstract Expressionist Power, standing alongside his work titled The Missing Laborer. Photo: Matthew McClure. See page 26

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

compiled by Don Denton

east washington life 22

What’s on Washington

by Matthew McClure

by Kathleen Donner

MIDCITY

F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

FAGON

EDUCATION

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com Copyright © 2025 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

GALA Film Fest: Latin American Innovation

From Dec. 3 to 7, this year’s GALA Film Festival features six contemporary films by emerging directors and a classic from the Mexican Golden Age. Join GALA, 3333 14th St. NW, for exclusive talkbacks with producers, artists, directors, and experts, and receptions after the screenings. Here’s the schedule: Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Oasis (Chile, 2024); Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Las Cosas Indefinidas (Argentina, 2023); Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Casi El Paraiso (Mexico, 2023); Dec. 6, 2 p.m., Valentina O La Serenidad (Mexico, 2023); Dec. 6, 5 p.m., Llueve Sobre Babel (Columbia, 2025); Dec. 7, 2 p.m., El (Mexico, 1953); Dec. 7, 5 p.m., The In Between (Mexico, 2024). Individual film tickets are $10; Festival pass, $35. galatheatre.org.

Still from Llueve Sobre Babel (Colunbia, 2025), screening on Dec. 6, 5 p.m.

Jane Austen, 1870.

Celebrating Jane Austen at 250 at the Folger

Solar Searching, 2025, 60 x 72 in, Oil on canvas

Ceremony: Artist Lindsay Adams at JHU Bloomberg

Through May 7, 2026, there is a major solo exhibition featuring all new work by emerging artist Lindsay Adams at JHU Bloomberg, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Drawing on artist Lindsay Adams’ background in international studies and cultural anthropology, Ceremony explores the histories of Black movement, migration, and world-building. Guest curated by Claudia M. Watts, the exhibition places Adams’ new works in conversation with never-before-seen archival objects from the Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries’ collection, including rare books and personal correspondence from Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, and more. Free admission. washingtondc.jhu.edu. 04

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

This year, the Folger’s annual birthday tribute to American poet Emily Dickinson will also honor English novelist Jane Austen on her 250th birthday. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., noted scholar Martha Nell Smith will discuss the life, work, and legacy of Dickinson and Austen and how they continue to shape writers of today, highlighting well-known passages. The reading, which is co-sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum, will be followed by a book signing in the Great Hall. Emily Dickinson’s famous black cake, based on her own recipe, will also be served. $20. 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.

Handel’s Messiah at the National Cathedral

On Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., the Washington National Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra, under the direction of Dana Marsh, perform Handel’s beloved Messiah under the Cathedral’s soaring Gothic architecture. Witness the concert that has captivated audiences for generations. Livestream is available for the Sunday performance only. Run time: 2.5 hours, including intermission. Tickets start at $32. cathedral.org.

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N Keith Crown, Midwestern Illinois Land, 1971, Watercolor on paper, 30 x 22 3/4 in., The Phillips Collection, Gift of Ray Kass, 1981.

Pottery on the Hill Show & Sale

Pottery on the Hill is a weekend at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, celebrating functional pottery (that which can be regularly used, such as dinnerware, drinkware, vases, platters, and more) featuring top ceramic artists from across the country. Avid ceramics fans will love the chance to talk with the potters in a casual, fun environment and continue to grow their collections. There is a ticketed reception on Friday, Nov. 14, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ($45 in advance) and free shows on Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. hillcenterdc.org.

Tavis Kordell (Jerry) and Matt Loehr (Joe). Photo: Matthew Murph

“Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection” at the Phillips

Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection is a celebration and examination of the beauty and complexity of this nation’s history at the Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, from Nov. 8 to Feb. 15. Out of Many builds a dynamic story about how, from the early 20th century to the present, various artists have imagined and depicted the people, cultures, landscapes, and histories of the United States. To tell a more diverse constellation of stories, the exhibition includes artworks from the historic collections of African American art at Howard University Gallery of Art and The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, among other institutions. Adult admission is $20; seniors, $15; students and educators, $10; military, $12; 18 and under, free. phillipscollection.org.

Michael Kline Vase

“Some Like It Hot” at the National

Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, “Some Like It Hot” is the glorious, big, high-kicking story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the lifechasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime. Tickets are $69 to $179. “Some Like It Hot” is at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7. nationaltheatre.org.

Umbrella Art Fair (100 artists, three days – free to attend)

The Umbrella Art Fair on Friday, Nov. 21, 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., at The Square at International Square (fifth floor), 1850 K St. NW, is where the heartbeat of Washington, DC’s art scene converges with the avant-garde talents of global artists and makers. Umbrella is a declaration of artistic independence, a rebellion against the mundane, and a celebration of the daring. But more importantly, Umbrella is a space to provide economic opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs as a platform to showcase and sell their works. umbrellaartfair.com.

“Anonymous Was a Woman” at the Kreeger

Through Dec. 31, 2025, The Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW, presents “Anonymous Was a Woman”. Curated by Dr. Vesela Sretenović, the exhibition features the recent work of Anonymous Was a Woman grant recipients and DMV-based artists Jae Ko, linn meyers, Joyce J. Scott and Renée Stout. In this respect, The Kreeger Museum’s exhibition not only celebrates artists based in the DMV area--aligning with the Museum’s mission--to support and bring greater visibility to the creative output of women artists. kreegermuseum.org. 06

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

Glenstone: Experience art, architecture, and nature.

Glenstone, 12100 Glen Rd., Potomac, MD, offers a serene and contemplative art, architecture and nature environment. It spans 300 acres, with several miles of paths and trails. Glenstone is not only a place, but a state of mind created by the energy of architecture, the power of art, and the restorative qualities of nature. At the core of the museum is a collection of postWorld War II art, a very personal project driven by the pursuit of iconic works that have changed the way we think about the art of our time. Schedule a visit in advance. Free tickets are required to visit the grounds and buildings Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors over the age of 12 (and infants under 12 months) are welcome. From downtown DC, travel takes 30–45 minutes without traffic. glenstone.org.

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Samara Joy at the Warner

Samara Joy McLendon is an American jazz singer who released her self-titled debut album in 2021 and was subsequently named Best New Artist by JazzTimes. Her second album, Linger Awhile (2022), reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. She has received five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 2023, and two wins each for Best Jazz Vocal Album (2023 and 2025) and Best Jazz Performance (2024 and 2025). Samara Joy is at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $86. warnertheatredc.com.

“Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions” at Studio

The latest semiautobiographical work from Pulitzer Prize-winner and DMV native Paula Vogel traces 40 years and five evictions in a very funny play about a very unhappy family. Siblings Martha and Carl are barely teens for their first eviction in 1964, growing up gay in the out-sized orbit of their glamorous, exacting, alcoholic mother. The family’s odyssey through the DC suburbs takes them from one roach-infested apartment to another, and from the Sexual Revolution to the Disco Era to ’90s New Age. A Broadway hit last season, Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions at Studio Theater, 1501 14th St. NW, from Nov. 12 to Dec. 21. studiotheatre.org.

“Fiddler on the Roof” at Signature

Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, his family and their tightknit community honor tradition but must contend with a changing world and a rise in antisemitism at their home in Czarist Russia. The glorious score with songs “Sunrise, Sunset” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker” unite with exquisite dance in this classic of the musical theater canon filled with humor, heart—and life. Tickets begin at $47. “Fidler on the Roof” is at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA, from Nov. 4 to Jan. 25. sigtheatre.org.

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Brandy & Monica: The Boy is Mine Tour Iconic Grammy Award-winning artists Brandy and Monica have embarked on their first-ever co-headlining tour. It also marks a moment more than 25 years in the making, building on the legacy of their 1998 duet “The Boy Is Mine,” which spent 13 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a defining cultural touchstone of late ‘90s R&B. They are at Capitol One Arena, 601 F St. NW, on Sunday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. (doors at 6 P.M.). Tickets start at $139. capitalonearena.com. Brandy Norwood of Brandy & Monica.

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Wu Man performing at Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The Improvised Shak es

peare Company at th Based on one audience e KC suggestion (a title of a sho w that has never been Shakespeare Company written), The Improvised creates a brand new, ful ly improvised Shakespe fore your eyes. Nothing are an masterpiece right behas been planned out, rehearsed, or written. All time, characters are cre dialogue is said for the ated as you watch, and first if you’re ever wondering are they! The Improvised where the story is going Shakespeare Company ...so is at the Kennedy Center The to Dec. 23. Tickets are $35 ater Lab from Nov. 28 to $49. kennedy-center.o rg. American Railroad: Silkroad Ensemble featuring Wu Man at Strathmore

On Sunday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m., at The Music Center at Strathmore, this compelling reimagining of Silkroad’s acclaimed American Railroad program features an intimate, powerful ensemble of eight world-class musicians led by internationally renowned pipa master Wu Man. The program weaves a sonic tapestry that honors the often-overlooked contributions of Indigenous and African Americans, along with Chinese, Irish, Japanese, and other immigrant communities who laid the tracks that transformed a nation. Amplifying the voices of those who built the railroads—and those displaced by them—the Silkroad Ensemble reveals a richer, more inclusive portrait of America’s past. Tickets are $28 to $88. strathmore.org.

Air Supply in Denver, March 2023.

Air Supply: 50th Anniversary Celebration at MGM National Harbor

On Friday, Dec. 5, 8 p.m., at MGM National Harbor, Oxen Hill, MD, celebrate 50 years of Air Supply as Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock bring their timeless hits to the stage. With a career spanning nearly five decades, the duo continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their signature romantic sound. From chart-topping classics like “All Out of Love” to their upcoming 18th studio album, their legacy lives on. Tickets start at $79. mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com/en.html. 10

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Tawny Chatmon: Tawny Chatmon, Blossom, from the series “The Redemption,” 2019; 24k gold leaf and acrylic on archival pigment print, 61 x 49 in.; Collection of Glenn Kessler and Cynthia Rich; © Tawny Chatmon; Image courtesy of the artist and Galerie Myrtis.

Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies at Women’s Art Museum

Through her photography-based art, Tawny Chatmon addresses racist myths and elevates cultural truths. She centers and celebrates Black childhood and family bonds while also recontextualizing dehumanizing dolls, figurines, and food histories. Chatmon intensifies and embellishes her large-scale photographs through both digital techniques and meticulous handmade elements. She elongates the bodies of her models, heightens their features, and adds mosaic-like and embroidered patterns. Presenting these powerful works in ornate frames, Chatmon honors the preciousness of her subjects. Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies is at the National Museum of Women in the arts, 1250 New York Ave. NE, through March 8, 2026. NMWA is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Mondays. Admission is $16 ($13 for seniors). nmwa.org.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD FOR MODIFICATION OF DCHA’S ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is providing notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period to solicit comments on its proposed Administrative Plan (Admin Plan). To download a copy of the proposed Admin Plan, please visit the DCHA website at https://www.dchousing.org/plans-and-reports. To request a copy of the proposed Admin Plan, send an email to PublicationComments@dchousing.org or call 771-240-4377. The virtual Public Hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18. To speak during the Virtual Public Hearing, register online at https://bit.ly/RegisterAdminPlanPublicHearing. To join the live event, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, please visit https://bit.ly/AdminPlanPublicHearing. This event will also be live streamed on the DCHA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dchousing/. Comments Written comments regarding the proposed Admin Plan will be accepted by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16. Email your comments to PublicationComments@dchousing.org. Alternatively, you can mail comments to: District of Columbia Housing Authority Office of the General Counsel Attn: General Counsel 300 7th Street, SW 10th Floor Washington, DC 20024 Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation DCHA strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. It is the policy of DCHA that all agency-sponsored public meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities. DCHA is committed to providing equal access to events for all participants & residents with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, or assistance in participating in a meeting or event due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact our ADA/504 Program Office at 202-535-1000 or at ADA504@dchousing.org with your complete request. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request. If you need a sign language interpreter or foreign language interpretation or translation, please contact our Office of Customer Engagement at 202-535-1000 or go to www.dchousing.org/language. Please allow at least 3 business days to make the necessary arrangements.

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

neighborhood news

Fort Dupont Ice Arena

DPR to Manage Facility After Friends Group Withdraws by Elizabeth O’Gorek

he skating community in Southeast DC fears the consequences of renovation of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (FDIA), the city’s only public ice rink. When FDIA closed for construction in 2023, Ward 7 resident Lora Nunn and her two children followed its skating programs to other rinks, “thrilled to wait for the new facility.” Two years later, they’re still waiting along with thousands of other skaters. The Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (FFDIA), the nonprofit that managed the rink since 1996, declined to sign a ground lease with the District in September, citing construction and humidification issues. The arena will reopen, the District Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) said at a Nov. 5 town hall. The agency plans to directly manage and program the rink. “We just need to get the building open,” said DPR Deputy Director of Competitive Sports Hakeem Rogers, expressing faith in his team. “I’m confident we’ll have a project [that] by this time next year, you guys will be saying, ‘job well done.’” The agency has not set an opening date. Some attendees at the town hall expressed low confidence in its ability to do so.

Fort Dupont Ice Arena remains unopened as of Nov. 3. Photo: E.O’Gorek/CCN

A History of Inclusion

Built by the National Park Service (NPS) in 1976, Fort Dupont Ice Arena was a rare recreational resource east of the Anacostia River. It is still the only public ice rink in the District. By the mid-1990s, the aging facility faced closure. Neighborhood families organized as Friends of FDIA (FFDIA), a nonprofit formed to save and operate the rink. The group revived the arena, offering affordable sports and education programs with free equipment to local youth and bringing ice sports to underserved communities. Over 29 years, FFDIA produced two Olympic speed-skating champions, the first NCAA Division 1 and HBCU-named Black head hockey coach, and the Fort Dupont Cannons, a mostly Black hockey team that is the longest-runKing Nunn and his friend Liam on ning minority-serving hockey prothe ice during the Learn to Play Hockey session, held at Tucker gram in North America. Road Ice Rink in Prince Georges When run by the Friends, County. Courtesy: L. Nunn the arena was funded by about $265,000 from the District, ice fees paid by teams and leagues and private donations. DPR could not provide an estimate of the cost of running the rink when asked by a community member at the town hall.

A Welcoming Safe Space

Many say there was a community on ice at FDIA. Shana Mills and her three children participated in FFDIA programming for nine years, sticking with the organization as it moved to Canal Park. “It’s a safe space for children not only to learn about ice skating itself, but to do homework and have mentors,” she said. With growing concern about evening youth activity, Mills said, FFDIA provides vital safe spaces. For hockey parents like Daniel Murphy, the programs were “cheap, welcoming and never crowded.” “For open skate it was like six bucks, and you could just walk in on a Saturday afternoon,” he said. “The staff were warm, the concession folks knew everyone, and the whole place had this tight-knit feel.”

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

ACTIVE $1,398,900 - Capitol Hill 506 10th Street SE

ACTIVE $774,000 - Georgetown 2527 Q Street, NW Unit 202

ACTIVE $749,000 – Capitol Hill 1345 K St., SE #401

ACTIVE $424,900 - Penn Quarter 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Unit 1125

SOLD $2,030,000 - Logan Circle 1611 13th St., NW

PRIVATE PLACEMENT $1,750,000 - Georgetown 2719 Dumbarton St., NW

SOLD

$965,000 - Wesley Heights 3273 Sutton Pl., NW Unit A

$630,000 - Riggs Park 5515 Chillum Pl., NE

$1,450,000 - Chevy Chase 3736 Military Rd NW

• • • •

Ranked in the top 1.5% of all agents nationwide by the national firm, RealTrends (June 2025) Proven track record, with nearly $500 million in career sales 23 years of experience; Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia Named a Washingtonian “Top Producing Agent” for the last 10 consecutive years

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!

es SEU Ava ilab

bat

10% OFF

$25 OFF

LIST PRICE ON ANY EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS *Exp. 11/30/2025

Any Service Call *Exp. 11/30/2025

18 Month, 0% Interest Financing

FAST SERVICE FAST INSTALLATION

Serving Washington DC Since 2001 • Residential & Light Commercial • Roof Top Package Units • Highly Experienced Technicians • Low Prices • Free Estimates On Replacements • Convenient Financing • Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Specializing in:

Equipment: Change outs & Complete Ductwork Systems + High Velocity Systems WE SERVICE & INSTALL ALL MAKES & MODELS

202-333-1310

www.polarbearairconditioning.com All Credit Cards Accepted

H. Stewart Roofing FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS

DC’s Flat Roof & Gutter Experts FAMILY-OWNED • 50+ YEARS EXPERIENCE

Slippery Road to Renovation

By 2013, the building needed repairs. FFDIA worked with the city—by then the owner—to plan a renovation that included two rinks. In 2019, the organization signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city to raise $5 million while DC funded and handled construction. The MOU came as interest in hockey exploded. Youth participation increased by 187% since Washington Capitals Winger Alex Ovechkin was drafted in 2005 and after the team’s 2018 Stanley Cup victory. But in 2019, promised city funding was redirected to the public schools, delaying construction. Then came the pandemic. By 2021, DC said rising costs forced it to scale back to one rink, while the price climbed to $37 million—double the earlier estimate. FFDIA protested to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), comparing the $700 persquare-foot price to a luxury New York skyscraper. Despite concerns, an agreement was reached and FDIA closed for renovation in February 2023. From the sidelines, Murphy watched with growing skepticism. “We were always nervous when they said they were going to redo it,” he said. “DC has such a bad track record with projects like this.”

Problems in the Air

OUR SERVICES • Flat Roof Repair & Coating • New Roofs & Maintenance • Gutters & Downspouts • Brick & Masonry Waterproofing • Chimney Repairs & Tuckpointing • Blown-In Insulation

OFF

SERVICE

Call Today for Your FREE Estimate!

*New Clients only. Exp. 11/30/2025

(202) 262-4168 HstewartRoofing.com Top Rated on Thumbtack & HomeAdvisor.com

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

LICENSED BONDED INSURED

As the arena took shape, FFDIA voiced concerns about design and construction. Members cited problems including open hallways between locker rooms and restroom areas. The DC Dept. of General Services (DGS), the agency responsible for all city construction projects, attributed the changes to cost efficiencies. Most critically, FFDIA warned that an undersized dehumidification system caused condensation in ceilings and puddles on floors. A desiccant unit had been installed, but moisture was noted by DGS in June. In August, project engineering firm ME Engineers stated the equipment “has been confirmed via commissioning to be performing at its designed capacity.” That capacity, FFDIA said, might be the problem. That same month, FFDIA’s insurer denied coverage, citing excessive humidity. During a September ice test, humidity crystallized into four inch lumps on the ice surface, making it unsafe for skating. The next month, FFDIA declined to sign a ground lease with the District, citing

concerns about humidity and construction. The agreement, which assigned the nonprofit responsibility for repairs, would’ve “exposed [the group] to unmanageable risk,” said John Cotten, a board member. Without the rink, Cotten said, the Friends could dissolve. However, given the dearth of ice expertise in the District, so might the new rink.

Problems on the Surface

Parents expressed concern about safety after seeing photos of lumps on the ice from September. “I’m not letting my daughter skate on that ice,” said the mother of a figure skater. “She will come away injured and that would be a lifelong problem for her.” DGS claimed these problems were addressed. “We wouldn’t open the facility if it wasn’t safe,” said DGS Associate Director of External Affairs John Stokes. “We take this very seriously. We want this community, we want these teams, to be able to get on the ice.” None of the photos DGS showed at the Nov. 5 town hall depicted the ice surface, parents noted. The delays are impacting the kids the arena was designed to help. Former Fort Dupont Cannons player, now Coach, Ralph Featherstone, said his team tried to practice at Tucker Road in Fort Washington, MD, but “it was just too far.” Many players transported large bags of equipment on public transit. Participation fell drastically. This year, they aren’t practicing yet, waiting for their namesake arena to reopen. The delay, he said, was “like a punch in the gut.” The construction problems have been addressed and the dehumidifier is running well, though summer humidity will be a final test, DPR stated. They’ve gotten support from regional rinks as they prepare to open. Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder (D) said his office has been closely monitoring the project, which he called “a jewel of Ward 7.” Acknowledging frustrations, Felder’s priority is “to get every detail right before the doors open.” He promised to share the final construction report with constituents.

