Issuu

hillrag.com â€˘ October 2013

Est. 1981

D SOL

PETWORTH

CAPITOL HILL

ADAMS MORGAN

DUPONT

MOUNT PLEASANT

326 Farragut Street, NW

705 A Street, NE

1703 Euclid Street, NW

1522 T Street, NW

1813 Kilbourne Place, NW

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

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1709 Kalmia Road, NW

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Tastefully renovated Colonial Village classic features 5BR/3.5BA on four finished levels. Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

CAPITOL HILL 522 10th Street, SE Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

CAPITOL HILL 923 G Street, SE Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

CAPITOL HILL

TAKOMA PARK

CAPITOL HILL

PALISADES

WOODLEY

804 I Street, NE

311 Whittier Street, NW

317 6th Street, SE

5024 Weaver Terrace, NW

2722 Woodley Place, NW

Fern Pannill 240-508-4856

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Fern Pannill 240-508-4856

“WHERE WASHINGTON SHOPS FOR A NEW ADDRESS!”® 225 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003

Tel: 202-544-3900 www.johncformant.com

Sales • Rentals • Commercial Leasing • Property Management • Investments

HillRag | October 2013 H 3

COLDWELL BANKER

RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

Your Strong Local Brokerage With Deep National & International Roots Main Office: 202.547.3525 I N F O R M AT I O N D EEM ED R ELI A B LE B U T N O T G UA R A N T EED

Coldwell Banker Invests In Capitol Hill As the dominant residential real estate brokerage in your neighborhood for over 35 years, we have always invested our time and resources in the Capitol Hill community. From the beginning, we have tied our destiny to an emerging neighborhood full of promise but fraught with risk. Indeed, we suffered through two disastrous market downturns and have reinvented ourselves several times. Through all of the ups and downs, this community has never failed to support us and we, in turn, have never lost faith in the future of Capitol Hill. Whether it was providing a loan when the Capitol Hill Day School wanted to buy a building or stepping up when the Capitol Hill Cluster School 10k original sponsor was unable to continue or providing the seed money and time and effort to start what would become the Capitol Hill Children’s Baseball League, we have always been there. The following is a sample of the financial contributions that we have made over the years. Capitol Hill Cluster School

Over $100,000

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

Over $50,000

Capitol Hill Community Foundation Capitol Hill Day School The St. Peter School

Capitol Hill Children’s Baseball League Barracks Row Main Street The Hill Center

Over $30,000 Over $50,000 Over $50,000 $7,000

Over $10,000

$5,000

Add to the above, another $300,000 in support and sponsorships of various Hill organizations and initiatives over the decades. None of this includes the tens of thousands of dollars in sponsorships and donations made by our individual agents. We have provided scores of officers and directors for CHAMPS, the BID, Barracks Row, CHAW, the Foundation, the Restoration Society, The Village and many of our Hill schools. Our agents have givens thousands of volunteer hours to nearly every event and organization on the Hill over the past 3 decades. The Hill has been recently discovered by many. Not by us, for we have always known what we have had and have worked tirelessly to help make it what it has become today and what it will be tomorrow. 4 H hillrag.com

Thanks from all of us for all of your support for us along the way. HANNA BAKER DEE DEE BRANAND EVELYN BRANIC CHUCK BURGER ETHAN CARSON LIBBY CLARKE STEVE CLINE MANUEL CORTES CRYSTAL CRITTENDEN MARSHA CROMWELL TOPHER CUSHMAN MAGGIE DALEY KATHY DAVISON TUMI DEMUREN DON DENTON RENEE FAULKNER ANDREW GLASOW NEIL GLICK ELBY GODWIN ALEX GOLDING GRANT GRIFFITH ANGELA GRIMMER PHIL GUIRE STEVE HAGEDORN SANDY HANBURY JEANNE HARRISON CATHERINE HELD CAROL HOLLADAY VICTORIA HOWARD ELSA HUXLEY GARY JANKOWSKI LOUISE JENNINGS DARE JOHNSON WENZLER MERRILL KAHN KITTY KAUPP TATI KAUPP SHERRY LANE TRACY LAWRENCE GREG MASUCCI GREG MEGGINSON OLIVIA MERLINO DINO MILANESE CECI MONAHAN DESIREE MUNSON JAY MURPHY EILEEEN NAVARRO JEAN MARIE NEAL JOHN PARKER FRANK PERNA LINDA PETTIE JOE REID CHARLOTTE ROMERO BILL ROUCHELL BRYCE ROWLAND CATHY SAMPSON LARRY SAMUEL SUE SCOTT DIANE SHAGES JACKIE SINK PAUL SLOANE RYALL SMITH FRANK SNELLINGS MARIA STRYLOWSKI MICHAEL SULLIVAN ASHLING THURMOND SALLY TRAN MICHAEL TUBBS SHAUGHN WHITE MATT WHITE ANGELA WILLIAMS CLIFFORD WILLIS PHYLLIS JANE YOUNG

HillRag | October 2013 H 5

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

IS A DID YOU KNOW? If you knowingly collect benefits by intentionally providing false or inaccurate information when you filed your claim, you are committing FRAUD. Examples include: • An individual returns to work but continues to collect UI benefits. • An individual works a part-time job but does not report his or her earnings to the state, thereby collecting more benefits than he or she is allowed.

UI Fraud is punishable by law! PENALTIES Can Include: • Criminal prosecution • Penalties and fines • Forfeiting future income tax refunds • Ineligibility to collect UI benefits in the future Don’t make your unemployment problem worse. If you think you may have committed UI Fraud, let us help you address the issue.

• An individual performs temporary work while collecting UI benefits, but does not report the earnings when filing his or her weekly claim. • An individual holds back information or gives false information to the state UI agency.

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1.877.372.8360 Call us today or visit does.dc.gov to read more about UI Fraud.

“In Real Estate, it doesn’t cost more to work with the best”.

Brand New Capitol Hill construction by the guys who brought you 626 4th Street NE and 1440 A Street NE. Quickly becoming the most soughtafter new construction builders on The Hill, design and execute like no other. On Maryland Avenue, near The Atlas H-Street Theater and Lincoln Park, a 4-bedroom castle with 2-bedroom unit and parking. See YOUTUBE video – address 626 4th – to view an extremely similar project. What our clients are saying: What we could have never expected was that we would need was a steady counselor when we hit title issues in the days before Settlement. Striking the balance between a sounding board and a negotiation coach, Tom kept the buyers at the table throughout the delays and kept us sane. We won’t hesitate to work with Tom and his team for our next real estate transaction.” – Scott and Angie Truesdale 1019 Florida Ave, NE “The Team was very knowledgeable and professional from start to finish. They input in helping me get my house ready to put on the market was valuable. They do have a good pulse on the Capital Hill market, price point of houses and what buyers are willing to pay. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Tim, Jess and Tom and would highly recommend their services to anyone looking to either buy or sell in the DC market.” – Katlyn Cho 923 9th St., NE

office: 202.547.5600

142 Kentucky Ave, SE GONE! Just over list in 1 week!

1249 Independence Ave, SE GONE! 4% over list in 1 week!

1340 D Street, NE GONE! 5% over list in 1 week!

816 10th St, NE GONE! 7% over list in 1 week!

Tom Faison, Associate Broker, GRI, Real Estate in DC, LLC tom@RealEstateInDC.com www.RealEstateInDC.com

Tom: 202.255.5554 Jesse: 202.288.1053 Tim: 202.577.5000

202.255.5554 HillRag | October 2013 H 7

Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic Meet One-on-One with a Lawyer for Free! Presented by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program and the D.C. Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs If you are an existing or an aspiring small business owner, come and meet one-on-one with attorneys at this brief advice clinic. If you do not have specific questions, come and tell the attorneys about your business â€“ they can help you spot legal issues or give you general advice. Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Time: 5pm â€“ 7:30 pm Location: DCRA Small Business Resource Center 1100 4th Street SW, Second Floor Waterfront-SEU Metro Station Please bring any documents relevant to the issues you wish to discuss. This is a walk-in clinic; however, if you wish to pre-register, call Darryl Maxwell, Managing Attorney at 202-737-4700, ext. 3369 or visit http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferencePresignup.action?iD=37424 Language translation services are available upon request.

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9,5

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34 8th Street NE

Lovely 2BR, 1.5 plus Den & double Living Room on 3 finished levels. Full of character & great location.

00 9,5 $33 ract t n o er C Und

1922 C Street NE

Fixer-Upper. 3BR, 2BA Porch Front w/ finished basement & off-street parking. Buyers Agent

Cheverly, MD

3 BR, 3BA Stone Cape Cod walking distance to Cheverly Metro.

Totally renovated, like new 4BR, 3BA with great yard space. Floor plan allows for potential 1BR/1BA Rental/In-Law Suite.

000 60, 1,2 $ t rac ont er C Und

00 5,0 $47 ract t n o er C Und

5264 Loughboro Road NW

266B Kentucky Ave. SE

Kent/Palisades DC

Practically new 2BR, 1BA condo w/ high-end finishes, patio, parking, walking distance to Eastern Market Metro. Buyers Agent

4BR, 4.5BA Center Hall Colonial with Basement In-Law Suite. Stunning Yard. Great space for entertaining. Wonderful neighborhood. Buyers Agent

5,0

Jus

3218 Cheverly Hills Court

Cheverly, MD

Practically new; 1,200 square feet 2BR, 2BA nicely appointed condo. Tons of light. 2 Balconies. Garage parking. More livable than many houses. 4 blocks to H St & Lincoln Park. Buyers Agent

Com

2304 Parkway

401 13th Street NE

9,5

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#310

9,5

30 n$

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92 d$ Sol

409 1st Street SE

Impeccable 2-BR in the shadow of Capitol. Custom renovation. Great backyard & space for entertaining.

ld t So Jus

ed List

9,5

$44

For

220 4th Street SE, #1

Oversized & renovated 1-BR boutique condo...1,060 sf w/ a location & character that canâ€™t be beat.

Renovated 2-BR Victorian endunit w/ 1-BR rental In-law Suite/ Apt. Across from Maury ES.

445 15th Street SE

Corner 2-BR Victorian with open spaces. Covered off-street parking. Extra Lot. Not to be missed.

IUpdated 3BR, 1BA brick Colonial on great lot in Cheverly. Wonderful Community.

00 0,0 $57 act r t n o er C Und

1029 10th Street NE

2500 Van Dorn Street, #1517

H Street / NoMA

Totally updated Jr-1BR condo just off 395 & King Streets in high rise with hotel-like amenities. Great City Views.

ld t So Jus

Renovated 3BR, 1.5 BA Victorian just off hoppinâ€™ H Street & near Union Market/NOMA. Off Street parking. Nice light. Open floor plan. Buyers Agent

1,0

$92

633 4th Street NE

Grand 3BR, 2.5BA Bayfront on 3 levels w/ top-floor Family Room, great Kitchen, patio & Garage. Equidistant to Stanton Park, H St & Union Station. Buyers Agent

24 e$ Sal

6210 Inwood St. Cheverly, MD

00 5,0 $11 ract t n o er C Und

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$61

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Formerly the Bull Moose Bed & Breakfast. 11 BR, 8BA; the possibilities are endless.

Alexandria, VA

9,5

101 5th Street NE

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1229 Constitution Ave. NE

,00

795

$1, Sale

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5,0

$67

236 14th Street NE

Updated, Open floor plan with 2BR, large Den & Family Room addition, 1.5BA, great patio & offstreet parking. Buyers Agent

HillRag | October 2013 H 9

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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD REALTORS! HALLOWEEN ON THE HILL!!!

DON’T FORGET THE CANDY OR THE MUMS FROM FRAGERS! AUTUMN IN THE CITY MEANS PLENTY OF LEAVES TO LAND IN... BUT NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH HOMES. LET US SHOW YOU WHERE THEY ARE. FOR SALE!

127 7th Street, SE $1,050,000 STEPS FROM EASTERN MARKET

Lovingly preserved and renovated 3bedroom, 2 full, 2 half baths, with studio in-law suite. A kitchen beyond compare: the only thing better might be the location! Spacious and gracious.

COMING SOON!

1005 I Street, SE, $ 599,000 STEPS FROM BARRACKS ROW!

2 bedrooms plus den and 1 and ½ bath, barely a step to Barracks Row, big and sunny spaces, lovely landscaped patio garden.

Look Us Up on Facebook! Megan Shapiro (Cell) 202-329-4068 meg@megandgeorge.com

George Olson (Cell) 202-203-0339 george.olson@rmxtalk.com

(Office) 202-547-5600

www.megandgeorge.com

Allegiance

The Norris Group

HillRag | October 2013 H 11

What’s Inside

Oct. 13 ineveryissue 16 20 54 138 144 146

What’s on Washington Washington’s Best Calendar Hill Rag Crossword Classified Ads Last Word The Nose

capitolstreets 31 32 40 42 44 46 48 50 52

What Is The Price of the Ticket? / E. Ethelbert Miller The Bulletin Board The District Beat: Walmart Woes / Martin Austermuhle The Numbers: Boosting DC’s Minimum Wage / Elissa Silverman ANC 6A Report / Maggy Baccinelli ANC 6B Report / Emily Clark ANC 6C Report / Charnice A. Milton ANC 6D Report / Roberta Weiner ANC 6E/ Steve Horton

communitylife 55 58 60 62 64

South By West: Southwest Neighborhood Planning Process Kicks Off / Will Rich H Street Life: H Street Festival Draws Record Crowd / Elise Bernard Barracks Row: October On The Row / Sharon Bosworth Ben Rosset: Resident Board Game Designer / Meghan Markey @ Your Service / Ellen Boomer

realestate

67 70

Rival Parks: Lincoln and His Cabinet On The Hill / Robert S. Pohl Changing Hands: Home Sales / Don Denton

ARTSdiningentertainment SPECIAL 79 80 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 102

21@21 Gessford Court: It’s All in the Beat / Cyd Price Shaw: DC’s Newest Dining Scene / Jonathan Bardzik Dining Notes / Celeste McCall The Wine Guys: Everything You Need To Know About Spanish Wines / Lilia Coffin Measure for Measure : Let’s Talk About Sex … And Love / Barbara Wells At the Movies: Two Worlds, A Saudi Bicycle Fable and an Auto Racing Rivalry / Mike Canning Art and The City: Richard Fitzhugh / Jim Magner The Idea Bar: A Salon-Style Gathering Where Friends Share Conversation, Ideas and Fun / Pattie Cinelli The Literary Hill / Karen Lyon The Jazz Project / Jean-Keith Fagon

beautyhealthfitness 105 108

A Labor of Love: One Woman’s Path To Becoming A Veterinarian / Heather McCurdy, DVM Well Nourished: A Generous Gift from the Heart of the Plate / Annette Nielsen

kidsandfamily 113 118

Kids & Family Notebook / Kathleen Donner School Notes / Susan Braun Johnson

homesandgardens 127 128 132 136

The Old East Front of the Capitol / John Lockwood The Hill Gardener: Capitol Hill Garden Club / Annette Nielsen Green Parenting / Catherine Plume Dear Garden Lady / by Anonymous

Cover Info: 7th St., and “I” St., NW #2, Watercolor on paper, 40” x 31” framed. By Richard Fitzhugh. See the Art in the City Column on page 94 for more of his work. Also on exhibit this month at “Great Streets – the Urban Life of DC”, Zenith Gallery, Washington DC Economic Partnership, 1495 F St. NW, to Nov 8.