How Much We’re Losing

The District will run the rink with initially limited hours: Mon. to Fri., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. --but closed Sunday. Rogers said these were trial hours

and could be expanded. However, parents who are used to driving their kids to the rink at 5 a.m. said the hours work against access. Some argue DPR’s management might open the rink to more users. Robert Primus, who spent years at FDIA with his children, said most ice time had gone to paying organizations from Virginia. With DPR managing it, “it is a community rink now.” “For the first month, the facility will be free. We want to open it up to the public,” Rogers said, noting the staff and community need to acclimate. Some say the loss of programming from FFDIA goes far beyond ice time. “It’s thousands of kids who won’t get that chance to learn, and that’s just a shame,” Murphy said. “It’s like people don’t realize how much we’re losing.” Mills shares Murphy’s doubts about DPR’s ability to manage the arena versus FFDIA. “This seems quite political to me, and I just don’t think there’s space for politics when it comes to the community and children,” she said. Several attendees asked how the city would ensure kids in Wards 7 and 8 were engaged. One parent said she hadn’t realized there was a rink nearby until her son became interested in sports. For her Black child, skating alongside people who looked like him was important. Former ANC 7F03 Commissioner Sheila Carson-Carr said it was distressing to hear the same access concerns as 20 years ago. Citywide outreach is critical, she noted, since many Ward 7 students attend schools elsewhere.

Getting The Facility Open

At the town hall, DGS did not rule out working with the FFDIA again. “Right now, the goal is to make sure we get this facility open,” Stokes said. FFDIA board member Cotten remains concerned. “They didn’t show us a picture of the ice,” he said. But the bottom line is, until the doors open—whoever runs it—the District still doesn’t have an ice rink. “They didn’t give us an opening date,” Cotten noted. Cannons Coach Featherstone said the discussion about who runs or programs the rink was “not my argument.” “So long as there is a competent authority who can open the rink and sustain the rink,” the coach said, “I just want to get the kids back on the ice.” u

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD REALTOR

GEORGE OLSON (202) 203-0339 - (M) (202) 203-0339 - (D) george.olson@cbmove.com

Capitol Hill Office 350 7 St. SE 202.547.3525

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

neighborhood news

ANC 7D Report

ProLogis To Develop Benning Rd. Pepco Site by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met Oct. 14 via Zoom. Commissioners Joshua Taborn (7D01, vice chair), Artilie Wright (7D03), Katie Murphy (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10, secretary) were in attendance. Single Member Districts (SMD) 7D02 and 7D06 remain vacant.

roLogis representatives asked the commission to support three new proposed curb cuts to allow access to their property on the site of the old Benning Road Pepco power plant. In December 2023, the company, which specializes in supply chain warehouses, purchased 10 acres from Pepco. ProLogis plans to construct more than 150,000 square feet of warehouse space, 104 vehicle parking spaces and 42 loading berths. ProLogis proposed two permanent curb cuts along Anacostia Avenue NE. The company also plans to install a temporary traffic signal along Benning Road NE to allow direct access to the site during Anacostia Avenue bridge work. Following the bridge project’s completion, the Benning Road signal would be removed and site access would be limited to Anacostia Avenue NE. “We’ve heard from the community,” legal counsel for ProLogis Meridith Moldenhauer said, emphasizing that no vehicular access to the site would come from nearby Foote Street NE. Commissioner Murphy questioned where the temporary signal would be implemented? The temporary traffic measure would be installed on Benning Road NE near the Shell gas station at 3355 Benning Rd. NE, Moldenhauer confirmed. “DDOT does not want to allow left-hand turns into the Shell station,” said Moldenhauer. “There will be a signal to provide more safety and security.” Large trucks and trailers, Commissioner Wright said, are of concern to the community. The site’s loca-

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

tion, “adjacent and sandwiched in between two very residential communities,” present concerns about noise and pollution, Wright added. She also questioned how the site would impact local traffic patterns, particularly if developers anticipated large trucks to back up along Benning Road NE. While warehouse tenants have yet to be identified, ProLogis plans to return to the commission additional, specific information about these concerns in the future. Emphasizing the community’s interest in ecofriendly construction practices, Commissioner Alcorn expressed excitement about positive development and use of the facility. “Certainly, we do want to see it consistent with what the community would like to see, as well as with sustainable practices,” he added. The commission took no vote on this matter.

Other Matters

Office of Planning Community Planner, Alex Freedman, shared updates to DC 2050: a rewrite of the District’s Comprehensive Plan. This “long-range vision for the growth and development of the District as a whole” will serve as an “umbrella plan” for all other district agencies, Freedman shared. The plan aims to shape equitable policies on housing, transportation, environmental protection and more. The project hopes to begin implementation by 2028. Community members are invited to attend in-person workshops this fall on Nov. 6, and Nov. 15, at the Office of Planning at 899 N Capitol St. NE. Visit dc2050.dc.gov to learn more. President of the Ward 7 State Board of Education (SBOE) Eboni-Rose Thompson shared information about the High School Graduation Task Force. This group of residents, students, teachers and employers will work collaboratively to review and amend graduation requirements. Thompson hopes the task force will ensure that students at the River Terrace Education Campus have the opportunity to graduate with

a diploma, create clearer pathway for students to access trade and career education and “lift up voices of residents” across the city. Ward 7 Community Engagement Specialist for DDOT, Kisha Anderson, briefed commissioners on the Nash Street NE pedestrian bridge demolition project. The bridge had a low clearance leading it to be struck by several trucks and it was “not usable,” according to Anderson. Constriction began in midOctober and is estimated to take four months to complete. Work will take place between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. The commission voted to: • support the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application with special exceptions to construct a two-story with basement rear addition at 307 15th St. NE; • support the BZA application with special exceptions to construct a third story addition to a row home at 1828 Massachusetts St. SE; • elect Commissioner Joshua Taborn (7D01) to serve as the commission’s vice chair following former Commissioner Marc Friend’s resignation in September; • appoint Meredith Holmgren, a resident of SMD 7D05, as the community chairperson for the commission’s Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee. ANC 7D will meet next on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@ hillrag.com. u

ANC 6/8F Report

Crossing DC Community Benefits Allocated by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6/8F met both in-person at 250 M St. SE and on line via Zoom Oct. 21. On the dias were Commissioners Vice Chair Markita Bryant (6/8F02), Chair Brian Strege (6/8F03), Secretary Edward Daniels (6/8F04) and Treasurer Nic Wilson (6/8F01). There is a vacancy in 6/8F05 as of Sept. 15.

apitol Riverfront BID Vice President of Planning and Public Spaces Ted Jutras presented a pro-posal for use of $106,000 in community benefits. $100,000 was allocated as part of an agreement with Tishman Speyer for construction of Crossing DC, Commissioner Daniels explained as back-ground. The funds have since made about $6,000 in interest. The building was completed in 2020 and the benefits were designated to go to a community nonprofit. The agreement was negotiated with ANC 6D in 2008, but Crossing DC was redistricted into ANC 6/8F in 2020, delaying the dispersal of funds. The funds can be transferred to the community for public benefit via the Capitol Riverfront’s Parks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created in 2017 to support and enhance public space in the neighborhood, Daniels said. Jutras said the foundation is hoping to use the funds to support two projects. The first is a semi-permanent activation concept for Tingey Plaza. That site is allocated to affordable housing, but con-struction is on hold pending funding. The foundation wants to use it as gathering space in the inter-im, planning a winter market and celebration in December. The space would be outfitted in a way that made it flexible for markets, concerts, performances and showcases. The foundation hopes to activate the space for at least six months of the year with events that are largely free and open to the public. The second concept is artistic fence wrapping on the space between New Jersey Avenue and Sec-ond

Street SE. Currently a vacant lot, the idea is that the art would make the space contribute rather than detract from the community. Jutras said the foundation would work with the community to get ideas and concepts for the work. The total cost of these two projects is about $165,000 and so would not be fully funded by community benefits funds, Jutras added. The Capitol Riverfront BID will partner with the Parks Foun-dation to bring the projects to life. The $6,200 in earned interest is earmarked for use at Van Ness Elementary (1150 Fifth St. SE). The ANC voted 3-0-1 to ask the bank to disperse $100,000 of the funds in escrow to the River-front Parks Foundation and the remainder to Van Ness Elementary. Daniels abstained from the vote, noting that he has worked as a vendor for the BID.

Support for Living Classrooms

Representatives from Living Classrooms presented the design of their new building to get support prior to a design review for use approval by the DC Zoning Commission. The project requires a special exception due to its location within the floodplain because it is an educational and restaurant use in Yards Park, the team said. Living classrooms focuses on environmental education, workforce development and building healthy communities. The nonprofit currently operates out of Kingman Island and primarily Title 1 schools throughout the District. Living Classrooms is planning a three-story, wood-and-glass pa-vilion that will allow them to expand their programming right on the shores of the Anacostia River in Navy Yard. The building would allow them to expand offerings. It was first presented to the ANC strictly for information purposes in May. The proposed design is a pavilion structure, in appearance and scale similar to the lumber shed and the District Winery building with wood, glass and

dark metal elements. The three-story 17,000 square foot building will be on the boardwalk at Fifth Street SE, south of the Navy Yard power plant. Each story is set on an angle to the one below, creating outdoor spaces on each floor as well as varied views from windows on all sides except those facing north, for reasons of Navy Yard security. The first floor includes the lobby, locker rooms for the Marina and a kitchen and dining room for culinary training in the adult Workforce Development Program. Above are offices, music and tech-nology spaces and classrooms for younger students. The top floor holds flexible space that can be used for events or fundraisers or subdivided for classroom and workforce development space. There is a green roof on top and a mechanical penthouse. Commissioners voted unanimously to support the design review and the application for special exception and uses.