Hill Rag Mid City DC East Of The River Fagon Community Guides

LOOK FOR YOUR NEXT HILLRAG ISSUE ON: NOVEMBER 2nd

Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com

Editorial Staff Managing Editor: CFO & Associate Editor: School Notes Editor: Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Food Editor:

Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com General Assignment: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Marissa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com General Assignment Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Dana Bell • dana@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ralph Brabham • ralphbrabham@yahoo.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Linda Samuel • lindabsamuel@yahoo.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Jennifer Zatkowski • jenn@hillrag.com

BEAUTY, Health& Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Lee Kyungmin • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Account Executive: Classified Advertising:

Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com

Distribution Distribution Manager: Distributors: Distribution Information:

Andrew Lightman MediaPoint, LLC distribution@hillrag.com

Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com. 14 H hillrag.com

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s! ent v E ore rM o f ite ebs W Our See

hi s a W

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sO hat

a month-by-month guide to events

Kensington’s Antique Row

Nestled in the heart of historic Kensington, Maryland, Antique Row is the oldest antiques center in the area. For more than 30 years, Howard Avenue East and its adjacent streets have been a mecca for antique collectors worldwide. Many of the original merchants are still in business, continuing the tradition of honesty and integrity in the trade. Through the years, Antique Row has grown to include more than 80 shops. Their merchants specialize in everything from the finest antiques to the quirkiest collectibles. They offer art galleries, new crafts and gifts, design shops and salons and two eating establishments. Unlike an antique mall, you will have the pleasure of walking tree lined streets, resting on a Victorian park bench beside a planter of ﬂowers and discussing your purchases personally with the owners. kensingtonantiquerow.com third thursday: merchants in Kensington keep their doors open late on third thursdays, attracting visitors with sales specials, live music and food. Photo: maier & warner Pr

Romeo and Juliet at the Folger

The noble houses of the Montagues and the Capulets have been at war for decades. With no end to the violence in sight, the Prince of “fair Verona” issues an edict imposing a death sentence on any citizen caught dueling. When young Romeo meets the beautiful Juliet, the two decide to take fate into their own hands and follow their passion for each other. However, circumstances beyond their control conspire against them, threatening their love and their lives. From Oct 15-Dec 1, it all happens right here in DC at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $40-$72. Paywhat-you-can on Oct 15, 7:30 p.m. Cash tickets will be available to the public one hour prior to the performance. College students can get $15 tickets on Oct 25 with valid ID. 202-544-7077. folger.edu the two lovers are played by michael goldsmith and Erin weaver. Photo: James Kegley 16 H hillrag.com

DC Reads “Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: The Lion of Anacostia”

The remarkable journey of Frederick Douglass from fugitive slave to famed orator and author is well recorded. Yet little has been written about Douglass’ final years in Washington, DC. In “Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: The Lion of Anacostia”, journalist John Muller explores how Douglass spent the last 18 years of his life professionally and personally in his home, Cedar Hill, in Anacostia. The ever-active Douglass was involved in local politics, from aiding in the early formation of Howard University to editing a groundbreaking newspaper to serving as marshal of the District. From Oct-Nov 15, join fellow residents in book discussions around town in the public libraries. Nearby discussions are on Oct 10, 11 a.m. at MLK Library; Oct 21, 6 p.m. and Oct 26, 1 p.m. at the Southwest Library; and Oct 29 and Nov 6, 7 p.m. at the Southeast Library. dclibrary.org. When you’ve completed the book, make a pilgrimage to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site at 1411 W St. SE (corner of 15th and W). Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and January 1. nps.gov/frdo

Dead Man’s Run at Congressional Cemetery

On Oct 19, 5:30 p.m., outrun the Grim Reaper and other haunts in the 206 year old Congressional Cemetery at dusk. Race starts with a toll of the funeral bell, continues throughout the cemetery and onto the Anacostia Trail for a ghostly evening run full of spooky music, fun, and a full moon. Join fellow runners in the beer tent after the race to reward your own survival. Costumes encouraged, with prize for best costume or team costume. The run benefits the preservation of this National Historic Landmark. Grown-ups run a 5K race and kids run about 1/4 mile. The kids run ($10) starts just after main run. $40 to register at congressionalcemetery.org and everyone gets a tee-shirt. The main entrance to Historic Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. 202-543-0539. Runners approach the finish line. Photo: Congressional Cemetery

Halloween on the Hill

On Halloween night, the place everyone with kids wants to be is Eastern Market from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for Hilloween and the hay rides, moon bounce, treats, balloons, pumpkins and toys. If you have any energy left, East Capitol Street from 4th to 11th is an experience in ghosts, spiders, witches, skeletons, coffins and, in some case, sound effects. If the weather’s nice, the street will be packed with grown-ups as well as kids. Don’t miss the Campbell family home at 1800 Burke St. SE. It’s always dressed up for Halloween. In costume, you can also stop by Labyrinth Games & Puzzles at 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE all day long for a treat. Check out the Hill Rag Calendar for more local and around-town ways to enjoy this goulish and foolish holiday.

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HILLOWEEN

2013

Thursday October 31st 5:30 to 7:30 PM 200 Block of 7th Street, SE @ Eastern Market

Horse-Drawn Hayrides, Mini-Carousel, Moon Bounces, Candy, Glo Sticks, Free Drawings & More! SPONSORED BY:

HELP... BE A DONOR! We ask our local business partners and friends to join us in producing this fun, annual event. Join us... Please contact us or mail your donations to: The Von Schlegel Realty Team 220 7th Street, SE Washington, DC 20003

For Information or to Volunteer, Email: jackie@jackiev.com or call 202-255-2537 HillRag | October 2013 H 19

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OCTOBER

HillRag CALENDAR [In light of the Government shut down, please check to make sure listed events are still scheduled to take place.]

HALLOWEEN Hilloween. Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 PM at Eastern Market on Seventh Street, SE. There will be hay rides, moon bounces, carousel rides, toys, balloons and candy. This much-anticipated, free Halloween event is sponsored by the Von Schlegel Realty Team and Tunnicliff’s Tavern. The Ghost Story Tour of Washington. Fridays and Saturdays in Oct, 8:00 PM. Tour meets at 858 Vermont Ave. NW. (McPherson Square Metro “White House exit”). $12, $6 for those under 16 (babes in strollers or carriers, free). Military ID holders are half price on all tours. 301-588-9255. historicstrolls.com Boo! Run for Life 10K and 2 Mile Fun Walk. Oct. 13, 8:00 AM. The Halloween-themed Boo! Run for Life 10K is a seasonal favorite of many runners. Run the 10K in costume, or enjoy a scenic 2 mile walk around the Tidal Basin! West Potomac Park, Washington DC. $29-$32. 703-786-8581. boorunforlife.com Dead Man’s Run at Congressional Cemetery. Oct 19, 5:30-8:30 PM. Out-

run the Grim Reaper and other haunts in the 206 year old Congressional Cemetery at dusk! Race starts with a toll of the funeral bell, continues throughout the cemetery and onto the Anacostia Trail for a ghostly evening run full of spooky music, fun, and a full moon! Join us in the beer tent after the race to reward your own survival. Costumes encouraged, with prize for best costume or team costume! Benefits the preservation of this National Historic Landmark. $40. $10 for the kid’s run. congressionalcemetery.org Boo at the Zoo. Oct. 25, 26 and 27, 5:30-8:30 PM. Enjoy tasty candy, delicious snack foods, and other special treats from more than 40 treat stations. This family-friendly event offers animal encounters, keeper talks, and festive decorations. Proceeds support animal care, conservation science, education, and sustainability at the National Zoo. $30. nationalzoo.si.edu

Taste of Horror at Labyrinth. Oct 26, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM. Join them for a day full of scary fun. They’ll be playing great board games and roleplaying games with scary themes all day long. Win a prize for best costume! Kids can stop by for a Halloween treat, too! Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com Air and Scare at Udvar-Hazy Center. Oct 26, 2:00-7:00 PM. Their annual Halloween event, Air & Scare, features the

Southwest DC Home-Boat Tour

Oct 26, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Boat owners at the Gangplank Marina will host the Home Boat Tour where houseboats, housebarges, sailboats, trawlers, office barges, and more will be opened to the public. Tickets cost $20, but residents of the 20024 ZIP code receive a $5 discount. Also on the same day, DC Harbor Cruises will offer discounted 60-minute cruises for $15. Like last year, Cantina Marina will offer a 10% discount to tour-goers. A portion of proceeds from the event will go towards local charities in Southwest. dchouseboat.org LEFT: Southwest DC Home-Boat Tour. Photo: Chris Zarconi 20 H hillrag.com

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Louise Cort enjoys whimsical pottery at Pottery on the Hill 2012. The 2013 show and sale will take place Nov 1-3. Photo: Terricka Johnson

Pottery on the Hill Show and Sale

Nov 1, 6:30-8:30 PM, preview reception, $25. Nov 2, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; and Nov 3, noon-4:00 PM. Sixteen of the nation’s top ceramic artists gather at Hill Center, bringing with them a wide array of bright, patterned ceramic table platters, fanciful mugs, one-of-a-kind cups, cooking pots and astonishing vases and whimsies. Many hundreds of pieces of their work, many never exhibited before, will be for sale. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org spooky side of air and space at the UdvarHazy Center! Each year, people arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating. They participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. The tiniest visitors check out the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story. They can even pose for a photo with their favorite Star Wars character! Free. $15 to park. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located a few miles south of Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, VA. airandspace.si.edu Congressional Cemetery Ghosts and Goblets Soiree. Oct 26, 6:00-8:00 PM. Billed as a gruesome benefit for Historic Cengressional Cemetery featuring torchlight graveyard tours, organ music, hauntings, and visits from some of their 55,000 residents. $75. Costume or casual attire. 1801 E St. SE. 202543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org Dia de los Muertos. Oct 26 and 27, 10:30 AM-4:30 PM. View several ofrendas (altars), and special programming that includes food demonstrations of traditional foods for the dead around the outdoor firepit, (weather permitting); music and dance performances. National Museum of the American Indian, on the National Mall between Air & Space and US Capitol. nmai.si.edu

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Drag Queen High Heel Race. Tuesday, Oct 29, 9:00 PM. Always fun, always outrageous and always held on the Tuesday before Halloween, this annual event features elaborately costumed drag queens racing down 17th St. NW from R to Church St. It attracts large crowds to cheer them on so don’t expect to park in the area. The race begins at 9:00 PM but come early because the real fun begins before the race. An informal block party follows.

Halloween and get a special treat! Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com

National Building Museum Halloween Ghost Tour. Oct. 31, 8:00 PM and 9:15 PM. Explore the haunted past of the National Building Museum. See a different side of the Museum on this lantern-light tour led by the ghost of Mary Surratt. Who are the irritable rider on horseback and the footless figure? Why are there mysterious faces swirling in the 75 foot Corinthian columns? And, why do these ghosts (and more!) call the National Building Museum their home? All will be revealed on this behind-the-scenes tour of the mysteries of the Museum. $18. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-2722448. nbm.org

Walter Street at Halloween. Walter Street, between 12th and 13th sts, SE (south of Lincoln Park), is a little one-block street that hosts hundreds of kids every year. They even close-off traffic.

Trick or Treat at Labyrinth. Oct 31. Stop by in costume any time during the day on

East Capitol Street at Halloween. Between Third St. and 11th St. is THE place to be on Halloween night. Campbell Family Haunted House. Enjoy their haunted front porch and yard on Halloween evening starting at dark. 1800 Burke St. SE.

Where to Get Halloween Costumes. The American Backstage Company, 5380 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA. 703-212-8982. backstagecostumes.com Find Pumpkin Patches in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Also find hay rides, pony rides, corn mazes and more. pumpkinpatchesandmore.org

SPECIAL EVENTS Options PCS invites you to learn more about their school, hear a little about their specialized programs for this city’s most atrisk youth and meet the people who make this school among the most unique schooling institutions in this region. They will also be launching their new community garden! There will be activities for kids, health and fitness information for adults and good food and Oktoberfest drinks for EVERYONE! Please join them and Councilmember Tommy Wells on October 5th, from 11 a.m. until 4pm to celebrate Oktoberfest 2013. All activities will be free of charge and one free food and drink ticket will be provided to each of the first 100 attendees. Options PCS is located at 1375 E St. NE. To sign up to be part of the new community garden with our students, please use the link below or email jsmith@optionsschool.org. Feet in the Street. Oct 19, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Outdoor fun for bikers, hikers, climbers and all kids. Fort Dupont Park, (reference address is 3600 F and Minnesota SE). nps.gov/fodu Washington International Horse Show. Oct 22-27. An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the

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country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show. Each October more than 500 of the top national and international horses and riders, including Olympic veterans, come together in Washington, DC, to compete in six days of thrilling competition. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. wihs.org Atlas Underground: Not Your Usual Gala. Nov 1, 7:00 PM. An exhilarating evening of performances, dining, and dancing celebrating the finest in artistic expression. The evening will include world-class performances throughout the Atlas, including backstage, on-stage, and other spaces rarely seen by audiences. Individual ticket price, $225. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org

MUSIC Go-Go Swing: Washington, DC’s Unstoppable Beat. Through Oct 18, open 7 days a week, 9:00 AM-8:00 PM. The special exhibition features fine art and memorabilia, as well as musical performances, to reveal and document untold stories of the inventors, contributors and legacy carriers of the city’s signature sound. Open 7 days a week, 9 AM - 8:00 PM. DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, 200 I (EYE) St. SE. Concerts at the Library of Congress. Oct 5, Randy Newman; Oct 9, Cameristi Della Scala; Oct 10, Audra McDonald; Oct 17, Calentina Lisitsa; Oct 24, Cuarteto Casals with Manuel Barrueco; Oct 25, Henry Threadgill’s Zooid; Oct 30, Party Like It’s 1587 Founder’s Day; and Nov 2, The Danish String Quartet. All concerts are presented free of charge in the Library’s historic 500-seat Coolidge Auditorium in the Jefferson Building. loc.gov Dead Men’s Hollow Concert: Civil War Songs and Letters. Oct 6, 4:00 PM. Wammie award-winning band Dead Men’s Hollow will perform Civil War songs and contemporary songs that deal with the Civil War and its aftermath. $20. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org Singer/Songwriter Aaron Flinn at Hill Center. Oct 9, 7:30 PM. Composer and guitar virtuoso Aaron Flinn travels from the Green Mountain State to share his view on life in verse. A Vermont legend, Aaron includes elements of folk, indie rock, and classic country, delivered with powerful vocals, poetry, and fingerpicking guitar. This concert includes an eclectic group of Americana and rock songs, with an emphasis on lyrical substance and performance from the soul. $15, advance; $20, day-of. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org Michael Coleman, Adjoa Skinner, & Kwesi Kankam at Ebenezers. Oct 10, 7:30-10:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Vieux Farka Toure at the Atlas. Oct 11, 8:00 PM. Malian guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Toure, son of Grammy- winner Ali Farka Toure, has forged a tremendous reputa-

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tion and recently collaborated with Israeli artists ldan Raichel for “The Toure- Raichel Collective” that has been called “a masterpiece” of international music. $31.50. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Claire Chase at the Atlas. Oct 12, 8:00 PM. The Atlas welcomes 2012 MacArthur Fellow, Claire Chase to the stage as she uses her passion for playing the flute to push the instrument beyond traditional notes. $30. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org American Roots Music Series: Big Chimney. Oct 13, 4:30 PM. The American Roots Music Series continues with DC favorite, Big Chimney. Bring a blanket for the lawn or enjoy up close in theater seating on Hill Center’s west plaza. Various beverages and snacks will be available for sale including beer, wine, and a specialty drink. Free. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org Capitol City Symphony at the Atlas. Oct 13, 5:00 PM. Season opener. $16 - $25. Age 16 and under, free. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Stephen Horst, Emily Long, and Drew Martin at Ebenezers. Oct 18, 7:30-10:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Peggy Stern Concert at Corner Store. Oct 18. Corner Store Arts, 900 South Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts.org WorldPlay: Traditional Music of the World at Hill Center. Oct 20, 3:30-6:00 PM. Andrea Hoag, Loretta Kelley and Charlie Pilzer: Scandanavian Music. $15. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org Kate Campbell & Grace Pettis at Ebenezers. Oct 24, 7:30-10:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Liner Notes Vol 2: It’s a Family Affair. Oct 25-26. All the favorites are back and it’s all about “family,” featuring music from the O’Jays, Dizzy Gillepsie, Outkast, the Bee Gees, Salt-n-Pepa and more! The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Lunasol, Peter Maybarduk and The Littlest Birds at Ebenezers. Nov 1, 7:29-9:59 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Gospel Choir Brunch at Union Market. First Saturday of every month, 10:00 AM. Experience Gospel Choir Brunch on the first Saturday of every month with a dynamic performance featuring the Israel Baptist Church. Brunch specials are available from vendors. Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. unionmarketdc.com HR 57 Weekly Jam Sessions. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 PM-midnight. Since 1993 HR-57 has provided a place where aspiring musicians gather to learn the history and cultures of the genres of jazz and blues.