In Other Business

The commission voted to support a completed petition presented by Commissioner Wilson for Residential Parking Program around Capitol Quarter, located on the 300 block of I Street, 300 block of K Street and the 400 block of Virginia Avenue SE. The petition is intended to address parking concerns as a result of Department of Transportation signage changes that reduced parking spots in the area. The commission protested a liquor license renewal applications to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Commissioner (ABCA) in pursuit of a Settlement agreement (SA) with: Vida Penthouse Pool and Lounge at 1212 Fourth St. SE, Albi Maxwell at 1346 Fourth St. SE, Homewood Suites at 50 M St. SE and Atlas Brew Works at 1201 Half St. SE, Ste. 120. ANC 6/8F meets on the Third Tuesday of the month. Many ANCs do not meet in August. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 18. Find more information and how to join at anc8F.org. u

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

neighborhood news

National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington Cemetery

Tuesday, Nov. 11, Arlington National Cemetery hosts the annual observance honoring all who served. Events are free and open to the public. Arrive early—be seated at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or in the Memorial Amphitheater by 9:30 a.m. Schedule: 8 a.m. Cemetery opens; 10:15 a.m. last shuttle departs; 10:30 a.m. prelude concert; 11 a.m. wreath laying; 11:05 a.m.–noon National Observance Program. Free parking 8 a.m.–5 p.m. in the Welcome Center garage. arlingtoncemetery.mil

New Prescription and Food Pharmacy Opens at Unity’s Anacostia Health Center

Unity Health Care has opened a new prescription pharmacy and a second food pharmacy for seniors managing hypertension and diabetes at 1500 Galen St. SE, in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank and the Marriott Foundation. unityhealthcare. org/locations/anacostia-health-center

Find Love For Your Single Friends

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Bridge District (633 Howard Rd. SE) hosts Cuffing Season: Pitch a Friend happy hour. Friends take the stage with two-minute PowerPoint pitches to find matches for their single friends. Emceed by Onose, the event blends

dating show and comedy night with Atlas Brew Works brews and food-truck bites. Free admission; register at eventbrite.com/e/bridge-district-cuffing-season-seriestickets-1669770471429?aff=press

Tuesday Bird Walks at Kenilworth Park

Every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., join volunteer birder Molly Hermann for a leisurely one-mile walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. All skill lev-

America’s Trot for Hunger on Thanksgiving Morning

Join SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K at Freedom Plaza, 13th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Check-in 6:30 a.m.; Little Turkey OneMiler 7:30 a.m.; 5K starts 8:15 a.m. The USATF-certified course runs along Pennsylvania Ave. Registration $65; $15 for One-Miler (ages 10 and under). Best Dressed Turkey contest 9:30 a.m.; roads reopen 10:30 a.m. Proceeds support SOME’s food, housing, health care, and training programs. trotforhunger.org

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. DCHFA, Resourceininthe theDistrict. District. DCHFA,Your YourHomeownership Homeownership Resource DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust

homebuyer or a D.C. resident

, be purchasing a home in the DC Open Doors Doors DC Open District of Columbia. DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership DC Open Doors city. This program offers competitive interest rates and in Open the city. This offers lower mortgage insurance coststo on firstcompetitive trust DC Doors is program your key homeownership in the city. This program interest rates and interest rates andoffers lowercompetitive mortgage insurance costs homebuyer or a D.C. resident HPAP provides interest free lower mortgage insurance costs ondeferred first trustloans for down on first trust mortgages.You not required , be purchasingare a home in the District Columbia. homebuyer or a D.C.homebuyer resident to be of a first-time oraaco-administrator D.C. resident of serves as , be purchasing home the DC for Department of Housing and in Community tothis qualify DCOD. You must,a however, be District of Columbia. Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer

purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

program. HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down

DC4ME serves as a co-administrator of HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down this DC Department Housing and Community DC4ME providesofmortgage assistance with Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer serves as a co-administrator optional down payment assistance to D.C. of program. this DC Department of Housing and Community government employees. DC4ME is offered to years or older who have fallen home behind on insurance Development’s (DHCD) first-time buyer and tax payments as a result of theiremployees, reverse mortgage. current full-time District government program.

Qualified District homeowners can receive up to including employees of District governmentbased instrumentalities, independent agencies, years or older who have fallen behind on insurance D.C. Charter Schools, and organizations, and tax Public payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Qualified District homeowners can receive up to provided the applicant/borrower’s employer DC4ME provides assistance with optional years olderthe who havemortgage fallen behind on insurance fallsor under oversight of the Council of the payment D.C. government anddown tax payments asassistance a result ofto their reverse mortgage. District of Columbia. employees. DC4ME is offered current Qualified District homeowners canto receive up full-time to District government employees, including employees DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional of District government-based instrumentalities, DC4ME VA Loan Product down payment assistance to D.C. government independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, employees. DC4ME offered to current full-time The DC4ME VAisLoan Product is aapplicant/borrower's VA and organizations, provided the District government employees, including of employees employer falls under the oversight the DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional product offeredinstrumentalities, by the District ofCouncil of of mortgage District government-based down assistance to D.C.Charter government thepayment District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public Schools, ColumbiaDC4ME HousingisFinance Agency employees. offered to current(DCHFA). full-time and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's District government employees, including employees In addition to the traditional VA benefits, like employer falls under the oversight of the Council of ofno District government-based instrumentalities, the District of Columbia. down payment and no monthly mortgage independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, COVID-19 insurance, this product includes 3% assistance, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's DC MAP COVID-19 providesoffinancial assistance to employer falls under the oversight thetoward Council of funded by DCHFA, that can be used those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 the District of Columbia. COVID-19 eligible closing costs orborrowers prepaid items. This a loan of pandemic. Qualified can receive DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to up to $5,000 per month to put toward mortgage makes the DC4ME VA Loan Product one of the those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19their for up to six months. pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of most affordable and accessible loan options for COVID-19 up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage qualified military-connected borrowers. for upMAP to sixCOVID-19 months. provides financial DC assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

Homebuyers Info Sessions are Back at DCHFA Visit www.DCHFA.org Visit www.DCHFA.org howRegister to apply to at anybit.ly/dcopendoors of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG Visit www.DCHFA.org

how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N O VEMBER 2025 19 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

neighborhood news

I Too Am America: A Generative Poetry Writing Workshop at MLK Library

On Saturdays, Nov. 15, Dec. 13 and Jan. 10, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., at MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, join the Library and Story Tapestries for poetry workshops inspired by Langston Hughes. Participants will write and share work in a welcoming space open to all ages and experience levels. Free with registration. Selected poems will be digitally published for Hughes’ birthday, Feb. 1, 2026, celebrating DC’s diversity and resilience. dclibrary.libnet.info/event/1

DC’s Four Outdoor Ice Rinks Open this Month

Skate at the Canal Park Ice Rink (200 M St. SW; skatecanalpark.com), National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (seventh and Constitution NW; nga.gov/ice-rink-sculpture-garden), Wharf Ice Rink (970 Wharf St. SW; wharfdc.com/ wharf-ice-rink), and Washington Harbor (3000–3050 K St. NW; thewashingtonharbour.com/ice-skating). Opening dates TBA.

els welcome; bring water and sunscreen. Binoculars available with photo ID. Walk lasts 1.5–2 hours. nps. gov/keaq

DC Green Bank Supports Fleet Electrification for Small Businesses

DC Green Bank has announced $1 million in financing for FinEV to help DC small businesses—such as transport providers, florists, and technicians— purchase electric vehicles. The program will assist about a dozen businesses, cut fuel and maintenance costs, and reduce pollution. dcgreenbank. com/news/finev

(virtual) Aspiring Writer’s Circle

Writers meet virtually the first and third Thursday of each month, 6–7 p.m., for sharing, critiques, and

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

writing prompts. All genres welcome. Email adultservices.dcpl@dc.gov to join the listserv. dclibrary.org

Covenant House’s Sleep Out: Washington, DC

Thursday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. to Friday morning, Nov. 21, join Covenant House’s Sleep Out to raise awareness and support for unhoused youth. Participants sleep outdoors rain or shine to stand in solidarity with young people experiencing homelessness. Register at sleepout.org/pages/2366?eventID=1103

Housing Resiliency Webinar for Government Employees and Contractors

If you face job instability, join Housing Counseling Services for a Housing Resiliency Webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 6 p.m. A HUD-certified coun-

Langston Hughes by Winold Reiss, 2024.

selor will cover emergency budgeting and housing options. Register at hcsetc.org/register or call 202-667-7606.

Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Mount Vernon offers free admission for active, former, and retired military personnel. At 11 a.m. hear the Harmony Heritage Singers; at 2 p.m. the US Air Force Strings. On the bowling green, learn about Revolutionary

Mount Vernon by Candlelight

On Nov. 28–29 and Dec. 12, 13, 19, 22 and 23, 5:30–8:30 p.m., tour Mount Vernon by candlelight to experience 18th-century holiday traditions. Hear stories of Christmas past from costumed interpreters portraying Washington’s family and staff as the estate marks the upcoming 250th anniversary of Independence. Admission $41 (ages 12+), $33 (ages 6–11), under 5 free. mountvernon.org

War flags. Free tickets for service members only. mountvernon.org

Tree Planting Season Begins

DDOT has launched the 2025–26 treeplanting season to add thousands of trees citywide, improving air quality, beautifying streets, and cooling neighborhoods. Request a tree through 311 (text, call, or 311.dc.gov). Free yard trees also available.

DPR Kicks Off Leaf Collection Season

DC’s leaf collection runs Nov. 3 through Feb. 2026. Residents should rake leaves to the curb before their scheduled pickup week. Find your schedule at dpw. dc.gov/leaf.