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It’s a venue for the exchange of ideas and information between aspiring and professional musicians, students, aficionados and the general public. $8. 1007 H St. NE. 202253-0044. hr57.org Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Free but free will offering taken. 1317 G ST. NW. 202-3472635. epiphanydc.org Jazz Night (and fish fry) in Southwest. Fridays, 6:00-9:00 PM. Every Friday night. Expect a large, fun and friendly crowd. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I, south side of intersection). The cover is $5. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. 202-484-7700. westminsterdc.org/jazz Blue Monday Blues. Mondays, 6:00-9:00 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local musicians perform, and the Southwest Catering Company provides a fish fry from 5:308:30 PM. $5/general; free/children under 16. Modestly priced food. 400 I St. SW. 202-4847700. westminsterdc.org/blues Here to Stay-The Legacy of George and Ira Gershwin. Ongoing exhibition. Experience the glamour and sophistication of the 1920s and 1930s in this permanent tribute to the brothers who helped provide a musical background to the period. The exhibition contains a wealth of materials that provide insight into their careers and personalities, including manuscript and printed music, lyric sheets and librettos, personal and business correspondence, photographs, paintings, and drawings, all from the Gershwin Collection in the Music Division of the Library of Congress, the world’s preeminent resource for materials about the Gershwins. Gershwin Gallery, Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building. loc.gov

THEATER AND FILM Documentary on H Street’s Gentrification. Oct 10, 7:00 PM. Fate of a Salesman is an intimate portrait of a way of life on the verge of disappearing. In its 60th year of business, Men’s Fashion Center in Washington, DC has come to represent identity, legacy and redemption for salesmen Willie and Steve and owner Jerry. But business has crawled to a halt in the face of a tough economy and changing neighborhood, pushing the store to the verge of closure. Set amidst racks of pinstriped suits and feathered hats– the clothing of a bygone era– the men struggle to redefine themselves as the place with which they have long identified begins to vanish. Borrowing from the title of Arthur Miller’s famous play, the film studies the declining mom and pop shop, which is as much a way of life in urban America as it is a way to make a living. Free. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org The Marriage of Maria Braun at the Atlas. Through Oct 11. Experience a powerful WWII drama of love, lust, and loss. Maria marries Hermann just before he leaves for battle. Later, believing he is killed, she takes another

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lover. Soon a twist of fate leads to a tragic accident which changes everything. Maria presses on to achieve success and security. Yet, she never forgets her devotion to Hermann. See what happens to a driven woman who dares to control a man’s world in this stage adaptation of Fassbinder’s famous German film. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-3997993. atlasarts.org Torch Song Trilogy at Studio. Through Oct 13. Drag queen Arnold Beckoff comes by his blues honestly: he knows what it is to long for love. Tired of trawling New York’s gay bar backrooms, and armed with fierce humor, Arnold decides to find a family on his own terms. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202332-3300. studiotheatre.org Red Speedo at Studio. Through Oct 13. A sharp and stylish play about swimming, doping, survival of the fittest, and the American dream of a level playing field—or of leveling the field yourself. A Studio Lab Production. All tickets $20. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org The Velocity of Autumn at Arena. Through Oct 20. The play introduces us to Alexandra, a 79-year-old woman living a solitary existence in her Brooklyn brownstone with her fleeting memories and enough explosives to take down most of the block. At an impasse with her family over how she should spend her autumn years, her long-absent son enters as an unlikely mediator. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arena-stage.org Taffety Punk Theatre presents Riot Grrrls Shakespeare “Titus Adronicus”. Through Oct 26. Following all-female productions of Romeo and Juliet, Measure for Measure, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado About Nothing, the Riot Grrrls are back to prove that a great actress can play a great role, regardless if it’s male or female. This season, the Grrrls take over Titus Andronicus, wresting the meaty roles in one of Shakespeare’s most gruesome plays from the boys. CHAW, 545 7th St. SE. 202-547-6839. chaw.org Measure for Measure at Shakespeare. Through Oct 27. Shakespeare’s dark comedy leads a compelling season by posing controversial ideas and by exploring the corrupting nature of power. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org The Laramie Project at Ford’s. Through Oct 27. The Laramie Project presents a deeply complex portrait of a community’s response to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man living in Laramie, Wyoming. In a series of poignant reflections, the residents of Laramie react to the hate crime and surrounding media storm with anger, bewilderment and sorrow. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. fords.org “Here is a Play Fitted” Exhibition at the Folger. Through Jan 12, 2014. Discover how staging Shakespeare’s plays has changed over the past 400 years. More than 100 itemsscripts and promptbooks, designs for sets, lights, and costumes, props, models, production photographs, playbills, letters, and reviews-highlight broad shifts over the centuries in the performances of Othello, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer

Night’s Dream and the sometimes surprising changes made to the plays. Folger shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202544-4600. folger.edu Love in Afghanistan at Arena. Oct 11-Nov 17. A daring world premiere drama combining the worlds of a talented hip hop artist and a mysterious Afghan interpreter in a thrilling, romantic adventure in an increasingly chaotic land. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202488-3300. arena-stage.org Romeo and Juliet at the Folger. Oct 15-Dec 1. The perfect poetry of Shakespeare’s tragedy reveals the heart-breaking loss of “starcrossed” love. Folger shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu Right and of Fellowship at the Atlas. Oct 18-20. This new and delightful play is a fiery battle between genre’s of gospel music and generations striving to move a rural church forward. $45-$65. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org The Argument at Theater J. Oct 23-Nov 24. Sophie, a charming, vibrant artist, and Phillip, a loyal, solid businessman, are a 40-something couple whose new relationship is rocked when Sophie learns she is pregnant. As each fights for the only future he or she can imagine, they are both forced to recognize the profound personal differences between them. And when the word “abortion” is introduced into the debate, all bets are off. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800 494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org

LECTURES, TOURS AND GAMES Preservation Cafe, Swampoodle “Virtual Tour”. Oct 16, 6:30-7:15 PM. Take a virtual tour of “Swampoodle”, the neighborhood between 2nd and 4th sts. between F and G, NE. Free. Ebenezers Coffee House (downstairs), 2nd and F St. NE. chrs.org Game Days with The Capitol Hill Village. Oct 17, 2:00-4:00 pm. On the first and third Thursdays of every month, join members of the Capitol Hill Village for a fun afternoon of board and card games. The Capitol Hill Village is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Capitol Hill’s senior residents. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com Historic Rosedale Walking Tour. Oct 26, 10:00 AM. The Rosedale Citizen’s Alliance and CHRS are sponsoring a historic walking tour of Rosedale. Meet at the Rosedale Library, 1701 Gales St. NE. For details, email caphrs@ aol.com, call 202-543-0425, or visit chrs.org. Thursday Game Night at Labyrinth. Every Thursday, 6:00-10 PM. Come learn new games or play your favorites. Free. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com Library of Congress Science Lecture Series.

Through Nov 8. The fall lecture series from the Science, Technology and Business Division at the Library of Congress will include illustrated talks by NASA scientists on hot towers in hurricanes and the history of cosmology, and lectures by experts on Gregor Johann Mendel, the use of nanotechnology in treating cancer and the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA structure. Oct 21, 11:30 a.m., Cancer, Magnets and Heat: Can Nanotechnology Provide New Solutions for Old Treatments?; Oct 23, 11:30 a.m., At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, Our Place in the Universe: Cosmology from the Greeks to Today; Nov 7, 11;30 a.m., Bench to Bedside (DNA); Nov 8, 11;30 a.m., Solitude of a Humble Genius-Gregor Johann Mendel Professor: Volume 1-Formative Years. All lectures, which are free and open to the public, will take place in the Library’s James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. loc.gov Folger Shakespeare Library Elizabethan Garden Tours. First and third Saturday of every month, through end of Oct, 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Visit Folger Shakespeare Library’s intricate knot garden, filled with a mix of plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s works, as well as herbs popular in his day. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu Lunchtime Tour of the Conservatory. Mondays and Wednesdays, noon-1:00 PM. What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanilla and fossil fuels have in common? They all come from plants on permanent display in the USBG Conservatory. Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide who will connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao and coffee ripening on the tree or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research. Tour meets in the Conservatory Garden Court. Free, no pre-registration required. US Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov

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Health Seminar: “The Truth About Supplements” October 10th and 17th 6-7pm Healthy Happy Hour Potluck October 17th 6-8pm

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Union Market. Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 AM8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. The newly-opened Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com

Marine Corps Marathon Health & Fitness Expo at DC Armory. Oct 24-26. More than 100,000 will visit the Expo showcasing more than 200 exhibitors and interactive displays with free massages, food samplings and direct access to running industry experts. All MCM, MCM10K and Healthy Kids Fun Run participants will pick up their race-day packets and participant shirts at the Expo, which is free and also open to the public. marinemarathon.com

Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Anacostia Big Chair Flea Market. Saturdays, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. The market features a diverse mix of art, crafts, imports, antiques, collectibles and furniture every Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The market will also feature local specialty food items such as fruits and vegetables, flowers, preserves, prepared foods and beverages. 2215 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. bigchairmarket.com Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com.

SPORTS, DANCE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS DC Rollergirls. Oct 5, 4:00 PM. (Doors open at 3:00 p.m.) Tickets are $12 for ages 12 and up, $6 for children 6-11, and free for kids 5 and under. Tickets are available in advance at ticketmaster.com or at the door on bout day. Individuals with a valid military ID can purchase tickets for $10 at the door. dcrollergirls.com Washington Wizards Basketball. Oct 8, 15, 17 and Nov 1. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-SEAT. nba.com/wizards Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Oct 10, 12, 14, 16, 19 and Nov 2. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-628-3200. capitals.nhl.com DC United Soccer Home Matches. Oct 12 and 27. $23-$52. RFK Stadium. 202-587-5000. dcunited.com Army Ten-Miler Expo at DC Armory. Oct 1819. This expo is not like most other running expos. Besides the great deals on clothing, shoes, accessories and more, the ATM Expo has helicopters, interactive trucks and performances by The Old Guard Drill Team and Fife and Drum Corps. There will be a running shoe donation hosted by AMVETS. Make sure

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Marine Corps Marathon. Oct. 27. 7:40 AM. To watch the runners, go to mcmlocator. com/map. Rumsey (indoor) Pool. Public swim, Monday-Friday, 6:30-10:00 AM; noon-5:00 PM and 6:30-9:00 PM. Public swim, Saturday, noon5:00 PM. Public swim, Sunday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 635 North Carolina Ave. SE. 202-7244495. dpr.dc.gov East Potomac (heated/outdoor) Pool. Remains open daily, except Wednesdays, through Oct 13, Monday-Friday, 1:00-7:00 PM; and Saturday-Sunday, noon-6:00 PM. 972 Ohio Dr. SW. 202-727-6523. dpr.dc.gov Yards Park Free Community Yoga. Wednesday nights, 6:00 PM, extended through Oct 30. Bring a towel, mat and water. The entrances to the The Yards Park are located at 3rd and 4th sts. SE and at Water St. SE which is two blocks south of M St. SE. yardspark.org Roller Skating at Anacostia Park. Skate weekends, sunrise to sunset. This is a covered, outdoor skating pavilion. Free. One-hour free skate “rental” has started but sizes and supplies are limited. During summer months, open daily. Go east on Penn. Ave. across Anacostia River and make the first right turn onto Fairlawn Ave. and another right onto Nicholson and then into the park. 202-472-3873. Free public tennis courts in Ward Six. King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW; Garfield Park, Third and G sts. SE; Randall Park First and I sts. SW; Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St. NE; Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov/dpr Capitol Hill Tai Chi Study Group. Saturday mornings (except when it’s below zero or very inclement weather), meeting to teach and practice Tai Chi, 8:00-10:00 AM. All styles and abilities welcome. First hour form practice, second hour the martial practice of Push Hands. Lincoln Park. Dr. David Walls-Kaufman, a Capitol Hill chiropractor, conducts this class every Saturday morning. Please dress comfortably. Free. E. Capitol St. between 11th and 13th sts. 202-544-6035. Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month, noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio

Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703-505-3567. dcroadrunners.org American Football Subject of New Library of Congress Publication. Scheduled to be published on Oct 8. “Football Nation,” a 256-page hardcover book, will be sold for $30 at bookstores nationwide and through the Library of Congress Shop, 10 First St. SE. Creditcard orders are taken at 888-682-3557 or loc.gov/shop.

CIVIC LIFE All Politics is Local with Tom Sherwood: Ronald C. Machen, Jr. Oct 15, 7:00 PM. NBC4 reporter Tom Sherwood returns to Hill Center for an in-depth conversation with Ronald Machen. As U.S. Attorney for DC, Machen has made rooting out public corruption a top priority. Ronald C. Machen Jr. was nominated to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia by President Barack Obama on December 24, 2009. Mr. Machen’s appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 11, 2010. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org Grosso Near You (informal) Meeting. First Thursday, 8:00-9:30 AM, Pound the Hill, 621 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The meetings will provide the opportunity for constituents to bring ideas and issues directly to Councilmember Grosso as part of an effort to make the DC Council more accessible. Community Office Hours with Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. Oct 18, 8:00-9:30 AM, Batter Bowl Bakery, 403 H St. NE; Oct 25, 8:00-9:30 AM at a location in Shaw TBA. Call the office for exact location. Councilmember Wells can be reached at 202-724-8072 or tommywells.org. Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202783-5065. norton.house.gov

! N E P O W NO

ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202-4238868. anc6a.org

Hilloween Party

ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-543-3344. anc6b.org ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. 202-547-7168. anc6c.org ANC 6D. Second Monday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at 1100 4th St. SW, DCRA meeting room, 2nd floor. 202-5541795. anc6d.org H

The SALO N & CELEBR , SPA, A A place TION for Kids 1-12!

655 C Street, SE

202-733-2886

October 31st 4pm–7pm Special Activities and Treats for all Kids!

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm HillRag | October 2013 H 29

Come Party Banana Cafe

The Hill’s Only Piano Bar!

Newly Renovated! Live Piano Music Wednesday Through Saturay Featuring Gordon Kent Every Friday Karaoke - Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Evenings! The HIll’s Best Happy Hour: Weekdays 4 to 7:30 PM & Weekends Noon to 5 PM Brunch All Weekend: 10 AM to 3 PM Regular Menu Also Available Where Every Customer is Family!

Serving the Finest Cuban, Puerto Rican and Latin Cuisine

Banana Cafe Piano Bar

A Taste of Old Havana! On Barracks Rows

500 Eighth St. SE | 202-543-5906 www.bananacafedc.com

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Capitol Streets

What Is The Price of the Ticket?

y the time you read this, the incident I describe would have happened weeks ago. By the time you read this another similar incident could occur. It was a Sunday and I was on a bus going up 16th Street. It wasn’t a crowded bus. There were a few Ethiopian women dressed in beautiful white garments returning from church. Two men got on and went to the back of the bus. I was reading A Poet’s Craft, a new book by Annie Finch, and was engrossed with where poems come from and how things turn into poems. Behind me I heard the voice of a black man; the angry black man rage that often reminds me of how middle class I’ve become. If you want to know why my head is often in a book pull out your cell phone and take a picture of what I’m going to write next. The black man was yelling at a gay white and latino couple. I soon discovered he was upset with their open acts of affection. He wanted them to move to the front of the bus. Yes, this incident did take place prior to the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. The black man was demanding his right to sit in the back of the bus – alone.

by E. Ethelbert Miller Things started to become very confrontational. The white gay man marched to the front of the bus and reported the problem to the bus driver. The bus driver (black like me) stopped his vehicle, got up from his seat and went to the back of the bus. He told the black man he was going to have to leave the bus if the incident continued. Up front I saw an elderly white woman quickly get off the bus. It had become one of those days like back in the 1960s, when planes were being hijacked and redirected to Cuba. But I was on a 16th Street bus going suddenly nowhere on a Sunday morning. I was in the middle of the politics of now, a changing city, a changing world. The black man was offended by the new values, the openness and tenderness shown between men, the act of public intimacy one could only describe as love. Do you want to live in a society in which who you love is a crime? Who is protected by the law? Who is driving the bus? Where are we going? The black man got off the bus. He was yelling now at everyone. He was telling us that the love between the two male passengers was wrong. For a quick moment I was thinking like a new pope and wondering , who gives

anyone the right to condemn the lifestyle or life of someone else? How sad to enter out into the world with one’s lover only to have the day slap you in the face with hatred and prejudice. How does one uphold beauty in the midst of so much ugliness? After the black man departed and the bus departed, the gay couple moved to the back of the bus. I was left feeling like Rosa Parks staring out a window. There are times when dignity is a torn garment we all wear. There is a silence that turns even the best of us into observers. Still, we survive because of small acts of courage and the refusal to have the world cave in on our heads. I see the world through eyes shaped by a glorious tradition and history. When I read about the anti-Gay laws being passed in places like Moscow, I know there will soon be blues singers in Russia. Somewhere people are falling off the bus. Here in D.C. one can still manage to travel to Silver Spring with hope. E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist. He is the author of several books of poetry and two memoirs. Mr. Miller is the director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University as well as the board chair for the Institute for Policy Studies. H

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bulletin board Spanish Language Social Group Forming

A group of intermediate and advanced-level Spanish students is forming on the Hill. Consisting mainly of retired professionals, the group meets in restaurants, parks, museums, member’s homes, and on Skype to chat, mostly in Spanish. Their goal is to have a little fun while they improve their Spanish. Discussion topics have included cars, pets, careers, kids, travel, gardens, or whatever other topic might be of interest to members. There is no membership fee to belong to the group, you just need to do your best to stay ‘in Spanish’, and help occasionally to set up or host an event. To find out more about joining or to attend a get acquainted meeting, visit espamigos.wildapricot.org.

Huge Yard Sale in SW

On Saturday, Oct. 5 (rain or shine), 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., there will be 30 vendors-art, jewelry, clothing (men, women, children), home furnishings, teaching materials-at the Town Square Towers, 700 7th St. SW (L’Enfant or Waterside Metro).

Union Station Inter-city Bus Deck Plaza Opens

The Union Station Inter-city Bus Deck Plaza opened on Sept 17. The opening celebration took place among the iconic, new waiting and service pavilions on the recently renovated bus deck plaza. The Union Station Inter-city Bus Deck is the consummation of an initiative by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to streamline inter-city bus service in Washington DC. The Bus Deck now provides innovative

Southwest Nights at Arena Stage

ndividuals who live or work in Southwest DC can buy discounted tickets for specially designated performances of each production. Tickets are $35 for musicals and $25 for non-musicals, plus fees, and patrons may purchase tickets by phone or in person. Proof of Southwest DC residency or employment for each member of the party must be presented at the time of purchase and/or pick-up. Tickets are limited to four per person and are based on availability. Remaining season Southwest Nights are Love in Afghanistan, Tuesday, Oct 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life, Friday, Nov 29 at 2:00 p.m.; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Tuesday, Dec 24 at 7:30 p.m.; The Tallest Tree in The Forest, Tuesday, Jan 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Mother Courage and Her Children, Tuesday, Feb 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Camp David, Sunday, Apr 20 at 6:00 p.m.; and Smokey Joe’s Café, Tuesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. arenastage.org

LEFT: Love in Afghanistan runs Oct 11–Nov 17 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Illustration: Edel Rodriquez 32 H hillrag.com

THINK LOCAL, WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ROOFER

FOR ALL YOUR ROOFING AND MASONRY NEEDS INCLUDING CHIMNEY RESTORATION AND RE-POINTING • WE LIVE AND WORK IN THE CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY

“Tom’s service was excellent, reasonably priced and friendly. I’ve recommended him to friends and family. I like that it’s a long time Capitol Hill business.” Monica W. – Capitol Hill, Wash., DC

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Licensed, bonded, insured

Tom Daniel, owner of R. Thomas Daniel Roofing, outside the original location of the family roofing business at 306 Independence Ave., S.E.

HillRag | October 2013 H 33

JOIN US THIS FALL Christ ChurCh+Washington Parish A Welcoming Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill Holy Eucharist: Sunday 8:15 and 11:00 am, Childcare provided. Holy Eucharist and Breakfast: Wednesday 7:30 am Come as you are and join a welcoming community of faith, spiritual growth, fellowship and service.

620 G Street SE Washington, DC 20003 202-547-9300 www.washingtonparish.org

Fall EvEnts October 6

Make bag lunches for the homeless after 11:00 service Blessing of the Animals at 11:00

October 13

Children’s worship and Play at 5:00

October 18

Trivia Night 7:00

November 3

Make bag lunches for the homeless after 11:00 service

November 10

Children’s Worship and Play 5:00

November 17

Intergenerational Service & Communion Recognition

Blessing of the Animals Sunday, October 6 at 11:00 am.

Pets, stuffed animals, and pictures of pets are welcome at worship.

Mathew Brady Civil War Photo Contest

ongressional Cemetery is partnering with the US Capitol Historical Society for a photo contest in honor of Mathew Brady who is interred in the cemetery. Brady photographed presidents, generals, politicians, actors, soldiers, and citizens over the course of his career. He forever changed the way Americans saw war by bringing the conflict to their doorstep through his photographs. The photo contest of- Noted Civil War photographer Mathew Brady (1822-1896). fers cash prizes with the winning entries to be on display at the US Capitol building complex. Three categories that represent typical Brady themes include landscapes, objects, and people. One grand prize winner will receive $1,000, and a winner of each category will receive $500. All four winning images will be framed and will be on display in the US Capitol building complex. Professional and amateur photographers can submit entries online at sites.google.com/site/ bradyphotocontest/home. The judges are Susan Welchman, Senior Photography Editor of National Geographic Magazine; Don Kennon, Vice President for Scholarship and Education, US Capitol Historical Society; Paul K. Williams, President of Historic Congressional Cemetery; and Jane Levey, Director of Heritage and Community Programs-Cultural Tourism DC. The contest closes May 15, 2014.

waiting and service pavilions and terraces designed by Washington-based architects Studio Twenty Seven. With this improvement, Union Station has raised the standard of comfort and efficiency for patrons of inter-city bus service, and created a new architectural icon within the historic facility. Union Station now serves as a central DC hub for the east coast operations for Greyhound, Megabus and Bolt Bus. DC2NY and Washington Deluxe also run a notable portion of their operation from this location. These new facilities will provide year-round amenities to over 2.5 million bus travelers passing through Union Station. In the first year of operations, approximately 2,000 buses carrying 50,000 passengers depart the Bus Deck every week.

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Election of Ofﬁcers

The Eastern Market community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) will be having its annual election of officers during its regularly scheduled meeting tentatively set for Oct 23, 7 p.m., in the North Hall at the Eastern Market. Only current EMCAC member representatives are eligible to serve as officers and it is requested that all nominations be received by Oct 15. EMCAC invites the community to all of their meetings. They are generally held on the last Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the North Hall at Eastern Market, 7th St. and North Carolina Ave. SE. Your comments or involvement in any of their committees is welcomed. Call Chuck Burger, Vice Chair at 202258-5316 or cburger@cbmove.com with comments or questions. Follow the market at easternmarket-dc.org. EMCAC is the District’s legislatively established body entrusted with advisory and oversight responsibilities for the operations, management and 34 H hillrag.com

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renovation of Eastern Market. Current members include representatives from ANC6B, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Capitol Hill Association of Merchants, Eastern Market Preservation and Development Corporation, Stanton Park Neighborhood Association, a community representative, Ward 6 Council Office, the Mayor and representatives from the South Hall, Farmer’s Line and non-food merchants at the Market.

Working from the Figure at CHAW

Work on drawings or paintings in front of a live model in a session without an instructor. Please bring your own drawing materials. Easels are available. Class dates are Oct 18, Nov 1 and 15, Dec 5 and 20; 6:309:30 p.m. $76 for a four class pass or $20 class drop-in. Call 202-5476839 for more information. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. chaw.org

Talk of the Hill with Bill Press: Mark Leibovich

On Oct 16, 7 p.m., award-winning journalist, political insider and Capitol Hill resident Bill Press sits down each month at Hill Center for a series of one-on-one, thought provoking conversations. This month, Press welcomes Mark Leibovich, chief national correspondent for The New York Times Magazine and author of the book This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral--Plus Plenty of Valet Parking--in America’s Gilded Capital. Books will be available for sale. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org

Thurgood Marshall Celebratory Dinner at St. Augustine’s

On Thursday, Oct 17, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a reception and dinner at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW, honoring the Legacy of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Commemorating Justice Marshall’s Appointment to the Supreme Court. The keynote speaker is Ms. Sherrilyn Ifill, President and DirectorCounsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. with Ms. Maureen Bunyan, ABC7/WJ36 H hillrag.com

LA-TV as Mistress of Ceremonies. Mrs. Cecilia Marshall is Honorary Chair. Tickets are $125. Electronic Payments may be made at staugustinesdc.org. for more information, call 202-554-3222 or email rector@ staugustinesdc.org.

Douglas Development Leases Capitol Hill Building To Pret A Manger

Douglas Development has announced that Pret A Manger has leased a two-story retail building at 301 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Just two blocks from the Capitol Building, Pret A Manager will move into its new location by spring 2014. Pret A Manger will occupy 4,300 square feet and offer two floors of indoor dining space, as well as a large outdoor patio. For the past fifteen years, Cosi has occupied this busy downtown corner. There are over 300 Pret A Manger locations worldwide.

Exploring Your Anacostia Watershed at Anacostia Community Museum

On Wednesday, Oct 9, 12:303:30 p.m., learn how Groundwork Anacostia River DC assists in the clean-up of the Anacostia River. On Sunday, Oct 13, 1-4 p.m., learn how the Groundwork Anacostia River DC assists in the clean-up of the Anacostia River. Participants view the related exhibition and take a field trip to local watershed litter trap sites. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu

Faith 4 the City Event at Potomac Gardens

On Friday, Oct 25, Faith 4 the City will host its Inaugural Benefit Banquet to raise funds to support programming at Potomac Gardens. Being honored that night are “Heroes of Faith” who have impacted their communities on the local, national, and worldwide levels. This year’s honorees are; Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. Ambassadorat-Large for International Religious Freedom; Elder Cleo White, Founder Faith Temple Church; Rev. Donald Isaac, Executive Director

-East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership; and Pastor Joel Schmidgall, National Community Church Executive Pastor. The event is being held at the Historic Washington Navy Yard Catering and Conference Center and will feature a delectable dinner, live music, fellowship and fun. Ticket donations are $65 and can be purchased online at heroesoffaithbanquet.com. For more information, email faith4thecity@gmail.com.

Library of Congress Main Reading Room Open House on Columbus Day

Twice each year, the Library of Congress opens its magnificent Main Reading Room for a special public open house. The fall open house will take place on the federal Columbus Day holiday, Monday, Oct 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Photography will be allowed. The Main Reading Room is located on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Reference librarians will be available to demonstrate the Library’s online resources and discuss access to the Library’s vast onsite collections, including services and collections for use in family history research. No other reference services will be available and all other Library of Congress reading rooms and buildings will be closed. The Jefferson Building, which will be open to the public between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., also features the incomparable Great Hall and the Library of Congress exhibitions. Among current exhibitions in the Jefferson building are “The Civil War in America” and “A Day Like No Other: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.” Unreserved guided tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building will be offered at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Each tour is limited to 40 people and designed to accommodate individuals and families, not large groups. More information about the Library, the exhibitions and tours is HillRag | October 2013 H 37

available at the orientation desks at www.loc.gov/visit/ or by calling 202-707-8000. The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at loc.gov.

M Street SE Road Closure

DC Water is performing construction activities on M Street, SE as part of the Clean Rivers Project to improve the health of local waterways. Through December 2014, crews will construct the upper section of an approach channel that will be used to convey storm water to the new Anacostia River Tunnel. Crews will also begin excavation of CSO outfall #017 on M Street, west of Water Street. The portion of M Street at CSO outfall #017 will be closed during the work. Water Street, which had previously been closed for work on the lower section of the approach channel, will be reopened during this time. This work will be performed in support of the M Street Diversion Sewer of the Clean Rivers Project (Division E). DC Water is implementing the Clean Rivers Project which comprises a system of tunnels and diversion sewers for the capture of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to Rock Creek and the Anacostia and Potomac rivers for treatment at DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The entire project will reduce CSOs annually by 96 percent throughout the system and by 98 percent for the Anacostia River alone.

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Sip & Paint at CHAW

Join them for an evening of painting and wine on Friday, Oct 11, Nov 8 and Dec 13, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Receive step-by-step instruction from teaching artists Ellen Cornett and Sheppard Bear as you create your own masterpiece all while enjoying snacks and wine. $30 includes all materials and refreshments. Call 202-547-6839 for more information or to register. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. chaw.org

New Wild Animal Care Facility Opens in the District

For the first time in its history, the nation’s capital has a licensed, professionally staffed veterinary facility dedicated to helping wild animals. City Wildlife expects their new facility at 15 Oglethorpe St. NW, to handle as many as 1,200 orphaned, injured, and ill wild animals the first year. The center opened on July 1. Among the patients they have already rescued are: an Osprey who was struck by a truck on the Frederick Douglass Bridge, treated, and reunited with his family group; a sick pregnant squirrel, who gave birth to four babies while in City Wildlife’s care and was cured and released with a nest box for her new family; and a juvenile Ruby-Throated Hummingbird who was dying of starvation until the center nursed him back to health and prepares to send him to an environment with abundant nectar-producing flowers. City Wildlife is open every day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and accepts injured, ill, and orphaned wild animals from members of the public as well as from the city’s animal care and control officers. Those interested in learning more about City Wildlife or contributing towards the rehabilitation center can visit citywildlife.org, write to info@citywildife.org or call 202-882-1000.

The Appalachian Trail Coming to Avalon Theater

On Oct 10, 8:00 p.m,. the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) will be showcasing the film “Appalachian Impressions” at the Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW, as part of their 2013 membership drive, called A Journey of 2,000 Miles: the Appalachian Trail. The organization has set a goal to gain the support of 2,180 new members, one new member for each mile of the Appalachian Trail. Suggested donation is $30. All children thirteen and under are admitted for free. The film is an epic story about hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. The program takes viewers on a six-month, 2,180mile journey along the famous long-distance

hiking Trail in the world. Participants will hear the stories from hikers who have embarked on this trek and experience the thrills and challenges of daily life on the Trail. The film covers all fourteen states, the changing of the seasons, footwear, food, shelters, volunteer trail crews, and Leave No Trace Ethics. It captures the true essence of this historic pathway, its interesting characters, beautiful scenery and the generous spirit found in small town America. Show participants will receive a one-year membership to the ATC. They will also have the chance to win cool prizes such as an ATC ENOTM Hammock and a Gregory Backpack.

Enterprise CarShare Expands to DC

Enterprise CarShare will have 40 locations in DC beginning Sept. 23. Enterprise CarShare is now available on more than 75 university campuses and 40 government and business campuses and in more than 15 markets including New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago. To support the launch of the services, Enterprise CarShare is introducing an integrated marketing campaign that includes advertising, event sponsorships, street teams, public relations and social media efforts. Also, for a limited time, Enterprise is offering to waive the application fee and oneyear membership charge for any Washington, DC members and include discounted hourly rates for trips made before Dec 31, 2013. enterprisecarshare.com/DC

Tae Kwon Do with Master Gutman

AGES 4 and UP | Small Classes

OPEN HOUSE,FRIDAY, OCT. 25, 6 P.M ustaekwondocollege.wordpress.com

222 8th Street NE | mastergutman@gmail.com | 202.546.6275

“Skip the Trip” to the District DMV

With more than 40 services available online and through the mail, the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) is reminding customers of their option to “Skip the Trip” to DC DMV Service Centers. “Visit us on Your Time,” is the theme of the newly revitalized campaign encouraging the public to visit dmv.dc.gov and learn more about the agency’s online and mail services. “Approximately 600 people visit each DMV service center daily, and many of them can use their computers, laptops or tablets for their transactions,” said DC DMV Director Lucinda Babers. “Ideally, only customers who need services that require an in-person visit are the ones at the Service Centers.” Also, for customers who may not have computers in their home, they can use the computers at any District Public Library to access DMV’s website securely, or send their request through the mail. DC DMV’s website is available daily from 6 a.m.-11:59 p.m., making it accessible to customers outside of DMV’s regular hours of operation. The Service Centers are open Tuesday–Saturday from 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. H HillRag | October 2013 H 39

capitolstreets

Walmart Woes

What Effect Will The Councilmember’s Positions On The Defeated Living Wage Bill Have On The Mayoral Election?

ommy Wells, darling of big business. Jack Evans, friend to organized labor. That might sound like an upside-down, Opposite Day description of the two D.C. legislators and mayoral contenders, but it’s also how they aligned themselves this summer when the D.C. Council debated and voted on a contentious Living Wage Bill that would have forced Walmart and certain other large retailers to pay employees $12.50 an hour. Wells, contra his usual image as a progressive standard-bearer, voted against the bill in July and again in September, when the Council tried to override a veto by Mayor Vince Gray. Evans, for his part, bucked his usual pro-big business persona and supported the bill during both votes. Their respective alignments are indications of some of the complicated strategizing going into next year’s mayoral primary, where Evans and Wells are already lined up against Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and could face Gray, should he choose to run.

Pay…

The bill wasn’t new when it was introduced earlier this year—the idea of forcing large retailers to pay above the District’s minimum wage of $8.25 has been floating around for close to a decade. But with Walmart planning to bring six urban-format stores to D.C. over the next three years, the new version of the proposal attracted loud support from labor unions and progressive activists and intense opposition from business groups and the Arkansas-based retailer itself. Supporters of the bill argued that with a growing economic divide in D.C. and the rest of the country, Walmart could afford to pay employees a little more. In fact, they argued, the $12.50 living wage—roughly $26,000 a year for 40 H hillrag.com

By Martin Austermuhle became law. The bill seemed tailor-made for Wells, who has made a career of being a progressive outlier on the Council. But he was quick to reject it—as did Bowser, and later Gray—saying that it would chase away jobs that pay, especially in areas that have no jobs to begin with: “I view this as a job killer. We are not rural America. We need our minimumwage jobs, our low-wage jobs,” he said, according to The Huffington Post. Evans, on the other hand, sounded an almost populist tone in favor of the bill when he told WTOP: “It has become very difficult, as you know, to live in the District of Columbia. We are prospering beyond what any other city in America is doing and, as a result, it is expensive to live here. So people who are working, particularly in the retail industry, are having a hard time.”