DC Expansion of Food Waste Smart Bin Program

DPW will expand its Food Waste Smart Bins from 31 to 50 sites in 2026, increasing collection by about 35,000 pounds monthly. The program is the nation’s second-largest after NYC’s. Residents can also drop off food scraps at 12 community sites including First Baptist Church of Deanwood (4408 Sheriff Rd. NE, Sat. 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) and Sycamore & Oak (1110 Oak Dr. SE, Sat. 10 a.m.–2 p.m.). Decorated pumpkins cannot be composted. zerowaste.dc.gov/ foodwastedropoff

Community Forklift’s Donation Wish List

Community Forklift, 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD, seeks donations

of tiles, appliances, small wood furniture, window A/C units, decor, artwork, and cabinet sets. Contact Donations@ CommunityForklift.org or 301-9855180. communityforklift.org

DC Hypothermia Alerts

Alerts activate when the forecast temperature (including wind chill) is 32°F or below —or 40°F with a 50% chance of precipitation. Shelter transport is available 24/7. Report anyone in need to the Shelter Hotline 202-399-7093 or 311; for emergencies call 911. Include location and description. dhs.dc.gov/extremeweather

Project GiveBack ’25 at the DC Armory

Saturday, Nov. 22, 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m., DC Armory, 2001 East Capitol St. SE, hosts Project GiveBack’s Thanksgiving Food Distribution, providing holiday baskets to families in need. Volunteer or learn more at projectgiveback.org Do You have Something for Bulletin Board? The East of the River Bulletin Board shares community news, events, and volunteer opportunities. Send notices to bulletinboard@ hillrag.com. u

Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale neighborhoods and the RFK Stadium Complex.

Join us for our Next Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - 7:00 pm HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Virtual Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/82241 895770?pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuXw1vbrC1 rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d

Our Commissioners are here to serve you! COMMISSIONER Brian Alcorn, Chairperson Brett Astmann, Treasurer Dev Myers, Secretary Artilie Wright Katie Murphy Ebony Payne Ashley Schapitl Vacant SMD Vacant SMD

SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT

E-MAIL

7D08 – Capitol Hill 7D07 – Rosedale 7D10 – Hill East 7D03 – Parkside 7D04 – River Terace 7D05 – Kingman Park 7D09 – Hill East 7D02 – Mayfair 7D06 – Rosedale

7d08@anc.dc.gov 7d07@anc.dc.gov 7d10@anc.dc.gov 7d03@anc.dc.gov 7d04@anc.dc.gov 7d05@anc.dc.gov 7d09@anc.dc.gov 7d@anc.dc.gov 7d@anc.dc.gov

For more information, go to:

7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1 E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

east washington life

Residents Share What Thanksgiving Means to Them

Wards 7 & 8 Go Beyond Traditional Thanksgiving Celebrations by Lynne Harris

hanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with a large meal and a hearty turkey as the centerpiece of the table. Family members gather in a thankful atmosphere while enjoying each other’s company. And while many people celebrate Thanksgiving by watching parades or playing or watching football or shopping for Black Friday deals, others have ventured beyond those traditions. In recent years, non-traditional ways of celebrating have included incorporating culture, extending beyond a family-only gathering, creating entertainment through unique family games and/or giving back to the community in special ways. In addition, some have designated this time to quietly reflect on the past year. Even non-profit organizations have extended their usual distribution of Thanksgiving dinner meals to offering non-traditional events such as a “Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast.” One such non-profit is the DC Dream Center. Located in Ward 7, the DC Dream Center is open year-round to serve community residents. They focus on youth; however, all are welcome and are served. In addition to supporting people through mentoring, tutoring, personal development and legal assistance, the center extends invites to Ward 7-only residents to join them for their annual “Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast.” Although there is growing popularity in hosting prayer breakfast activities for Thanksgiving among organizations and churches, it is not as common as Thanksgiving dinners. In a small sampling of Ward 7 and 8 residents, nearly half have celebrated Thanksgiving in different ways over recent years and plan to do so this year as well. From hosting an annual Friendsgiving to setting aside time to reflect on life to using program platforms to bridge gaps, residents welcome celebrating Thanksgiving in unique and different ways.

“Friendsgiving” Celebrations

Friendsgiving is a non-traditional celebration that gives individuals a comfortable space to gather for a Thanksgiving-themed 22

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

dinner with friends or their “chosen family.” It is especially welcome for those who have families that live far away or have strained family relationships. Usually held around Thanksgiving as a potluck meal, the host helps organize and set the menu to ensure all main dishes are covered. The term “Friendsgiving” became popular in the early 2010s and was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2020. “Thanksgiving is my fav holiday! I usually cook and serve a full “Friendsgiving” meal on the Friday following Thanksgiving Day,” Junel Jeffrey said. Jeffrey recently settled in Eastland Gardens of Ward 7 and loves getting to know her neighbors and welcoming friends to her home. She lives away from her family but has designated time on Thanksgiving Day to speak with them on the phone and then she spends quality time with close friends on Friday. “I video call my family on Thursday, and we talk about how my preparation is going for my meal day on Friday. For at least 10 years, I have prepared Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday and invited loved ones to my home for a “Friendsgiving” meal on Friday. I host and cook all of the food. I prepare two special dishes—Cranberries with Grand Marnier and Shrimp Orzo Pasta,” Jeffrey said. Hosting Friendsgiving provides time to give of herself in a special way. Jeffrey says she loves to cook and share with people who mean a lot to her. Her work schedule inspired her commitment to hosting Friendsgiving. “As a Public Affairs Officer, I usually had to work on Thanksgiving Day taking photos of leaders serving soldiers at the dining facility. Rather than rush to make a meal that day, I switched to Friday so that I could take my time and my friends could spend time with their families on Thursdays and come kick it with me on Friday. They can relax, break bread, and converse in a loving space that I’ve created. That sharing makes me feel good,” Jeffrey said. Jeffrey uses her Friendsgiving gathering for her and friends to spend quality time and look back on what they are thankful for and look ahead at what they are hopeful for in the future.

DC Dream Center Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast

Carving the turkey at the Ashshaheed family

Thanksgiving.

MacKay Roofing Flat RooF SpecialiStS FOR ALL YOUR ROOFING & GUTTER NEEDS

4 Chimney Repair 4 Inside Ceiling Repair & Painting 4 Patching – Coating – Waterproofing 4 Roof Certifications

4 All Other Home Improvement Needs 4 Critter Trapping & Damage Repair 4 Insulation

50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REASONABLE RATES HIGHEST RANKING IN:

15% DISCOUNT WITH THIS AD

CALL NOW FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

202-210-2179

MACKAYHOMEIMPROVEMENT.COM

LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2025

Men Giving Back to the Community

“Thanksgiving is a time of shared reflection with people we care about. It gives us a chance to reconnect, reflect and give thanks. My annual Friendsgiving day allows me to do that fully,” Jeffrey said. “We never quite know where the conversation will go, but what I know for sure is that everyone will leave my home fulfilled in mind, body and soul.”

boys, Ethan and Elijah. Becoming a mom has given Thanksgiving a whole new meaning. It’s about displaying intentional and unconditional love, gratitude and showing my boys the importance of giving that love back to others,” she said.

A Moment for Personal Reflections

Serving the community is a long-standing way to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in Wards 7 and 8. Many organizations provide a space for residents and others to do that. Active community leader and former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ebbon Allen represented residents in the Ward 7 SMD 7E03 on the east side of Benning Road bordering Southern Avenue. He is passionate about his community and serves through several organizations, particularly during Thanksgiving. “There is a great tradition with groups such as the Men Giving Back to the Community organization in Ward 7. We distribute turkeys to the residents of Benning Park as we celebrate community. I hope we can expand to help those families in Marshall Heights and around Benning Road in southeast, DC,” Allen stated.

Thanksgiving has become a special time to place a pause on life’s hustle and bustle and reflect not only on accomplishments and awards but also nontangible gifts. Toni Reynolds-Criner is a Ward 7 Deanwood resident who is committed to her community; however, she takes the special moments of Thanksgiving to spend quiet time and reflect personally. “Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times of the year, a season of giving, warmth, gratitude and connection. There’s something so comforting about gathering with family and friends, sharing funny stories, catching up on life and enjoying endless amounts of dressing and cranberry sauce, and the best spiked cider until I slip into a sleep coma,” Reynolds-Criner said. From a young age, she open to any opportunity to give to those who were less fortunate. She reflects on those moments and the past year. Reynolds-Criner shared her excitement for new blessings in her life and starting new traditions. “This year feels especially meaningful as I give thanks for two precious new blessings in my life, my beautiful twin 24

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Giving Back in the Thanksgiving Spirit Yearlong

Celebrating Family, No Matter Where or How

Business owner and Ward 8 resident Krista Ashshaheed has made Ashford Court her home. She has been actively involved since she moved there, immediately becoming a member of the Homeowners Association and other activities. But dur-

ing Thanksgiving, she takes time to focus on the spirit of the season. “This year, my husband and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving at my twin sister’s house with her, my brother-in-law and my niece. We also invite friends who can’t make it home for the holiday—it’s our way of making sure everyone has a place to belong and celebrate,” she said. Celebrating Thanksgiving has evolved for her over the years but it has consistently stayed focused on family no matter where or how she celebrates. “Our Thanksgiving celebrations have definitely changed over time. What means the most to me about Thanksgiving is being surrounded by family and friends—sharing laughter, stories and creating memories together. We would travel home to Georgia or to Virginia to be with family. Sometimes our family from Georgia would come up to visit us in DC, too. It’s always nice to spend the holiday together, no matter where we are,” Ashshaheed said. She said sharing memories is also an important part of her Thanksgiving celebration. “Growing up, my whole family would gather at my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, and it was always such a fun and lively time. Last year was our first Thanksgiving without my grandmother, which made the day feel a little different, but we honored her by sharing our favorite memories of her,” Ashshaheed reflected. From eating different foods to playing games, she says she is open to nontraditional ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. “Once we decided to do something different and prepared a crab boil for Thanksgiving. It was a fun and a flavorful way to celebrate together. Last year, we added something extra to our festivities. We played games with our family and friends after dinner and we plan to do it again,” she said. “Being with family or friends during Thanksgiving is very important to me—I just love sharing the holiday with others.” Lynne Harris is a freelance writer with extensive experience in radio and print journalism. A native Washingtonian, she has spent several years covering the DC City Council, the Mayor’s Office and events and activities throughout the city, including Wards 7 & 8. Locally, she has worked with WPFW-FM, WAMU-FM, National Public Radio, Pacifica Radio and most recently East Capitol Neighbors magazine. Have a story idea? She can be reached at lynneharris.apr@gmail.com. u E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

east washington life

Where Art and Life Collide Luis Del Valle’s Life Inspires the Art He Creates and the Exhibitions He Curates by Matthew McClure

I Luis Del Valle at his group exhibition Woven Thread: Where Latino and AfricanAmerican Diasporas Collide in Color, Portrait, and Abstract Expressionist Power, standing alongside his work titled The Missing Laborer. Photo: Matthew McClure

Luis Del Valle’s new group exhibition at Honfleur Gallery in Anacostia. His painting The Construction Worker appears in the foreground. Photo: Luis Del Valle

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Del Valle actively resists being pigeonholed. He refuses any labels that the academy has traditionally weaponized to categorize art by “outsiders” working on the fringes of mainstream artistic discourse by confidently asserting a visual language that’s all his own, both in his artistic and curatorial practice. “My work doesn’t have to look like it’s from Nicaragua. It’s more about the spirit of the culture that’s transmitted to me by my parents. I made a conscious decision that I didn’t want to be niched as a Latino -American Nicaraguan artist.” Del Valle tells me about the late 19th century Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, whose innovative work transformed the Spanish language beyond the borders of his home country. “I want my art to be a universal language. Darío had a power in his poetry that transcended being Nicaraguan.” Both in his practice and in casual conversation, it’s evident that Del Valle thinks deeply and critically about current affairs in a way that’s refreshingly countercultural. His opinions on gentrification, immigration, rap music and the dangers of social media algorithms fit into the interstices between mainstream critiques that frequently drown out alternative ways of thinking. “As artists we can’t be partisan. I must speak the truth. We must look at all sides, at all information, and then make our judgement. If we try to be divisive, we don’t get anywhere.” Del Valle counts Norman Rockwell and Amy Sherald as two of his biggest inspirations in terms of how they’ve have transformed American art. Sherald recently courted controversy after pulling her painting depicting a Black transgender woman as Lady Liberty from a group exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery after blowback from Gallery staff. “The fact that she called herself a patriot and an American, that takes a lot of guts.” As a tribute, Del Valle says he plans to paint her soon. Del Valle says he’s currently getting ready for a trip to Hong Kong with his kids. He wants them to see as much of the world as possible outside of America. His next project? “I’m working on highlighting how the Irish and Italians were discriminated against in the United States. When they first came here, they were experiencing the same kind of bad experiences. Whenever you’re discriminated against, it doesn’t matter what it is, discrimination is discrimination.” www.lovehopeart.com / @luis202artist u

t’s one week before artist and curator Luis Del Valle opens his new group exhibition at Anacostia’s Honfleur Gallery and I’m getting a sneak, after-hours preview of the show on a chilly fall afternoon. With his open smile, easy demeanor and curly hair streaked with gray, Del Valle is an instantly recognizable part of Anacostia’s energetic creative landscape. Del Valle lives just a few miles up the road with his wife and two children in a high rise building with sweeping views of the city that he’s called home since the early 90s, after his parents fled political violence in his native Nicaragua. “I was four going on five but funnily enough I do remember a lot. I have a photographic memory. I can vividly remember my grandma teaching us to go into the bathtub when we heard gunshots.” He’s understandably reticent to talk about this traumatic period (life in Nicaragua under Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian regime is still perilous), but it’s also clear that this formative experience has crystalized Del Valle’s concepts of what individuals and communities require to flourish. You’ll see expressions of these ideas in his paintings depicting both icons and ordinary people in and around Anacostia. A graduate of the Corcoran College of Art and Design, Del Valle’s list of awards, accolades and commissions is extensive. His work is in several local and international collections and one of his pieces was selected as an official state gift to China. Del Valle’s practice is both reflective and reflexive, responding to the cultural, political and social context of DC and his place in it through a sensitivity to the urban environment and the materials he works with. No doubt this is because of his early career as a street artist using the landscape around him as a canvas on which to depict his generation’s battle with drugs, alcohol and gun violence, something that abruptly confronted him as soon as his family settled here.

Asha Elana Casey, Jonathan, Heir to the World and Ebony. Photo: Luis Del Valle

Changing Hands Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Woven Thread

Where Latino and African-American Diasporas Collide in Color, Portrait, and Abstract Expressionist Power by Matthew McClure

n partnership with the Valley Place Arts Collaborative, Del Valle says his new group show at Honfleur Gallery “celebrates Hispanic, Latino and Afro-Latino with American Black experience.” Woven Thread features eleven artists from in and around the DMV and includes pieces by Del Valle. At the entrance to the gallery is a striking self-portrait painted on a roadwork warning sign, Del Valle’s tribute to the often-unseen labor by undocumented immigrants working under constant threat of deportation. Part of his Street Sign series, The Construction Worker was painted in 2021 but was included by Del Valle in Woven Thread as a lucid reminder of the perils of being forced to leave home and the lengths migrants will go to survive in this country. The first time that Del Valle has used the notions of ‘thread’ and ‘weaving’ in the titles and rationales of his group exhibitions. In September 2022, his group show Love, Hope, & Art: Woven Thread opened at the Anacostia Arts Center and this time last year he curated Woven Thread 6.0: Tradition Meets the Streets. “When you have the diversity of works and different styles that we have here, it makes it a beautiful quilt. Quilts aren’t perfect. They have different salvaged materials. That’s what makes these exhibitions impactful.” The work included in the exhibition is primarily figurative, with a selection that ranges from traditional portraiture to outright abstraction. A few notable exceptions stand out as what Del Valle argues are representative of young DC artists rebelling against trends that are currently dominating the social media feeds of DC’s artistic ecosystem. Asha Elana Casey’s work, Del Valle says, “masterfully combines different materials and techniques to create a fine, classical look. Everyone’s pasting fabric and doing the same thing, but (Casey) has been able to translate ideas into something that will stand the test of time.” Woven Thread: Where Latino and African-American Diasporas Collide in Color, Portrait, and Abstract Expressionist Power runs through December 6. www.honfleurgallerydc.com u

PRICE

3633 Texas Ave SE $549,000 1421 34th St SE $560,000 3115 Minnesota Ave SE $433,500 FEE SIMPLE 2016 32nd St SE $407,000 2603 30th St SE $399,500 ANACOSTIA 1650 V St SE $590,000 3 2356 Green St SE $480,000 4 MARSHALL HEIGHTS $525,000 1600 V St SE $459,000 3 38 47th SE $399,000 1622 Ridge Pl SE $425,000 3 5424 Call Pl SE $380,000 1632 Q St SE $422,500 3 212 54th St SE $360,000 1627 W SE $380,000 2 5327 Central Ave SE 5432 B St SE $347,500

BARRY FARMS 2518 Elvans Rd SE 2516 Elvans Rd SE 2514 Elvans Rd SE 1462 Howard Rd SE 1253 Sumner Rd SE

$620,000 $620,000 $620,000 $345,000 $280,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 4012 Wahler Ct SE 4012 1st Pl SW 1010 Southern Ave SE 606 Galveston Pl SE 4009 Cole Blvd SE 3941 1st St SW 424 Mellon St SE 4116 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SW 1107 Bellevue St SE 1202 Barnaby Ter SE

$499,900 $474,000 $448,000 $425,000 $420,000 $405,000 $379,000 $340,000 $252,000 $218,000

5 5 5 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 3

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2711 Hartford St SE 2728 Knox Ter SE 2701 James M McGee Jr St SE 3453 23rd St SE 1887 Savannah Pl SE 1901 Savannah Pl SE 1966 Fendall St SE 1419 Alabama Ave SE 2222 S S St SE

$480,000 $475,000 $420,000 $419,000 $400,000 $385,000 $385,000 $346,900 $300,000

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

RIVER TERRACE

251 Anacostia Ave NE $502,000 3 3371 Blaine St NE $430,000 2

CONDO

ANACOSTIA DEANWOOD 732 50th St NE 4414 Edson Pl NE 212 49th St NE 84 54th St SE 17 54th St SE 4618 Hayes St NE 3903 Blaine St NE 3921 Ames St NE 5104 Brooks St NE 811 51st St NE 5105 Jay St NE 4510 Edson Pl NE 5047 Sheriff Rd NE 248 56th Pl NE 4702 Jay St NE 4210 Edson Pl NE 4010 Ames St NE 4605 Grant St NE

$500,000 $489,000 $470,000 $460,000 $459,900 $450,000 $445,000 $435,000 $418,500 $415,000 $400,000 $400,000 $400,000 $349,000 $314,000 $290,000 $270,000 $202,000

FORT DUPONT PARK 4412 Bowen Rd SE 3026 M Pl SE 4653 H St SE 4310 Southern Ave SE 4349 G St SE 608 Burns St SE 3220 D St SE 4339 Barker St SE 709 Adrian St SE

$575,000 $483,997 $445,000 $435,000 $415,000 $369,000 $339,900 $285,000 $250,000

3 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 6 3 3 4 2 2 2 3 3

2305 Nicholson St SE #205 2131 Young St SE #101 1611 T St SE #3

$460,000 $170,000 $158,550

CARVER LANGSTON 2209 M St NE #9 824 18th St NE #4 1004 18th NE #3 1004 18th St NE #P1

$380,000 $239,000 $237,500 $15,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 14 Danbury St SW #2

$179,000

FORT DUPONT PARK 4477 B St SE #304 514 Ridge Rd SE #112

$209,900 $70,000

FORT LINCOLN 2522 Hurston Ln NE #B 3110 Cherry Rd NE #36 3150 Banneker Dr NE #3150 3176 Berry Rd NE #27 3014 Pineview Ct NE #3014

$455,000 $450,000 $390,000 $295,000 $285,000

HILL CREST 3922 Southern Ave SE #202

$138,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS

$615,000 $553,000

3 3

2 1 1 0 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 1

5005 D St SE #302 5000 Call Pl SE #102

$139,000 $93,500

2 1

1907 Good Hope Rd SE #211 u

$56,000

N o vember 2025

HILLCREST 1202 34th SE $960,000 5 RANDLE HEIGHTS 3524 Texas Ave SE 3612 Alabama Ave SE

2 2 4

E ast of the R iver M agazine

kids and family

by Kathleen Donner

Photo: Margot Schulman

Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show

From Dec. 5 to 21 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, leap into the holidays with Step Afrika!’s highenergy Magical Musical Holiday Step Show. Enjoy laughter, songs, and dance with DJ Nutcracker and his Arctic friends in a lively celebration for the whole family. Tickets start at $49. arenastage.org.