…Politics

Anti-Walmart poster attacks Councilmember Tommy Wells. Photo: Andrew Lightman

a full-time worker—could help a family of three escape poverty. Opponents countered that while the bill may have been well-intentioned, it was also discriminatory, focusing only on retailers occupying more than 75,000 square feet of space in the city. Walmart would have to pay the higher wage, they pointed out, but not Apple or Nike. They also worried that other large retailers that had long eyed the District would start looking to the suburbs instead—“retail leakage,” as it’s called, amounts to $1 billion in lost revenue per year—and that Walmart would get cold feet and start backing out of some of the stores it had planned. It did just that, threatening to yank three stores if the bill

So what caused Evans and Wells to play a game of switcheroo? For Evans, the matter may have been more political than it was for Wells. If he ever wants to be mayor, Evans knows that he needs to convince voters that he won’t side with big business every time big business comes calling. There was also a little vote-trading going on: in exchange for supporting the Walmart bill, Evans managed to get the votes he needed to pass a quarter-point decrease of the sales tax, which took effect on Oct. 1. For Wells, the political calculation was less naked—though the political consequences could be more severe. Like Bowser and Gray, Wells recognized that while Walmart might not offer great jobs, it at least offers jobs. That’s especially true in the parts of town where Walmart is setting up shop—wards 4, 5, and 7 among them—which is exactly where Wells will need to work hardest to get votes. In his quest to

become the city’s first white mayor, Wells will want to peddle the progressive label as often as possible, but he won’t want to be weighed down by it—especially when progressives are often white and well-to-do. For Bowser and Gray, the calculus was much the same: the first Walmart is set to open on Georgia Avenue in Bowser’s ward, while one of the most important, the Walmart at the long-underdeveloped Skyland Town Center, is in Ward 7, Gray’s home turf. Wells is also a more nuanced candidate than many people give him credit for, and he could have seen the bill as inherently flawed. Though few people would disagree that Walmart should be able to pay its employees more than it often does, the bill would have created an obvious contradiction: certain large retailers would have to pay the “living wage,” while others wouldn’t. Among those that wouldn’t were supermarkets with existing collective bargaining agreements in place, some with salaries under what Walmart would have been forced to pay. This led Wells, along with Bowser and Gray, to ask an obvious question: if supporters of the bill agree that D.C. businesses and retailers should pay employees more, why not push for an across-the-board increase in the city’s minimum wage? Wells was quick to propose just that, introducing a bill that would push the minimum wage up by $2 over two years and increase the deductions that middle- and low-income families could claim. Gray has recently said he’d like to see the minimum wage increased, and Bowser at least wants a commission formed to study the issue. None of this was much consolation to the coalition that backed the Walmart bill. Ahead of the debate over whether or not to override Gray’s veto of the bill, Wells and Bowser’s faces appeared on posters around town proclaiming them as part of “D.C. poverty wage coalition.” Among those pushing Wells to change his stance was Elissa Silverman, a former At-Large candidate

and policy analyst at the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, which also advocated in favor of the Walmart bill. After neither Wells nor Bowser budged on the vote to override Gray, supporters of the bill said they wouldn’t soon forget how the two mayoral aspirants voted. This, of course, sets up an interesting dynamic for the campaign ahead: Who exactly will unions and progressives side with in the mayoral contest? They’re peeved with Gray, Wells and Bowser, but will they back Evans, not exactly the best pro-union bet, instead? At least one small union has already has: in late July, the Maryland/D.C. State Council of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers endorsed Evans, citing his support for the bill. Gray has already started covering his bases, should he choose to run. In the midst of the debate over the bill, he announced that the new D.C. United stadium to be built at Buzzard Point would be governed by a project labor agreement, which guarantees that construction jobs go to union workers. That leaves Bowser and Wells at a disadvantage, with Wells hurting the most. It’s unlikely that his most stalwart progressive supporters will vote against him in the mayoral primary, but they may also have been put off enough by his vote on the Walmart bill to contribute and volunteer less—both of which will be central to Wells’ campaign, especially as he remains committed to rejecting any corporate contributions. Wells can hope that those progressives soon forget the Walmart bill ever existed, and that might be easier if he manages to push through his bill increasing the minimum wage for all D.C. workers. Even there, though, he faces difficulties: Council member Vincent Orange (D-At Large) has introduced an alternative that would offer a larger increase than what Wells is offering. Martin Austermuhle is a freelance writer. He lives in Columbia Heights. H

HillRag | October 2013 H 41

capitolstreets

theNUMB3RS 3.327.649.10

Boosting DC’s Minimum Wage Has Broad Support

starting wage of $12.50 minus benefits for employees of DC big-box retailers proved to be controversial among our city’s elected officials. But even some of the legislation’s strongest critics agreed with supporters on one key point: that DC’s minimum wage is too low and needs to be raised. On the same day the DC Council failed to overturn Mayor Gray’s veto of the Large Retailer Accountability Act, three bills were introduced–with broad support—to boost DC’s minimum wage to more than $10 an hour. And the next day, the mayor himself said that raising the minimum wage is one of his top priorities. Raising the minimum wage – at both the local and federal level – has been demonstrated time and time again to increase take-home pay without resulting in job cuts that hurt low-wage workers. It is one of the most studied economic topics, and the vast weight of the research points to “little if any effect” on jobs. Now is the time for DC residents to hold our elected leaders to their word, as the public debate shifts from the Large Retailer Accountability Act to what might be called a Keep Your Word on Raising the Minimum Wage Accountability Act.

Raising The Wage Helps DC Families And Our Economy

Everyone knows how expensive DC has become. Whether you recently looked for an apartment and saw $2,700 rents for studios or found out your neighbor sold his 42 H hillrag.com

by Elissa Silverman tiny house for much more than the asking price, we are witness daily to DC’s rising housing costs. It boggles the mind to think about how anyone can live in the District on the current minimum wage of $8.25 an hour. Yet many struggle to do just that. At $8.25 an hour, a parent with two kids working full-time earns well below the federal poverty line. Most of DC’s low-income households are in fact working, and many have one or more people with a full-time job. Others work part-time because they work in retail or other service industries where part-time work is the norm. DC has among the highest levels of income inequality – the gap between rich and poor – in the United States. The lowest-earning fifth of DC households have an average income of just $9,100, while the richest five percent have an average income of $470,000. Steps to raise wages are critical to helping low-income residents continue to call DC home. Analysis of a $10.10 wage—as proposed for the entire country by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA)—shows that it would help 36,000 DC workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The estimated $58 million in increased wages would be spent at markets, clothing shops and hardware stores, helping District businesses large and small. The direct and indirect impacts would help an estimated 16,000 children. Almost all affected workers—95 percent— are 20 years or older. This has many benefits, not

only to the individual household, but the city as a whole because these residents will be less reliant on taxpayer-funded programs for health care, housing, and food assistance. That saves DC money, allowing us to shift those funds to other investments.

Raising The Minimum Helps Workers Without Job Loss

Economists have studied the impact of minimum wage increases for decades. And what they have found is good news for low-wage workers: Raising the wage floor provides an income boost for low- and moderate-income households without leading businesses to cut jobs notably. This year, noted economist Paul Krugman wrote that: “U.S. experience offers many ‘natural experiments’ in which one state raises its minimum wage while others do not…the great preponderance of the evidence from these natural experiments points to little if any negative effect of minimum wage increases on employment.” Two economists, John Schmitt and David Rosnick, specifically examined the impact of city-level minimum wages in in a 2011 paper and similarly concluded that “citywide minimum wages can raise the earnings of low-wage workers, without a discernible impact on their employment.” The economic research cannot prove why a minimum wage increase works this way, but they make educated guesses: Some businesses with minimum wage jobs – such as retail – need to be in specific locations to

reach customers and cannot move in response to wage hikes. Also, businesses adjust to higher labor costs in many ways, including efficiencies in other parts of their operations. Higher wages also result in lower worker turnover – perhaps because are happier and more committed – a tremendous benefit to a business. This “high-road” approach of paying workers more to get better workers is one that many employers take, most famously Costco. The retailer has average hourly pay of over $20 an hour, and they are wildly successful.

The DC Elected Officials Accountability Act

The vast majority of DC residents support efforts to raise low wages. A recent Hart Research poll found that seven of 10 residents supported the Large Retailer Accountability Act, and six of 10 would like to have seen a minimum wage increase plus a higher wage for large retailers. This suggests that a majority of all residents will back a stand-alone minimum wage hike. The minimum wage in 1968, measured in today’s dollars, was $9.55 per hour. U.S. labor productivity has risen by 135 percent since then. If the minimum wage had kept up with productivity growth over this period, it would now be $18.67 per hour. Three of the four bills now being considered by the Council would raise the minimum wage to over $10 per hour over the next two to four years. That would bring DC’s wage floor to roughly the 1968 level – though without any adjustment for productivity improvements since

then. Here’s a rundown of what has been introduced: • Councilmember Wells introduced a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $10.25 over two years and set future annual increases to the consumer price index. This bill also would increase the standard deduction in DC’s income tax, helping reduce the high taxes paid by DC’s low- and moderate-income families. • Councilmember Catania introduced a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $10.50 over three years, but it would not index to inflation after that. The bill would also amend the city’s paid sick leave law to include tipped restaurant workers. • Councilmember Orange introduced a bill to increase the minimum wage to $12.50 an hour over the next four years and tie future increases to the consumer price index. The bill would also raise the minimum wage paid to tipped workers to 70 percent of the minimum wage. The minimum wage before tips for these workers currently is just $2.77 an hour in DC. • Councilmember Bowser introduced a bill to create a commission on DC’s minimum wage and report recommendations within nine months. Now is not a time to be distracted. There are many things our government can do to improve the lives of low-wage households in our city, including improving the educational resources and outcomes for their kids, providing good job training in growing sectors of our economy, and keeping housing affordable. But having a city of residents who earn above the poverty level makes all these investments pay off even more. Silverman is the communications director and workforce policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. H

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capitolstreets ANC reports

NEWS ANC6A Report by Maggy Baccinelli

Grant Approval Process Questioned

Before the Community Outreach Committee (COC) presented its recommendation that the ANC approve the grant allocation amounts decided at the last committee meeting, Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert spoke out against the grant process. She asked that the ANC adopt new guidelines and procedures for the grant application process, and require that the COC follow the Statutory Guidelines. Among other requests, she said: “The COC should not have the authority to make motions to submit to the ANC, but review and provide us with each applicant’s request so that we can make the final decision after our inquiries have been satisfied.” Central to her complaint was that she thought the committee allocation gave unfair preference to committee member Maurice Cook, who the COC recommended should receive $2,720 in grant money (he requested $2,758). Cook, who recused himself from voting, represents Serve Your City, and applied for the grant so that he might put on a youth tennis and rowing program. The other recommendations of the COC included allocations of $250 to Capital Hill Village (CHV), for costs associated with a symposium on healthy aging (CHV requested $500); and $900 to Sherwood Neighbor44 H hillrag.com

hood Volunteers for toddler play-group equipment, supplies and tools for an after-school jewelry-making class, and landscaping project maintenance (the organization requested $950). Phillips-Gilbert said the allocation was “biased,” and referenced an email from Cook, which COC Chairperson Elizabeth Nelson had forwarded to 6A commissioners and the local listservs announcing an open house for the program, with the subject line “fun event — bring the kids,” prior to the vote. Phillips-Gilbert said, “There should be no endorsement or advertisement on behalf of any applicant while their request is pending approval to ANC commissioners.” Nelson refuted Phillips-Gilbert’s claim that the grant process was not transparent, saying that all procedures are posted to the website, and that the committee’s agendas are posted on the website one week in advance of each meeting. She added that Statutory Guidelines appear on the grant application form. Nelson explained that the committee members had struggled with their recommendation because there was not a sufficient balance in the grants budget to fund all applications in full, and the committee members had differing opinions as to which should have priority, because they thought all projects were worthwhile. The recommended apportionment was a compromise, Nelson said. Nelson further noted that the COC had a concern as to whether the CHV met the statutory requirement of benefit to the commissioner area (ANC 6A), and suggested

that CHV provide information on the number/percentage of potential symposium attendees who live in 6A. However, CHV did not amend their application. Commissioner Omar Mahmud told Phillips-Gilbert that, when she attended the COC meeting, as an ANC commissioner, she could have offered an alternative motion to the grant allocation as listed. Ultimately Chairman Holmes proposed an amendment to the committee’s motion, moving that the CHV grant be brought back to the committee until the benefit to 6A was clarified. Holmes explained that while he supports the organization, he did not feel its application met the requirements imposed upon the ANC, without this information. The amendment to the motion passed 3-2-1. The commissioners then voted on the amended motion (funding for the other two grant applications), which passed on a 5-1 vote. The present Capitol Hill Village representative explained that the symposium would pass before the next meeting and therefore, the organization would not benefit from the grant, if approved later.

Ben’s Chili Bowl Joins the Neighborhood

Gearing up for the opening of a new Ben’s Chili Bowl on H Street NE, D.C.’s historic staple eatery co-owner, business developer, and general contractor introduced themselves to the community at the September ANC6A meeting. The restaurant will resemble the original on U Street, but with a “Ben’s Upstairs” bar, instead of a “Ben’s Next Door.” Construction has been going on for two months, and Ben’s plans to hire 15 construction positions over the course of the project as it continues.

Options PCS Welcomes Community Engagement

Options Public Charter School’s new principle, Dr. Simon Earle, intro-

duced himself to community members at the meeting, and encouraged them to call on the school administration with any questions and concerns. He offered his personal phone number and extension: 202-547-1028. Ext. 250. Earle’s leadership tenure at Options began on July 8. He wants to increase community engagement to ensure that the community has a relationship with the school, and extended an invitation to Option’s Back to School Night on Sept. 19. The school is also planning an Octoberfest event for the purpose of engaging with the community, on Oct. 5. Earle encouraged the neighborhood to come and meet students, teachers and administration, and see the career and technical education programs that Options offers. Earle also introduced the vice principle of Option’s curriculum and instructions program, Glenn Starnes, and vice principal of operations, Jessica Mathes, who is also involved in the Community Task Force and taking care of members’ security requests. Concerned about the potential of restricted public access to the basketball court behind the school, Commissioner Nick Alberti questioned Earle about a fence recently erected by Options. Earle and Mathes explained that the fence was erected in response to their task force’s concerns about community members’ illegal drug use on the court, and other “inappropriate uses” of the space. Alberti asked to be included in further discussions, and said he was “alarmed” and “very much concerned” that the ANC had not already been privy to discussions about it. Earle said that he did not have background on the protocol coming in, but was happy to cooperate and communicate with the ANC moving forward.

Community Member Prompts ANC Motion on “Living Wage” Bill

As the meeting came to an end with closing community comments, a

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A DAVID HOLMES, CHAIR, 202-251-7079 Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and Stanton Park communities

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ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.

www.anc6a.org

Next ANC 6A meeting is, 2nd Thursday, October 10 Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee 3rd Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Jay Williams, 906-0657 Transportation & Public Space Committee 3rd Monday, Oct. 21, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Sts. NE • Chair, Omar Mahmud, 546-1520 Economic Development & Zoning Committee 3rd Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE • Chair, Andrew Hysell, 203 570-7560 Community Outreach Committee 3rd Monday, Oct. 21, 7:30pm • Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith Annex • 1235 C Street, NE • Chair, Elizabeth Nelson, 543-3512

Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue. Attend a meeting! Volunteer for a committee! It’s your ANC!

Preservation Cafe, Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30 PM, Couldn’t make it to the Swampoddle Walking Tour? No problem! Take a virtual tour with event organizers. Ebenezers Coffee House, 2nd & F Streets, NE, downstairs. Free, handicapped accessible, no reservations needed. Historic Walking Tour of Rosedale, Saturday, October 26 at 10 AM, The tour will focus on the oldest parts of the neighborhood, including Gales and Rosedale Streets. Experience the charm of a small village in the greater Capitol Hill area. Meet at the Rosedale Library, 1701 Gales St. NE at 10 AM. Free, rain or shine All events are free and the public is encouraged to attend

202-543-0425 www.chrs.org HillRag | October 2013 H 45

community member spoke out against Mayor Gray’s earlier veto of the legislation that would have forced large D.C. retailers to pay workers more, and requested that the ANC send Ward Six Councilmember Tommy Wells a letter to stand by the bill when the Council votes. In a 2-3-1 vote, Ward’s motion was defeated. A second motion was offered, however, which would have commissioners send a letter to Councilman Wells supporting efforts to find a living employee wage for all District residents. This passed with a 5-0-1 vote.

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Commissioners approved a motion to protest Chupacabra’s liquor license application, unless a signed Settlement Agreement is submitted to the ANC and the establishment is changed from a Tavern (CT) to a Restaurant (CR) prior to the protest date, in a 3-2 vote. Chupacabra representatives were present and said that they would sign the Settlement Agreement, but would not be able to meet all CR requirements. Commissioners approved the ABL Committee’s recommendation to formally protest Sahra’s (1200 H Street NE) request for an entertainment endorsement in a 4-1 vote. In a unanimous vote, commissioners approved a request for a variance at 620 9th Street, NE. Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to support the proposed design for 1325-1327 Constitution Avenue NE, the existing site of the Evening Light Apostolic Church provided that the third floor is not visible from the street and the electrical boxes are not placed on public property. Commissioners did not support the requests for a special exception and two variances at 1120 Park Street, because the property owners did not fulfill the EDZ Committee-recommended condition of obtaining letters of support from both adjoining property owners. The commissioners amended the motion so that they will state the situation clearly to the Board of Zoning Adjustment, as not to further impede the project if the letters are received.