Hill Family Biking: Garfield Park Re-Opening Littles Ride

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., join Hill Family Biking for a Littles Ride—geared toward ages three to six with a one-mile route from Stanton Park to newly renovated Garfield Park. Older siblings may ride along. Parents should be on bikes. A Holiday Lights Ride follows Dec. 13, 4:30–6:30 p.m., from Watkins Elementary, 420 12th St. SE. hillfamilybiking.org.

Saturday Morning Live at the National: Capoeira and The Nutcracker

On Saturdays, Nov. 8 and 22, 10 a.m., experience capoeira—a blend of dance, music, and martial arts—with EducArte instructors. On Dec. 13, enjoy an abridged Nutcracker adventure through Clara’s journey and the Kingdom of Sweets. Free at the National Theatre’s Helen Hayes Gallery, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Registration suggested; walk-ins welcome. nationaltheatre.org.

Washington National Opera’s The Little Prince at the KC Terrace Theater

From Dec. 12 to 14, the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater brings Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic The Little Prince to life in Rachel Portman’s opera. The story of friendship between an aviator and a mysterious prince unfolds with humor, charm, and wonder for all ages. Tickets start at $40. kennedycenter.org.

Thanksgiving Day’s Little Turkey One-Miler

Join a DC Thanksgiving tradition—SOME’s Annual Trot for Hunger 5K—at Freedom Plaza. The Little Turkey One-Miler for ages ten and under begins at 7:30 a.m.; the 5K run/walk starts at 8:15 a.m. Registration is $15 for the One-Miler and $65 for the 5K. Funds support food, housing, healthcare, and job training for DC residents. trotforhunger.org.

Ukulele Family Sing Along, Jam Along on the Millennium Stage

On Friday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m., join Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer for a joyful family sing-along and ukulele jam on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Free; online reservations open two weeks before each performance. kennedy-center.org.

US Army Orchestra American Holiday Festival

Celebrate the season with the US Army Orchestra’s American Holiday Festival Dec. 5–7 at DAR Constitution Hall. Free tickets available Nov. 3, 10 a.m. Showtimes: Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 3 & 8 p.m.; Sun. 3 p.m. First-come seating opens one hour before showtime; unticketed entry allowed 15 minutes prior if seats remain. usarmyband.com.

Upcoming Library of Congress Family Days

On Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., cel28

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

FLAMENCO EN FAMILIA at GALA

On Saturday, Nov. 15, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, join Sara Jerez, Richard Marlow, and guest dancers for an interactive introduction to flamenco. Learn palmas, zapateo, and the use of castanets, fans, and other traditional instruments. Free for children and families. galatheatre.org.

ebrate family recipes and harvest traditions in the Jefferson Building Mezzanine. Create your own cookbook using materials from Library collections. On Dec. 26–27, craft holiday cards and bookmarks with winter imagery from the archives. Free, tickets required. loc.gov.

Capital City Symphony: “Zoom” and “Spark!” at the Atlas

On Sunday, Nov. 16, 2:30 & 5 p.m., enjoy Zoom, a musical adventure featuring Peter and the Wolf and Finlandia at the Atlas, 1333 H

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

PRE-K 3 – 5TH GRADE SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2026–2027 SCHOOL YEAR

Tyrannosaurus rex, colored pencil drawing, 2024.

Season’s Greenings: Dino-mite! at the Botanic Garden

APPLICATION OPENS DECEMBER 15, 2025

COME LEARN WITH US! Apply for admissions at:

www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336 OPEN HOUSE & INFORMATION SESSIONS Join us for building tours and information sessions to learn more about our programs: WED. NOV. 12 WED. DEC. 17 10 AM - 11 AM

10 AM - 11 AM

WED. FEB. 4 10 AM - 11 AM

SCAN HERE TO REGISTER

w w w. b r i d ges p cs.o rg I 202 . 5 4 5.0 5 1 5

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. 100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011 I @bridgespcs

Celebrate the holidays from Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the US Botanic Garden’s annual “Season’s Greenings” display. The Conservatory features poinsettias, holiday décor, and DC landmarks made from plants. Outside, festive lights and décor surround the Garden’s model train show. This year, G-gauge trains chug through plant-made dinosaurs alongside. The Garden stays open late on Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and Jan. 1, and closes Dec. 25. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW (southwest corner of the Capitol grounds). usbg.gov.

St. NE. On Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 & 5:30 p.m., Spark! returns with holiday music and Potomac Fever from the Gay Men’s Chorus. Free youth tickets (16 and under). Adults $40.75. atlasarts.org.

Topsoe, this community event features hands-on STEAM activities, wind-powered projects, and interactive exhibits to spark creativity. nationalchildrensmuseum.org.

NMAAHC Kids Story Time: Jabari Tries

The Puppet Co.’s Nutcracker

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., kids ages four to eight can get creative with NMAAHC Kids at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Enjoy a reading of Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall, then build inventions with recycled materials and explore related museum objects. Free; registration required. nmaahc.si.edu.

From Nov. 28 to Dec. 31, enjoy this classic Nutcracker retelling with a Puppet Co. twist at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. Featuring Tchaikovsky’s score and beloved characters, the show is recommended for ages four and up. Run time 60 min-

NMAAHC Kids Story Time: When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree

Visit DC Prep at EdFEST on Saturday, December 13th.

PK3-8th Grade

Edgewood, Benning & Anacostia Neighborhoods

LEARN MORE

More Time. More Support. Real Results. At DC Prep, students thrive in and out of the classroom.

(202) 780-5126 I dcprep.org 30

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

On Saturday, Dec. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., celebrate Kwanzaa and the principle of Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) through Jamie L.B. Deenihan’s When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree. Create garden-inspired collages, enjoy lemon-themed play, and explore related exhibits. For ages four to eight. Free; registration required. nmaahc.si.edu.

National Children’s Museum Free Day of Discovery

On Saturday, Nov. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, celebrates National STEM Day with free admission. Sponsored by

Go, Dog. Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve! at the KC

From Nov. 22 to Dec. 14, in the Kennedy Center Family Theater, join these playful pups as they drive, swim, play baseball, and race to the big dog party—in a lively blend of English and Spanish. Like a pop-up book come to life, Go, Dog. Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve! features accordion tunes, colorful costumes, and whimsical movement. Best for ages four and up. Tickets $28. kennedy-center.org.

ONE SCHOOL, ONE COMMUNITY, ONE CITY...

CALL NOW! ELEMENTARY

PK3-5th

MIDDLE

6th-8th

2021 13th St NW 770 Kenyon St NW (202) 387-9830 (202) 793-2667

MPCS-DC.ORG

THE WORLD INTERSECTS AT M E R I D I A N

TO PLAN YOUR VISIT WITH US.

• We prioritize a comprehensive education approach and redefine student achievement through our membership in the EL Education partnership. • Our curriculum accommodates multilingual learners programs through a diverse range of interests and courses such as Visual Arts, Music, Spanish, Performing Arts, and Technology. • Our Before Care, After School, Meridian Clubs and Athletics programs provide students with opportunities to explore their interests and discover their path in life.

MERIDIAN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

SCAN HERE

@MPCS_DC

SERVING GRADES 5-12

CHART YOUR COURSE TO EXCELLENCE Apply today for School Year 2025-2026. Seats are limited. Complete the application online through MySchoolDC.org. #ChoosePaul and we’ll choose you back! Increase your chances of being matched with Paul PCS by making us your #1 selection.

WHY PAUL PCS FOR 5-12 GRADE?

• 2024 Bold Performance School recipient in the High School and 2022 Bold Performance School recipient for the Middle School • Virtual instruction for all students on Fridays • Guaranteed seat for Paul 8th grade families into 9th grade at Paul IHS

• Bilingual Family

• Free daily breakfast Engagement team and lunch for all to meet the needs students Over of all families 20 competitive middle school, • SAT Prep, Tutoring, junior varsity, Honors AP Classes, and varsity Dual Enrollment, athletic teams and In-House College Assistance • Extended day after programs • Wraparound services, school counseling, and student including tae kwon do, cooking club, support resources for dance, and tutoring families with IEPs

Visit www.paulcharter.org to learn more. Questions? Email: Enrollment@paulcharter.org 5800 8th Street NW Washington, DC I (202) 291-7499 E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2025

Now Enrolling! Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science

A STEM-focused curriculum and direct access to the rich resources of Howard University, we inspire tomorrow’s leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Empower your middle schooler to excel at the intersection of innovation and excellence.

utes. Tickets $16 (under age two free). thepuppetco.org.

A Family Christmas at the KC

NEW LOCATION ALERT!

Beginning August 2025, we are proudly located in the newly renovated Miner Building on the iconic campus of Howard University.

Call us at

(202) 983-5300 or visit

hu-ms2.org 2565 Georgia Ave NW, the Miner Building

PERRY STREET PREPARATORY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

On Saturday, Dec. 20, and Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 11 a.m., the Choral Arts Chorus fills the Kennedy Center Concert Hall with holiday classics, sing-alongs, and a visit from Santa. Perfect for ages five and up. Tickets $20–$59. kennedycenter.org.

The Snowman and the Snowdog at Imagination Stage

From Nov. 22 to Jan. 4, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD, presents The Snowman and the Snowdog, a soaring new musical based on Raymond Briggs’ classic. Through puppetry, projections, and theater magic, a boy and his snow creations embark on a wondrous nighttime adventure. Recommended for ages four to ten. imaginationstage.org.