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Commissioners unanimously accepted the requested zoning order change for 901 D Street NE. Commissioners unanimously accepted that the previously adopted motion of 1102 H Street NE, applies to any subsequent BZA case.. Commissioners (with Mahmud recusing himself ) approved support for a patio cover on public space for the Argonaut, 1433 H Street NE. H

ANC6B Report by Emily Clark

ommissioners returned from the August break to face once again the uneasy and ongoing coexistence between residents, restaurants and reconstruction. Nine commissioners were present, with Commissioner Campbell absent. During community speakout, Michael Witmore, the new director of the Folger Shakespeare Library, introduced himself. Witmore said the library is working on a strategic plan to share resources and meet the challenge of accommodating the disabled. Commissioner Garrison announced that hearings will be held throughout the fall to discuss proposed changes to the DC zoning laws. Commissioner Jayaraman said that the space formerly occupied by Crepes on the Corner at 15th St. SE has been leased by a cupcake company that will also sell coffee and pastries. Crepes on the Corner closed a year ago and the property has been vacant since then.

Rooftop Dining vs. Resident Privacy

Chef/owner Aaron Silverman of the soon-to-open Rose’s Luxury on Barracks Row, asked the Commission to approve the addition of a rooftop summer garden with seating for 1216 diners. Silverman noted that he has signed letters of support from seven of the nine neighbors affected, a blueprint of the plans and a landlord right around the corner. He also said that he is now asking for less than the 20 seats already approved by the DCRA and that he would put up a barrier of shrubs to

block any views into neighboring properties. “This is just tables for dinner in our garden,” he said, “no bar, equipment or serving station outside.” Commissioner Peisch said he had looked at the space and leafleted neighbors and that Silverman has already signed a voluntary agreement and is doing everything he can to accommodate neighbors’ concerns. Most commissioners had no objection, though Commissioner Garrison called Silverman’s plans “generically a bad idea,” causing Commissioner Pate to retort, “That’s your opinion and not mine. I’m OK with this.” After Paul Sloan, a neighbor who lives behind the restaurant, expressed concern about his privacy, the discussion moved into the hallway, with Silverman and Peisch talking with Sloan to work out a solution. New sentences were added to the settlement agreement that addressed the steps taken to assure privacy, and the commission voted 8-1 (Garrison) to approve. Meanwhile, in an overall discussion of enforcement issues for violations of ABRA VAs, Commissioner Frishberg noted that ABRA has a 24-hour line for reporting and that there are increasing fines for multiple violations of license and settlement agreements.

Trouble in the Alley

The license for Bernaise on Pennsylvania Ave. SE focused on the ongoing vermin problem in the alley behind. Harvey Mendelsohn—who with his children owns Bernaise, Good Stuff and We the Pizza—said that Bernaise will be “more upscale and should be welcome in the neighborhood.” Commissioner Garrison noted that there is a signed voluntary agreement, and said that approval should be routine except for neighbors’ concerns. “They’re concerned about load control in a narrow and poorly constructed alley, and the ongoing rat problem that comes from having three restaurants’ worth of trash.” Mendelsohn pointed out that Good Stuff is in its seventh year, We the Pizza is three years old, and that he is taking steps to insure that they HillRag | October 2013 H 47

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C ANC 6C serves Capitol Hill, Union Station, NoMa as far east as 8th Street N.E. The community is invited to attend/participate. Monthly meetings are generally the second Wednesday of the month, 7 pm, Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. Call for information: (202) 547-7168. www.anc6c.org Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee Grants Committee Contact 6C05@anc.dc.gov First Tuesday, 7 pm. Contact (202) 997-6662 Transportation and Public Space Committee Planning, Zoning, and First Thursday, 7 pm. Environment Committee Contact (202) 641-4264 First Wednesday, 7 pm. Contact zoning@eckenwiler.org

will deal with the rat problem. “We now have two trash pickups a day,” he said, “and we just ordered heavy metal specialty covers for trash bins to deter vermin.” He also noted that Cosi is leaving the corner of 3rd and Pennsylvania and that the alleyway will open up. “This should alleviate the problem and we can bring back the compactors,” he said. The commissioners said the matter had come to them late, so they voted 7-0-1 (Peisch abstaining) to discuss the license in a special call meeting later in September.

More Food Fights

Commissioners voted 6-1-1 (Pate opposing, Peisch abstaining) to allow the owners of South East Market at 1500 Independence Ave. SE to add hot food service. Discussion mostly concerned placement of the trash enclosure (the owners want to move it from 15th St. to Independence) and odor and trash control.

Rail Tunnel Reconstruction

By unanimous vote, the Commission approved sending a letter to DDOT in response to its draft environmental impact statement regarding reconstruction of the Virginia Avenue rail tunnel. Representatives from ANC 6D showed up to support the responses, which are designed to address neighborhood concerns over the impact of the project. Commissioner Oldenburg—who received expressions of gratitude and praise for her work on the response— said that the Commission would like to see the project proceed with “the least impact and the most benefits.” Neighbors expressed concerns about noise and vibration and called for access to monitoring results.

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There will be one very familiar face among the newly appointed resident members. Former ANC 6B Commissioner Norm Metzger will be the resident member for the Transportation Committee. Other committee appointments are as follows: Susan McAvoy, Alcohol Beverage Control; Breese Eddy, Planning & Zoning and John Neal, Outreach & Constituent Services Task Force. The Hill East Task Force will have

the following new resident members: Jennifer Howard, Andrew Johnston, Ruby E. Lewis, Nike Opadiran, Ross Parman, Claudia Vilato and Katherine Solether White. H

ANC6C Report by Charnice A. Milton

Grants Proposals

In a special Thursday night meeting, the Commission heard two grant proposals. First, Katie McDonough, executive director of Capitol Hill Village, requested $500 for their Healthy Aging Symposium on October 4. The organization, which helps older residents stay in their homes, hopes to use the money to rent space at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. However, Commission president Karen Wirt warned that the ANC cannot give funds for food, entertainment, or travel. With that exception, the Commission accepted the request with a six-zero vote. Second, Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street Main Street, asked for up to $5000 to cover health and safety expenses, including EMTs and porta-potties, for the H Street Festival. While Commissioner Mark Kazmierczak felt that this was a great use of funds, Commissioner Mark Eckenwiler disagreed, saying he had a “serious problem” with the fact that Saleem did not notify the Commission of the organization’s plans to expand the event. While Saleem does not need the Commission’s permission to hold the festival, he was encouraged to engage them throughout the process. Despite this, the Commission voted five-one to release $2,000, their grant limit.

Third and L Streets

In July, the Commission rejected a Planned Unit Development (PUD) application modification for a project located on the corner of Third and L Streets; this month, representatives from the Cohen Companies and Holland and Knight presented more modifications addressing amenity, parking, and loading issues. Ronald Cohen explained the history behind the PUD and his desire to combine the separate

properties. When questioned about the timing, Cohen replied that he was too far into the PUD process to consolidate the properties. To solve the parking and enforceability issue, project representative Chip Glasgow stated that they would add a provision in the lease explaining parking rules and consequences. Also, he cleared the misconception that the developers will place a loading zone on Third or L Streets. Finally, the developers will add more square footage, units, and bike racks. Despite the changes, Commissioner Goodman was still concerned that the project is not part of the consolidated PUD. With a three-one vote and two abstentions, the Commission failed to support the project.

Proposed Zoning Regulations

Commissioner Eckenwiler announced that the Office of Planning (OP) submitted a revised proposal to update zoning regulations. The Zoning Commission (ZC) held a set down discussion with OP on September 9 to discuss whether the new proposal was ready to present for residents’ consideration. The ZC plans to hold a series of hearings starting in November, where they will go through each section of the revised proposal. Commissioner Eckenwiler hopes that the Planning, Zoning, and Environment (PZE) Committee will to hold its own informational meeting and recommend a position on certain aspects for the Commission can consider in November.

Romeo & Juliet – 301 Massachusetts Avenue

Representatives for the upcoming Romeo & Juliet American Restaurant presented a public space proposal for an enclosed outdoor sidewalk cafe. It will be separated into three areas; one located along Massachusetts Avenue, the northern enclosure with a fabric awning located along Third Street, and the southern enclosure with a metal roof and glass doors. The representative stated that they plan to double-pain the glass and spray a open-cell foam installation to sound-proof the glass enclosure. Many residents raised concerns about potential noise problems, es-

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pecially in light of the proposed operation hours, which could go up to 2 a.m. However, neither the restaurant or the Commission agreed to those hours as they are still working on a voluntary agreement. Residents also brought up issues about valet parking; since it is illegal for a valet service to park customers’ cars in residential area, many residents questioned where those cars would go. With this and other concerns to consider, the Commission voted sixzero to postpone the discussion.

Pocket Parks

During the Transportation and Public Space Committee meeting, ANC 6A Chair David Holmes discussed recent developments about pocket park administration. Pocket parks are District-created small parks used as public space. Historically, agencies within the National Park Service owned the parks; however, some parks are now controlled by the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT). In certain cases, DDOT can allow adjacent landowners to build on and control these lands, which, Commissioner Holmes argued, should be open to all residents. The committee recommended sending a letter to Mayor Vincent Gray, Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, Transportation Committee Chair Mary Cheh, and DDOT Director Terry Bellamy, outlining three demands: that the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) control the DC-owned pocket parks, let ANCs regulate park usage, and for the city to provide clarity as to which pocket parks it owns. The Commission voted six-zero to adopt this recommendation, with the amendment that they also send the letter to the at-large councilmembers and DPR’s director. In addition, Commissioner Goodman discussed Reservation 280, an area of land located near 616 M Street. When a developer built a patio on the reservation, DDOT sent a stop-work order stating that the structure was on federal land. Although there are plans to dismantle the patio, the Commission voted six-zero to write a letter opposing any future development on Reservation 280.

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The Commission voted to support three notices of intent (NOI): temporary changes to calm traffic improve pedestrian safety along

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Maryland Avenue, adding bike facilities on F Street, and installing a traffic light at the Florida Avenue and 2nd Street intersection. They voted against an NOI to convert the 100 block of F Street into twoway traffic, with the recommendation to conduct a traffic study. The Commission voted to protest DDOT’s proposal to expand the availability of 365-day Visitor Parking Permits to all residential parking areas. Commissioner Kazmierczak announced that while the protest hearing against Tru Orleans’ liquor license renewal is scheduled for September 19, the Office of Tax and Revenue shut the restaurant down for owing back taxes and fees. Also, Commissioner Goodman announced that Fur Nightclub has been served an eviction notice after complaints of violence. The Commission failed to remove two members from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Committee. H

ANC6D Report by Roberta Weiner

or the first time in its history, according to ANC Chairman Andy Litsky, the Commission had so much on its plate that it split its agenda into two parts and held two full meetings on September 9 and September 18. But that wasn’t all—a special meeting capped off the schedule to complete action on a response to a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the CSX tunnel. This report summarizes it all.

Response to CSX Draft Environmental Impact Statement a Difficult Process

In July, a 1600-page DEIS was prepared by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), and other agencies on the planned reconstruction and expansion of the CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel (VAT). Commissioner David Garber, whose Single Member District includes the tunnel, undertook, with concerned neighbors,

to study the report and write a response. Mr. Garber’s nine-page response pointed out that the DEIS was deficient in many ways, including factual inaccuracies, inconsistencies and questionable statements that undermine its credibility. Neighbors of the tunnel are concerned with the expansion of the proposed footprint of the tunnel, noise and dust, access to their front doors, a lack of consideration of alternative routes and inadequate attention to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It also points out that the document does not include any benefits to the neighborhood. When discussion of the letter began, Commissioner Ed Kaminski distributed a page of questions, calling the response overly legalistic, and questioning whether the expertise of its author was adequate to comment on technical issues. Mr. Litsky pointed out that the ANC has been working on the issue for several years and Mr. Garber added that the letter was responding to issues such as noise, vibrations and other quality of life issues, which were also brought up by the numerous community members who were present, Commissioner Donna Hopkins offered to edit the letter to a shorter length, and, since the comments were due on September 25, a meeting was scheduled for Sunday morning to discuss only one agenda item, the revised document. However, on Sunday morning Commissioner Ron McBee arrived with an alternative document that had been sent to the Commission members at 3 a.m., just five hours before the meeting. So the first order of business became a reading of Mr. McBee’s document so that the Commission could decide whether it should be considered as part of the discussion. While the McBee document received compliments for addressing the community’s concerns, it did not specifically address the content of the DEIS, and therefore, according to one commenter “misses the point” of responding. Another neighbor said that Mr. Garber had delved deeply into the DEIS, while Mr. McBee had answered questions that hadn’t been asked in the DEIS. It was suggested by some, before it was voted down, that the letter be sent subsequently as a free-standing document, And so, after voting to not consider Mr. McBee’s letter, and agreeing that the edited letter was fine, the ANC voted 4-2 to support

the report, The two votes against the report were Commissioners McBee and Kaminski, who said that not having read the DEIS, he couldn’t vote to support the letter.

A Movie Theater Will Share Site With Historic DC Water Building

The historic and elegant Beaux Arts water treatment plant sits on a large parcel of land that is part of The Yards development, along with another DC Water pumping station, at N Place SE, 1st Street -SE, and Diamond Teague Park. The site will be developed as a 600-unit residential building, with 48 units of affordable housing, and a multi-screen movie theatre. Commissioner David Garber pointed out that Forest City Washington, which is the developer, has been responsive in discussions about community benefits, including a green roof, electric car charging stations, the creation of 350 new jobs, a commitment to the preservation of the pumping station, and a willingness to put it all in writing. Commissioner Litsky applauded the fact that the site was finally being developed, and the ANC unanimously supported the developer’s request for support of its PUD.

Southwest to Get BID

A detailed plan for a Southwest BID (Business Improvement District) was presented to the Commission by Steve Moore, of Hoffman Madison, developers of the Wharf. A task force of local stakeholders—primarily developers--has been meeting since June, exploring other local BIDs (for example, Capitol Riverfront BID, Capitol Hill BID), assessing their visions and their programs and coming up with ideas for Southwest, According to its materials, the BID can “begin the work of creating a distinct identity for this quadrant of the city...[jt] can improve accessibility and transportation choices,,,[it] can launch a business attraction program, design and execute a special event calendar and establish a new baseline for ‘clean and safe’ programs.” Several categories of membership will underwrite the BID, ranging from commercial property owners and hotels, to residential apartment buildings of 10 units or more. According to Moore, the BID must be approved by both the Mayor and the City Council,

and expect to be ready to start up within 60 to 70 days. Commissioner Ron McBee was concerned that the proposed boundaries of the BID do not extend below M Street SW, while going to Independence Avenue on the north. The ANC voted unanimously to approve the concept of the BID.

Town Center East – The Next Chapter

After another month of hard work and negotiation, Commissioner Roger Moffatt and a task force appointed to work on the outstanding issues at the Town Center East project at 3rd and M Streets SE asked for the Commissioners’ support of a Historic Preservation concept review of the project. The proposed rebuilding and expansion had met with major protest from apartment owners and tenants. Another issue was the historic integrity of the I.M. Pei buildings The big news is that the building proposed to fill the courtyard between the north and south buildings will not be built, and the courtyard will be redesigned to be an amenity for the residents. Additionally, the developer has redesigned the balconies, reducing their size to “Juliet” balconies and facing them with translucent glass that will provide some increase in privacy. Mr. Moffatt made a lengthy motion, approving the current concept of the project; with a long list of conditions the developer must met by the developer. It was, however, not good enough for the residents of the two buildings. One major concern remains the privacy on the balconies of the apartments facing other buildings. Another, with greater impact, is materials being used in the building, a “cataclysm of materials that completely destroys the elegance of the site,” according to one resident who spoke, and it ignores the historic designation that was recently granted to the buildings. The ANC ended up approving the concept plan, which comes before the Historic Preservation Review Board on September 26th. It sounded very much as if there will be more.

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In other actions, ANC 6D… Voted to send a letter of condolence to the Navy Yard officials on behalf of the Community. Moved to send a letter to WMATA protesting proposed schedule and route changes in the 74 bus, which, according to Metro data, suffers from low ridership, despite its being the sole means of transportation for many people who live on its route. Changes are also being proposed for the V7, V8 , and V9 routes. Approved another two-year extension of its PUD for Capper/Carrollsburg Ventures for an the apartment building at 600 M Street SE. The building will have 195 apartments, 34 of which will be available as affordable units. Construction of the long-awaited community center, part of the Capper/Carrollsburg development, will begin in 2014. Agreed request that DDOT remove five metered parking spaces on I Street SW, just west of South Capitol Street in order to eliminate a current obstacle in the route of the I Street bike lanes. Gave its approval to a request for support of a 2nd Stage PUD for the northwest parcel of land at Waterfront Station, behind the office building on 4th Street, SE to be developed as a residential building. A community benefits agreement is being negotiated, Heard a presentation on a new 281,000 square foot office and retail building to be constructed at the corner of South Capitol and N Streets SE. The developer was seeking support for a BZA application for four loading docks, and for approval of their plan in the context of the Capitol Gateway The commission voted unanimously to approve both requests. Voted to approve zoning variances and a public space permit for curb cuts at the site of a matter of right building at 800 New Jersey Avenue SE, which will be a mix of residential and retail. The retail will include a grocery store for which a contract should be signed within a month. Dealt with several liquor license issues, many of which had outdoor space at their core: Hill Country Barbeque will open an outdoor barbeque, called the Home Stand, at 105 Tingay Street SE, near the ballpark to be open on game days; Nando’s Peri Peri, the Peruvian chicken establishment, just opened at The Yards, has applied both for a stipulated license and a regular license, as well as a summer garden; Kruba, also at The Yards, has applied for a substantial change in its license in order to have a sidewalk café at its waterfront location; and the Park Tavern at Canal Park plans on closing its street

level outdoor café and move it to its rooftop. All of these changes were unanimously approved, as were licenses for Agua, and Presidential yacht Sequoia. Because of the Columbus Day holiday, the next meeting of ANC 6D will be on Monday, October 21, at 7 p.m. at 1191 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor. H

ANC6E Report by Steve Holton

Parcel 42 Update

Marullus Williams, a representative of TenSquare LLC, spoke at the meeting and gave board members and attendees an update on Parcel 42, which is located at 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW. “We were just rewarded the contract by the city, so we’re in the early stages of the project,” said Williams. The project will have 105 apartments and retail units and 40 underground parking spaces. The project is slated to start in 2015 and be completed in 2017. The building will dedicate 5,000 square feet to retail and commercial use that could include restaurants and a garden store. The open courtyard and covered terrace are designed to be attractive for residents and guests. TenSquare is currently talking with neighborhood residents on possibly including a play ground and bike racks on a small parcel of the property. There will be 21 units devoted to affordable housing that will be made available to households with incomes below 50 percent of the Area Medium Income (AMI). It is expected that over 500 construction related jobs and over 15 jobs related to retail and property management will be created as a result. A mural dedicated to African American history of the Shaw area will also be installed in the building’s lobby. Parking was the chief concern raised by the board at the meeting. “Parking is a big problem here and 40 spots for over 100 people will not be enough with retail space”, said ANC6E02 Commissioner Kevin Chapple. Chapple’s comments were echoed by ANC6E01 Commissioner Alexander Padro who said, “This building will not make it with 40 spots and severe parking issues. Residents want to park when they arrive home and spots are already scarce especially with Howard University events and Sunday church traffic, which could also hurt retail units of the new building who need spaces for their customers”. Ivan Matthews, Project Manager for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, was on hand to address the boards parking concerns. “We are considering making more parking spaces and will

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continue to work with the community on this. We need to bring in several agencies including DC DOT to ensure that the new building’s parking doesn’t affect residents”, said Matthews. The board also expressed concerns that the building design, which will be seen by many people, does not carry a “wow” effect and should take on a more iconic signature look. The board motioned to approve, by a vote of five to one, continuing the project but asked to see other building designs and additional planning from the city and developers to have two levels of parking with 100 spaces. “This will be a public process and we will be back many times to show different designs”, said Williams. Visit www.shaw42developers.com for more details on the design plans and community benefits.

Giant Support Request

Representatives from the Giant Supermarket located at 1400 7th Street NW requested support for a Class B (beer and wine sales) and Class D (in-store café) Liquor License. The new 40,000 square foot store will open Nov. 8 and will have 110 spots for parking and employ over 200 people with over 100 of them being neighborhood residents. “Our target date could slip a little with construction issues”, said Giant Supermarket Representative Steve O’Brien. The board requested that the store be safe inside and out with surveillance cameras and security personnel. Giant said 45 cameras will be in place inside and outside of the store’s perimeter with at least one armed guard on patrol 24 hours a day and one plain clothes undercover officer 80 hours a week. The board approved the Class B Liquor License provided that Giant have a minimum of three armed guards on hand 24 hours a day. Giant’s request for support of a Class D Liquor License for an in-store café that will serve beer and wine from 8 a.m. to midnight also passed the board, but was contingent on the exterior street doors being closed with panic bars to prevent bag snatching or that there be two security guards on site.

Parks And Recreation

An officer from the National Park Service (NPS) told the board that NPS is putting an increased focus on

triangle parks and other national parks in the 6E area. More plain clothes and uniformed officers will be on site and more motorcycle units will be on patrol. Several arrests related to drugs and drinking on the public properties have been made since the changes. “I have had resistance with NPS operators when making a call to report suspicious activity”, said ANC6E04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro. The NPS officer urged Nigro and all other meeting participants to call 202-610-7500 and ask to speak with a dispatch supervisor when reporting a crime or concerns.

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Enthusiastically serving clients on both sides of the river. Arlington N. $1,239,900

Square 450 Development Update

Andrea Cordine from Douglas Development spoke on behalf of their renovation and design efforts between New York Avenue, 7th and L Streets NW in the city’s Mt. Vernon Square area. The project is aimed at helping the neighborhood thrive through new and sleek designed office and retail space while preserving the historic integrity of the current row buildings. Existing buildings will be renovated with some having additions. “We will not completely demolish any historic buildings, although some will be picked up and shifted to the East’, said Cordine. Excavations may occur next June with construction starting in the Fall of 2014. Visit www.douglasdev.com for more information on the development project.

Other Topics Of Note: •

Request for support passed for the DC sports bar Ivy and Coney at 1537 7th Street NW to acquire a Class C Liquor License. • Request for support passed to enhance public safety by adding surveillance cameras at City Market at O and Jefferson at Market Place. • Request for support passed for the Hampton Inn at 901 6th Street NW to acquire a Public Space Permit for a Sidewalk Café to be used by hotel guests. The next ANC 6E meeting occurs on Wednesday, October 2nd, 6:30 p.m., at the Shaw Library located at 1630 7th Street NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter, @ANC6E, and Facebook by searching ANC6E. H

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All brick town-home nestled in the lovely garden setting of Tuckahoe Park. 3BR’S, 2 full and 2 half baths, generous room sizes room, master with ensuite and a delightful garden patio just perfect for dining al fresco. Just steps from EFC Metro.

HillRag | October 2013 H 53

“You Can Count On It”

Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Indulge 6. Kind of bar 11. Signaled 15. Vivacity 18. Crown covering 20. Father of 13-Down 21. Roughly similar 23. Fata morgana, for one 24. Greek cash 25. Attack 26. Swapped personal info 29. Italian for “to the tooth” 30. Dudgeon 31. Pacific ring 32. Tangle 35. Heavy foods, in London 38. African buzzers 42. Compiles 46. Jalopy 48. 1996 Olympic torch lighter 49. Put one’s own interests first 57. Gave out 58. Mix-a-Lot et al. 59. Carved up 60. Having a natural defense, like a skunk 64. Was inactive 65. Register 66. Bounced checks, hangnails, etc. 69. Footnote word 70. Vacation spot 72. A zillion 73. Visa statement abbr. 74. Chess tactic 76. Geometric shape 80. It can be tickled 83. Kind of flute 84. “Go, hounds!” 88. Why not to travel alone 92. Role in Haydn’s “The Creation” 93. Slipper option 94. Select a jury 95. Comes alive 99. 2005 Disney movie 103. Jack of “Barney Miller” 104. Commode, for short 105. Café alternative 107. Basque, e.g. 111. Time was running out for them 120. Some attacks 121. Bring to bear 122. Relating to Greece

123. Glyptic art 124. Patriots’ Day month 125. Wavy hairdo 126. Notes after dos 127. Vivacity 128. Energy-depleting 129. Wildlife photographer Peterson

Down:

1. Blood pigment 2. Alternative to Windows 3. Grammy winner Cohn 4. Creighton University site 5. À la king? 6. Like some films 7. In the habit of 8. Wiped out 9. Shakespearean verb 10. U.N. agency acronym 11. Play (to) 12. Online newsgroup system 13. Son of 20-Across 14. Residence hall 15. Boards 16. Menu item 17. Droopy eyelid 19. Impart 22. Point 27. Painting surface 28. Month after Adar 32. Bamako is its capital 33. Book after Joel 34. New Mexico resort 36. Casper, for one 37. Ballad’s end? 39. Mideast native 40. President-___ 41. Flag 43. Sea birds 44. Percolate 45. Taro variety 47. Nipper 50. Spent 51. Measures, in a way 52. Body build 53. Radiation-emitting amplifier 54. ___ podrida 55. Element #10 56. Wired 61. ___ cavity

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 62. With aloofness 63. They’re succulent 66. Samuel Beckett novel 67. Moonfish 68. Scottish Gaelic 71. Subatomic particle 72. Soprano Nellie 74. Pet ___ 75. “Ghosts” writer 77. Swab 78. Fish bait 79. Illuminator 81. Taxing trip 82. Obstruct

85. Monocle part 86. Creme cookie 87. Norse capital 89. Blends 90. Canada’s ___ Island National Park 91. Jacket type 95. Star in Aquila 96. Female surfer 97. Deflects 98. Bowls 100. Growing companies, often 101. Candytuft 102. With delicacy

106. Chinese green tea 108. Muslim leader 109. Garfield’s middle name 110. Part of U.N.C.F. 112. Secretive org. 113. Latest thing 114. River in Germany 115. Prosperity 116. Montreal player 117. “Little Caesar” role 118. Arden and Plumb 119. Take-out order?

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Community Life Southwest Neighborhood Planning Process Kicks Off

ver the next six months, the DC Office of Planning will be engaging Southwest residents and stakeholders to create a plan to guide the changes in the Southwest neighborhood for the next five to ten years. The Southwest Neighborhood Plan will focus on four key elements â€“ people, parks, connections, and building. A Public Kickoff meeting related to the Southwest Neighborhood Plan was held on September 11th at Arena Stage. The meeting was well-attended by people who live and/or work in Southwest. For the first hour or so, there was an Open House with different stations that allowed residents to comment about the benefits and challenges that exist in each of the four key elements of the neighborhood plan. Afterwards, Planning Director Harriet Tregoning and Ward

by William Rich 6 Planning Coordinator Melissa Bird gave a presentation about the planning process and entertained questions from the audience. Tregoning said that some of the values Southwest residents expressed to her during the Open House portion of the meeting include diversity, green space/tree canopy, and the library. Following the presentation, the Open House resumed for another hour. During the planning process, the Office of Planning and their consultants will work with the community to help inform their recommendations for the Southwest neighborhood. First, they will assess the development potential for a number of underutilized District-owned properties are in the study area, including Randall Recreation Center, the northeast parcel of Water-

front Station, First District headquarters, Lansburgh Park, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inspection station, and the District of Columbia Fire Department Repair Shop/Engine Co. # 7, among others. The team will create an urban design framework that promotes greater pedestrian access, improved neighborhood connectivity and increased transportation choices. A coordinated approach to public parks and public space improvements will be developed. Finally, opportunities will be identified to enhance sustainability at a neighborhood-level.

Neighborhood Plan Boundaries

The Southwest Neighborhood Plan study area extends from South Capitol Street, SW to Maine Avenue, SW and

RIGHT: A vision for Southwest created at the September 11 Public Kickoff Meeting by listening to residents and stakeholders. Courtesy of Graphic Recorder Jim Nuttle HillRag | October 2013 H 55

Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond

CAPITOL HILL’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

ISN’T EVEN ON CAPITOL HILL SATURDAYS: The Little Farm Stand OCTOBER - NOVEMBER

• Organic Produce • Baked Goods & Preserves from Loudoun County • Maryland Maple Syrup and Honey

OCTOBER 19th - “Fall Fun & Fitness Fair”

Celebrate autumn with games, healthy snacks and beverages, and plenty of activities for pre- and elementary-aged children. Sponsored by Amidon-Bowen PTA, Girl Scout Troop 4298, Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond, and Waterside Fitness. - Noon to 2 PM

26th - “Autumn in Paris”

Cooking Demonstration with Little Farm Stand produce - 11am-1pm

31st - “Nightmare at the Duck Pond” treats for elementary-aged children - 5:30-7pm

NOVEMBER 9 - Veterans Day Pet Parade with th

PAWS of Southwest

Let’s Get Connected! Facebook: Southwest Duck Pond | Twitter: SouthwestDuckPo Join our list serve: southwestduckpond@gmail.com Special Events Welcome Visit our website www.southwestduckpond.org for more information. Just two MetroRail stops from Eastern Market to SW Federal Center. Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond (NSWDP) is a fiduciary subsidiary of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (www.swdc.org), a 501(c)3 organization headquartered at 1101 Fourth Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024. NSWDP is a participant in the District of Columbia Park Partner program and is the ANC-endorsed community organization representing the interests of the Southwest Duck Pond. The Southwest Duck Pond is bounded by Sixth, I (Eye), K Streets, and Makemie Place, S.W.

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from P Street, SW to Interstate 395. Within the study area, the portion from I Street, SW to M Street, SW is considered to be the primary focus area – where most of the development opportunities are located, as well as urban design issues. A couple of the publicly-owned parcels that may be in play to trade for land in Buzzard Point for a new DC United soccer stadium The new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge is scheduled to be completed by are located in the primary focus arthe end of 2018. Courtesy of DDOT eas – 1001 and 1101 Half Street, SW, home to the DMV inspection station interchange. Federal funds will also be used and DCFD Repair Shop/Engine Co. #7, respectively. A portion of Greenleaf is for the project. The second phase has yet to be also included in the primary study area, but a funded and will include the boulevardization separate study will be conducted for that site of South Capitol Street, SW from N Street, as a part of the U.S. Housing and Urban De- SW north to Independence Avenue, SW – velopment’s (HUD) Choice Neighborhood similar to the treatment done to the street a Planning Grant recently submitted by the few years ago south of N Street, SW. DC Housing Authority. The remaining area is considered to be the secondary study area, Bridge Configuration The new bridge will have three lanes of where neighborhood conservation, neighborhood connectivity, and sustainability are the vehicular traffic on each side as well as space for pedestrians and bikes. There will be an 18principal focus. foot shared use bike and pedestrian lane on both sides of the bridge with connections to How to Participate The Office of Planning has created a Potomac Avenue, SW and R Street, SW on project website (www.swneighborhoodplan. the west side of the river. Ten feet will be dediorg) and a second website called “Engage cated to a two-way cycle track and eight feet Southwest”(engage.swneighborhoodplan. will be used for a pedestrian pathway. In adorg) where community members can inter- dition, viewing platforms will be located along act. Other ways to participate in the process the bridge. A shared use path will be located include using social media (use the hashtag in the inner part of the traffic oval. A change from the earlier design of the #SWDCPlan on Twitter, “like” posts on bridge is its alignment, which will now be parFacebook, etc.), submitting hand-written allel to the existing bridge. Another difference comments or questions at the public meetis now there will be a traffic oval on the east side ings, calling the Office of Planning at 202of the bridge instead of a traffic circle. The traf442-7600, or sending an email to Melissa Bird fi c oval on the west side will connect Nationals (melissa.bird@dc.gov). Not all Small Area Park with the proposed DC United stadium in Plans focus exclusively on real estate developBuzzard Point and can serve as a focal point for ment – questions and comments from the authe area, perhaps with a new memorial. dience at the kickoff meeting suggest that the Southwest Neighborhood Plan may include other components, such as teaching computer skills to seniors, helping break down barriers between longtime residents and newcomers, as well as other social improvements.

New Bridge to Replace Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge

On the heels of the massive 11th Street Bridge project, another major transportation project will soon be under way, this time in Southwest. There is $622 million set aside in the District’s FY2014 budget to fund Phase 1 (Segments 1 and 2) of the South Capitol Street Corridor project, which includes a new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, traffic ovals on either side of the bridge, and the reconstruction of the I-295/Suitland Parkway

Construction Timetable

The District Department of Transportation will release a request for proposals in the fourth quarter of 2013 and a design-build team will be selected by the second quarter of 2014. Construction will begin by the end of 2014 and completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2018. During the construction period, some steps that will be taken to help minimize disruption to the neighborhood include the delivery of construction materials by water, the use of water trucks to reduce dust, designated haul routes, and no construction worker parking in neighborhoods. William Rich is a blogger at Southwest…The Little Quadrant that Could (www.southwestquadrant. blogspot.com). H

GIVING TO CHARITIES

WIDE SHOE OUTLET Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE Brands: Naturalizer • Soft Spots Ros Hommerson • Propet Walking Cradles • Easy Street Slingshots are Back

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communitylife

h streetlife H Street Festival Draws Record Crowd

by Elise Bernard

ver 100,000 people turned out for this year’s H Street Festival. The Festival stretched all the way down to include the 400 block of H Street NE. It featured a large number of businesses along the corridor, as well as numerous food trucks. New businesses that have yet to open, like Po Boy Jim’s, showed off their culinary chops. Kids and adults alike clambered up REI’s climbing wall. Others rolled around in human sized hamster balls. Competitors raced to down pies, water ice, tacos, and half-smokes in contests all up and down H Street NE. The entire strip was alive with the energy of the event. Even the heavy downpour did not end the festivities. The H Street Festival is a chance for all of us to celebrate our neighborhood, and its many businesses. It’s also a terrific way to attract new visitors to the neighborhood. Hopefully, some of the people who came to H Street for the first time that day will return to patronize the businesses, and various arts venues that we all enjoy on a daily basis.

Crafty Bastards Draws Crowds

Did you make it to Crafty Bastards (http://www. washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards) this year? If so, you saw an array of offerings from a wide variety of vendors. Stalls adorned with custom belts, and baby monsters hoodies delighted shoppers. Tables in the kids’ section teemed with youngsters busily engaged with craft projects. Last year’s craft fair suffered from congestion so bad it was difficult to get a good look at the vendors’ wares. Thus, the addition of the second day was most welcome. This year it was easy to see the merchandise, and I enjoyed the experience far more than last year. 58 H hillrag.com

Crafty Bastards celebrated its second year at Union Market.

ABOVE: The H Street Festival drew over 100,000 visitors to the neighborhood.

Something else new this year was the New Belgium beer garden, and a large gathering of food trucks. This addition helped alleviate the ridiculously long lines for food at Union Market vendors during last year’s event. The organizers seem to have found the right balance on all points this time. It’s a great family friendly event (they even had a stroller corral), and it truly offers a little something for everyone.

Celebrate Halloween on H Street NE

The week of Halloween is always an exciting one on H Street NE. Every year Joy of Motion (1333 H Street NE, http://www.joyofmotion. org) presents a rendition of Thriller. The event is held in the AutoZone parking lot (1200 block of

Visitors enjoy the H Street Festival.

H Street NE), and is free for all to watch. Both dancers (who must take a special Thriller course at Joy of Motion) and audience members often dress in costume for the event.

Da Luft Opens on H Street

The H Street Festival always brings the opening of new restaurants and bars. This year it was Da Luft (1242 H Street NE, http://daluftdc.com). Da Luft is an upscale cocktail lounge, and restaurant featuring a vegetarian friendly bar menu. They also offer a weekly jazz brunch.

Tru Orleans Shuts Down for Good

Cajun themed restaurant Tru Orleans is gone for good. The troubled restaurant suffered from a

n Market.

wide variety of problems that began almost as soon as it opened. Neighbors complained about loud music, while customers groused about over-priced mediocre fare. They managed to rack up nearly twenty ABRA violations in about two years. Recently, a dispute over a bill spawned a massive brawl that spilled onto the streets. Behind the scenes, even more trouble was brewing. According to the landlord,

In DC, the rhetoric of gentrification often takes on an overly simplistic black versus white slant. This film goes beyond that, lightly digging into H Street NE’s history while eloquently telling the story of the store’s team with a quiet dignity. At its heart, this is a story of a Polish immigrant Jewish family planting roots in search of the American dream, and the alliances they formed with African American employees. The store primarily catered to African American customers, but to paraphrase one employee, the only color the owner saw was green. They were in the business of helping men look better regardless of race. Appropriately, the movie will have its DC premiere right here on the H Street NE corridor. The single showing is at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on There were acts of all kinds and for every age at the H Street Festival October 10th. Tickets are free, but you must Tru Orleans stopped paying rent, and owed RSVP online (https://fateofasalesman. more than $40,000 by the time he made eventbrite.com). up his mind to seek eviction. In the end though, it was the taxman that finally shut- Grace Deli to be Reborn as Heaven & H tered Tru Orleans. The restaurant failed to The popular corner carryout Grace Deli pay sales and use taxes to the tune of more shut down some time ago following the than $100,000. All of this, and more (in- tragic murder of owner June Lim. Recent cluding lawsuits), is detailed in Jessica Sid- weeks brought exciting news that a new man’s Young and Hungry column in the sandwich shop will occupy the space. It will Washington City Paper (hhttp://www. serve a variety of artisan sandwiches, and washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youn- the owner has said he plans to add seating gandhungry/tag/truorleans). (including window facing counter seating).

Fate of a Salesman Screening at the Atlas

Fate of a Salesman is a film that tells the story of the people behind the recently closed Men’s Fashion Center which sold clothing on H Street NE for decades. Though the experience of the people in the documentary is an individual and highly personal one, it’s also not an isolated tale. It’s a story about gentrification, and changing neighborhood demographics, as well as shifting retail shopping patterns in the United States. I would recommend it to anyone who lives in, or frequents, the area surrounding the H Street NE Corridor. What I like about this documentary is that it puts a human face on the owner, and on the employees. Second, it doesn’t take the easy way out.

Union Market Drive-In Returns

Over the summer Union Market (1309 5th Street NE, http://unionmarketdc. com/) ran a highly successful series of outdoor movies with a twist; visitors were invited to watch the films from the comfort of their cars. Some Union Market vendors even stayed open late to feed moviegoers. The fun is back again with a whole new line-up of movies every Friday from October 4-November 8. Those planning to use Metro can catch the Roadie (http://unionmarketdc.com/themarket/the-roadie) shuttle from the New York Avenue stop to Union Market. For more on what’s abuzz on and around H Street you can visit my blog http://frozentropics.blogspot.com. You can send me tips, or questions at elise.bernard@ gmail.com. H

HillRag | October 2013 H 59

communitylife

October On The Row by Sharon Bosworth

ike many organizations, Barracks Row Main Street begins its fiscal and planning year in October. During this past summer, as we began to think about planning for 2014, we decided to conduct a survey. We consulted you, our neighbors and friends, asking for your ideas -- what are you most satisfied with in our neighborhood, what are the Hill’s most important characteristics, and what do you see as our greatest challenges.

not possibly imagine living anywhere else in the city. I absolutely love it.”

Rose’s Luxury Opening Soon

Chef Aaron Silverman settled on Capitol Hill after a nationwide career at some of the country’s finest restaurants. Momofuko and Aldea in New York City, and McCrady’s in Charleston top the list. Silverman lately has been doing private dinners while planning the restaurant of his dreams on Bar-

Love is All You Need - Almost

As the survey confirmed, there is plenty to love here and many areas of measurable satisfaction: specifically, the Hill’s walkability, our parks and green spaces, plus the presence of trees and tree boxes. All of these items received high or very high approval ratings. The sense of community, the broad choice of restaurants, Eastern Market, and Barracks Row were most frequently cited as Hill’s best characteristics. The survey also identified several areas where you want to see meaningful improvements: specifically, more retail and service offerings, as well as changes to enhance both pedestrian and cyclists’ safety. Not surprisingly, traffic and parking were called out as frustrations. We are grateful to all of you who participated in the survey and in future editions of this column we will go into the survey’s findings in more depth. Our survey was distributed electronically to subscribers of many local newsletters, email lists and Twitter feeds including those of the Capitol Hill BID, the Capitol Riverfront BID, Hill is Home, and Mothers on the Hill - to name just a few. 94.1% of respondents either live or both live and work on the Hill. Three quarters of respondents have lived here 4 to 20+ years and they are here because they want to be. “I feel like I completely lucked out… I love this place” and “Love, love. Why we stayed here 25+ years, best neighborhood in DC!!” or “…can60 H hillrag.com

grandmother and culinary inspiration. The first goal in the design was to make it feel like home with an accessible, open kitchen. Eclectic “icebox” style fridges sporting vintage green doors are in plain view. Even the dinner plates were carefully selected -- a 1940’s jumble of floral patterns faded from generations of washings, guaranteed not to match -- just like at home. High windows showcase our tree canopy and natural light pours onto centuries-old brick walls. Tall, indoor plants accentuate the soaring ceilings while the action of the chefs, visible from most parts of the restaurant, puts us back to our childhood anticipation when we sat still as we watched mom bring out dinner. The format will be small plates running from $11- $13 while servings to share for two or more will be in the $18 range. An early October opening is planned.

High Intensity Low Impact

Breelaun Marchai Taylor is a man in an LA hurry. He believes in his concept of circuit training for all. He offers customized one-on-one training. His concept is to keep prices affordable and his door at Capitol Hill Fitness, 725 8th Street is open to all levels of participants. On Tuesdays you can even set your own price. His oldest customer is 83 and his youngest is 10. Clients’ weights range from 80 pounds to 410 pounds.

Chef and owner Aaron Silverman is opening Rose’s Luxury at 717 8th St. SE.

racks Row. Silverman grew up in the DC metro area where he became best friends with school pal, Kosta Troupos. Troupos, it turns out, is a cousin of Ike Grigoropoulos, one of the owners of Cava, 529 8th Street, SE. This set of coincidences has played in our favor: the Cava partners, recognizing Silverman’s burgeoning talent, decided to become backers in Silverman’s new enterprise, Rose’s Luxury - opening soon at 717 8th Street, SE. Rose’s Luxury is named for Silverman’s

Kostas Troupos, Assistant Manager, with Andy Erdmann, General Manager of Rose’s Luxury.

CAPITOL HILL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Are you currently fighting cancer? Are you a cancer survivor? Are you a caregiver?

You Are Not Alone, Let’s Meet! the 1st and 3rd Thursday of Every Month 5 pm – 6 pm Starbucks @ 3rd & Penn SE (upstairs) Contact Carolyn at: ce_pearson2002@yahoo.com Let’s come together to share: Stories, Treatments, Resources Endorsed by Capitol Hill Village

Breelaun on TRX

Understanding the curse of boredom, Breelaun assures clients there are 873 different exercises he can put together for your own personal thirty-minute circuit workout using everything from kettle bells to simple steps to a TRX which features straps and pulleys. The mirrored space is full of equipment and padded floors keep down the noise. Breelaun strolls alertly among his clients minding their form and offering tips, including the reminder to drink plenty of water to be found at cooler near the entrance.

Soup to Circuits

Later this fall, Capitol Hill Fitness will further live up to its mission to teach us to take good care of ourselves by launching a partnership with SoUp - www.soupup. us. Currently selling only at Union Market, Donna, the Jamaican owner of SoUp, who also uses only her first name is approaching the world of soup with the same kind of zeal Breelaun has for circuit training. SoUp will find a soup for you. Capitol Hill Fitness will be the

second outlet for SoUp. The two business owners believe they‘ve spotted a synergistic market. Customers dash into Capitol Hill Fitness from work and run through their customized training circuit-also running through all their energy at the end of a long day. At this point, too hungry even to make a grocery store run, many head to a nearby eatery and load up on the calories they’ve just worked off. Sound familiar? But imagine: on the display at Capitol Hill Fitness will be a showcase of truly unusual, international soup dinners - vegan and non-vegan soups as well as specialty soups like goat meat soup, lemongrass shrimp soup and seafood gumbo. This global menu of soups are all homemade with fresh organic, locally grown vegetables herbs, fruits and spices influenced by American, Spanish, Asian and Caribbean cuisine. Gluten-free soups are also available. The SoUp product line is sold in simple plastic containers and will be priced in the $10 range for an easy grab and go dinner. H

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HillRag | October 2013 H 61

communitylife

Ben Rosset

Resident Board Game Designer by Meghan Markey

efore intricate online worlds intoxicated gamers worldwide, before XBOX, Playstation, dance revolutions, and even Settlers of Catan, there was Yahtzee, Scrabble, and Boggle. Capitol Hill resident Ben Rosset grew up playing these games with his grandmother, and as he got older, graduated to more involved board games. “I was the geek who stayed home on Saturday nights to play Axis and Allies with my dad when my high school friends were going out,” he says. While many of us share these fond childhood memories of game nights with family, few of us have translated those experiences into a hobby that takes one from game player to game designer – which is exactly where this 32 year old has found himself.

Ben Rosset, designer of the game Mars Needs Mecfhanics.

Mars Needs Mechanics

Enter “Mars Needs Mechanics,” a board game that Rosset has spent the last five years developing. The year is 1873, and players compete for the position of Astronautical Engineer on a Mars-bound mission on behalf of London’s Royal Academy

The board game Mars Needs Mechanics. 62 H hillrag.com

of Space Exploration. The player who amasses the greatest amount of cogs, accumulated by purchasing and selling raw materials such as wire, lenses, magnets, piping, boilers and scrap, wins the coveted position--and the game. One of the game’s charms is that it is deceptively complex. Players can not only buy materials on their turn, they have the option to build or break down mechanisms such as a Disabling Device or Clockwork Rooster, which spark rules that influence game play. The game is anchored in economics, and winning relies on the player’s aptitude to strategically influence the value of goods in the marketplace, while keeping tabs on opponent’s intentions. But how did this decidedly cool, steampunk gem of a game go from a framework in Rosset’s mind to a bonafide published game? About five years ago, Rosset was doing what most people in their late twenties do – hanging out with like-minded friends, which in Rosset’s case was playing board games with a game designer he knew. His friend showed him a game he was working on. “So he showed it to me, and I thought, that’s fantastic, that is awesome. I want to do that. And from that day on, I’ve considered myself a game designer and gone full-speed ahead with it,” he says. Rosset wanted to design an economicsbased game. He had to tinker with the mechanics (no pun intended!) of the game for some time before the structure clicked. He went through about four iterations of the game before he had a breakthrough. The “eureka!” moment came when he hit upon the concept of a sales order line, which drives the momentum of Mars Needs Mechanics. Materials that are bought and purchased are lined up, and as more players purchase a material, it gets bumped to the front of the line, which increases its value during the selling part of the game. What makes a great game interesting is the sense of tension and rhythm of the gameplay, and this can only be tested by, obviously… getting a group of people together and actually playing the game.

Community Feedback: The Key to Good Game Design

Rosset drew on the local gaming community of DC to test the sales order line and the game as a whole, and provide feedback. This was integral to its development, which at the time bore a Middle Eastern bazaar theme and was tentatively called “The Market.” Resident Capitol Hill gameshop and mecca for all things game-related, Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, was more than happy to

provide a space where Rosset could test his game. It was a fortuitous relationship – Labyrinth was a fairly new installment in Capitol Hill when Rosset was looking for players to test his game – there is only so much pizza one can bribe friends with on a Saturday night, as he says. “I remember right after they opened, I went and introduced myself to Kathleen, and this was before I had Mars Needs Mechanics. And I said, could I do an event here and advertise my game and see if I could get some game testers? And she said, absolutely. So she publicized it and put it in the newsletter.” Kathleen Donahue, the owner of Labyrinth, is a huge proponent of community involvement. Her shop regularly partners with area schools and hosts a variety of specialized game nights. “The concept of the store is to bring the community together, and I really like that. A lot of people want to design games, but there are few that actually do. We try to help local game designers as much as possible,” she says. After Rosset had the foundation of his game, he attended a boardgame convention and realized that almost all of his gaming colleagues were communicating through social media, particularly Twitter. And Twitter is how he found the company that would publish his game – Nevermore Games, a publisher based in Richmond, Virginia. They retooled the theme, in consultation with Rosset, over several months – the 12th century silk and spice bazaar theme was replaced by a 19th century industrial British theme. Nevermore Games successfully used the platform Kickstarter to fund the game; and Mars Needs Mechanics was born. It was only fitting for a project so locally based that my first introduction to Rosset and Mars Needs Mechanics was at one of Labyrinth’s “Meet the Designer” events. “Labyrinth has had a big, positive, huge effect on where I am today with my networking and finding other designers and feeling that support,” Rosset says. And Rosset is not slowing down. He is currently play-testing his second game, Brew Crafters. Unlike Mars Needs Mechanics, it was theme driven from the beginning, inspired by a trip to the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware. The game is about building a brewery, and with DC’s current rise in local breweries and love affair with all things beer, it will undoubtedly be a popular addition to the DC gaming scene. Rosset’s games may never reach the mass commercial success of a Scrabble or Boggle or Yahtzee, but I bet that his grandmother is smiling. H HillRag | October 2013 H 63

communitylife

At Your Service by Ellen Boomer

Top Chefs

Chefs Neil Wilson and Jason Lawrence, who met as students at L’Academie de Cuisine, both worked for James Beard Award-winning chefs in DC before teaming up in 2008 to work as personal chefs who can help throw a flawless dinner party.

For Wilson and Lawrence, eating organic comes naturally. Growing up, both men spent time on farms and were used to the practice of eating what’s local and seasonal. “I had an early appreciation for preserving fresh food which is what everybody is experiencing now,” Lawrence said. “We both remember milking the cows ourselves and then straining the milk,” Wilson added. They do most of the preparation at the event site, and depart after the dessert course and kitchen clean up. “We are trying to recreate that restaurant experience, with the best restaurant feel,” Lawrence said. Contact Chef Neil Wilson and Chef Jason Lawrence at ChefNeilWilson.com, by emailing ChefNeilWilson@aol.com or by calling 301-699-2225 (Neil) or 202-5497422 ( Jason).

Heating Up the Hill

Chef Neil Wilson on the left and Chef Jason Lawrence.

“Our template works well,” Wilson explained. “We bring a lot of expertise with us in terms of technique, flavor and presentation. The entrée is almost always Continental or American. We got to do a lot of duck last year, which almost no one cooks at home.” “As the host, you can sit back and enjoy your event, knowing that your guests will leave raving about the meal,” said Erin Reeder, an event planner for political fundraisers. “In addition to being phenomenal chefs, they are professional, fun and timely.