Discovery Theater’s Seasons of Light

This Discovery Theater favorite celebrates global winter holidays including Diwali, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the Winter Solstice through music and storytelling. Dec. 1–19, weekdays at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. Ages 5–10. Tickets: $8 kids, $9 adults, $3 under two. discoverytheater.org.

Girls on the Run DC Celebration 5K

Come learn what makes us one of DC’s most dynamic and student-centered learning communities! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Academics & Lab Model • Athletics & Sports Programs • Enrichment Opportunities • College & Career Readiness • Meet our Dedicated Staff

TUES 12/9 5:00 – 6:30 PM REGISTER HERE

& Support Team

pspdc.org | 202.529.4400 | 1800 Perry Street NE, WDC 20018 32

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

On Sunday, Nov. 23, at The Field at RFK, 401 Oklahoma Ave. NE, join the Girls on the Run DC Celebration 5K. Pre-race festivities begin at 9 a.m.; race starts at 10 a.m. Walk, run, or roll at your own pace. Registration $40–$55. Proceeds support confidence-building programs for girls. gotrdc.org/5k.

A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Lincoln

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.), the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage returns to the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Based on Charles M. Schulz’s story and Vince Guaraldi’s timeless music, this production delights the whole family. Tickets start at $45. thelincolndc.com.

Monthly Family Fun Days at the National Cathedral

One Saturday a month, families can enjoy scavenger hunts, hands-on activities, a pop-up library, and the Cathedral LEGO exhibit. The next Family Fun Day is Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets $17 adults; $12 ages 5–12; four and under free. cathedral.org.

The Puppet Co.’s Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

From Dec. 11 to 22, join Hershel as he battles the Goblin Queen and King to save Hanukkah for his village. This delightful adaptation runs at Glen Echo Park’s Puppet Co., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. Tickets $16 (under age two free). thepuppetco.org.

Handel’s (Family-Friendly) Messiah Highlights

On Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m., experience the most beloved selections from Messiah in this 60-minute, family-friendly concert at Washington National Cathedral. From the “Sinfonia (Overture)” to the

stirring “Hallelujah Chorus,” enjoy this holiday tradition together. Tickets start at $32. cathedral.org.

Discovery Theater’s New Squid on the Block

Join a curious squid seeking friendship in Antarctica in this playful puppet show from Barefoot Puppets. New Squid on the Block runs Nov. 12–14, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., at the Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. Ages 3–8. Tickets: $7 kids, $8 adults, $3 under two. discoverytheater.org.

Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Concert

On Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrate Alexandria’s Scottish heritage as clans in colorful tartans march through Old Town, joined by bands, terriers, and community groups. Afterward, the pipe bands unite for a massed concert at Market Square. visitalexandria.com/holidays/ scottish-walk.

Chanukah in the Dark at Theater J

When the lights go out during Chanukah, Max and his family discover the miracles already among them. Chanukah in the Dark runs Dec. 6–21 at Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. Perfect for ages five and up. Tickets $24.69. edcjcc.org/theater-j.

Calling Young Playwrights: 2026 High School Playwriting Contest

Mosaic Theater invites students in grades 9–12 from DC, Maryland, and Virginia to submit original 10- to 20-minute plays (max 25 pages, up to six characters). Winning scripts will be staged at the High School Playwriting Contest Reading on Saturday, March 15, 2 p.m., at MLK Jr. Memorial Library. Submissions due Jan. 16, 2026. mosaictheater.org/playwritingcontest. u

ADVERTISE WITH EAST OF THE RIVER! Call Kira Means at 202.400.3508 Or email: kira@hillrag.com

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2025

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

Aesthetic starts by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. Billy Joel’s “___ to Extremes” 4. Islamabad’s country, abbr. 7. Sound booster 10. French brandy 16. Mumbai dress 18. Tea server 19. ___ Lama 21. Worst, as an excuse 22. Painter’s challenge 25. Garfield’s vice president 26. Goddess of wisdom and war 27. Act like a wounded finger 28. Carrier 30. Picked 31. It towers over Taormina 32. Puts forward 36. Swing around 40. “Chicago” lyricist 42. Rat-Pack member 45. Compass point 48. Ole Miss rival 50. Bob Dylan song 52. Chocolate trees 53. L.A.’s Getty Center, for one 55. “Jealous mistress,” to Emerson 57. Digital photos, for short 58. Air-conditioning gas 59. NY concert venue 66. Recipe measurement. abbr. 67. Global finance group 70. 1965 Beatles concert venue 71. Foiled 72. Atlantic is one 74. Like many cold meds 75. Prod 76. Not necessarily against 77. Dr. Zhivago’s girlfriend 79. Ballad’s end? 80. Wax collector 83. Dickens character 85. Pretentious 87. “Adam and ___”, painted by Tintoretto 88. “You betcha” 89. Dental discomfort

93. Battle in the American Revolution 97. Branch 100. Litigant 101. Biblical pronoun 102. Weapon supply 104. Rap doctor 105. Flower or eye part 107. Iago’s wife 109. Many an office has one 112. “Matrix” actor Reeves 117. Atmospheric prefix 118. Deplete 120. Unspoiled 121. Channel 126. Where many works are hung 129. Playwright Norman 130. Hike 131. Part of le printemps 132. On bended ___ 133. Sri Lanka, formerly 134. Dark and feminine (Chinese) 135. ____ gow poker 136. Slip a cog

Down:

1. Sci-Fi great, Asimov 2. Big name in country music 3. Prefix with pedic or dontic 4. Fast, fierce feline 5. Dada notable 6. Nautical measure 7. Fictional password user 8. Statesman in a Warhol series 9. Picture of a star 10. Enduring literary work 11. Canoe equipment 12. Clock standard, abbr. 13. O.T. book 14. The Sun Devils of the N.C.A.A. 15. NYC’s Rockefeller, for one 17. Summer coolers 19. Grime 20. Makes up (for) 23. Change machine input

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 24. Common pronoun 29. Med. test result 33. ___ pickle (jam) 34. Tic-___-toe 35. Mainstay 37. Weight abbr. 38. Emirates, for short 39. Outback runner 41. Dundee hillside 43. Disturb 44. Australian stock exchange, abbr. 45. Miscalculates 46. Milestone 47. Rock music style 49. Pacers and Ramblers, e.g. 51. Object 53. Fore’s opposite

54. Agency concerned with kid’s health 56. Color 60. Get __ of yourself 61. Put a new price on 62. Iridescent substance 63. Advantage 64. Triumphant shout 65. Mass. peninsula 68. Computer list 69. Broadly 72. Decide 73. Bumps 76. End of a warning 78. These may be fine 80. Mark permanently 81. White as a sheet 82. A whiskey

83. State confidently 84. Opinion piece in a newspaper 86. Hamelin critter 87. Environmental watchdogs 90. Arles assent 91. Over, poetically 92. Three way 94. Fashion line 95. Groove-billed ___ 96. Singapore inhabitant 98. Salad tit-bit 99. Come-ons 103. Fabrication 106. Humorous piece 108. Sheikdom of song 110. Word with book or message 111. “What’s that?” 113. “CHiPs” co-star Estrada 114. Nickname for the Red Sox’s Adrian Gonzalez 115. Frisco gridder 116. Family name at Indy 119. MTV’s “__ My Ride” 120. Roman 8 121. Car co. bought by Chrysler 122. Actress ___ Dawn Chong of “The Color Purple” 123. Encouraging word 124. Night school subj. 125. Fraternity letter 127. Toulouse king 128. Sheep bleat

AIR & HEATING

ELECTRICIAN To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.3503 or email Carolina@hillrag.com

PLUMBING

Just Say I Need A Plumber®

Dial A Plumber, LLC®

• Licensed Gas Fitter • Water Heater • Boiler Work • Serving DC • References John • Drain Service • Furness Repair & Replacement

Licensed Bonded Insured

CLEANING SERVICES

COMMERCIAL CLEANING TAILORED TO YOUR BUSINESS

Roof Repairs and Replacements Specialists REPAIR & INSTALLATION • Flat Roofing • Slate Roofing LOCAL + FAMILY • Shingling OWNED & OPERATED • Skylights 30+ Years of Experience • Gutters & Downspouts • Chinmeny

Martin

Roofing

Kenny

202-251-1479 DC PLUMMER’S LICENSE #707

ONE STOP LLC

ROOFING

Office • Retail • Overnight Services

RELIABLE. EFFICIENT. PROFESSIONAL.

FOR ALL YOUR ROOFING & GUTTER NEEDS

HIGHEST RANKING IN:

Call: 571-404-2818 one.stop.llc.1@gmail.com

Serving Capitol Hill & SW DC for Over 30 Years! Locally Owned

$20Off Your First Clean NEW CLIENT SPECIAL

DAILY • WEEKLY • BIWEEKLY • MONTHLY PET & FAMILY FRIENDLY GET STARTED WITH YOUR FREE ESTIMATE!

703-719-9850 703-447-5500 standardcleaningservicesinc.com REFERENCES • BONDED & INSURED

WITH THIS AD

PAINTING

ROOFING

AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • “50 YEARS EXPERIENCE”

15% DISCOUNT CALL NOW FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

202-210-2179

MACKAYHOMEIMPROVEMENT.COM LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE

202.860.9007

4 Chimney Repair 4 Inside Ceiling Repair & Painting 4 Patching – Coating – Waterproofing 4 Roof Certifications 4 All Other Home Improvement Needs 4 Critter Trapping & Damage Repair 4 Insulation

50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REASONABLE RATES

We customize our cleaning services to fit YOUR SCHEDULE and YOUR NEEDS.

Call Now for your Free Estimate

• Flat Roof Specialists

• Chimney Repairs

• Modified Bitumen

• Roof Coatings

• Skylights

• Gutters & Downspouts

• Shingles

• Preventive Maintenance • Metal Roofs

• Slate

10% OFF WITH THIS AD

202.425.1614 WWW.GANDGHOMEIMPROVEMENTS.NET

Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners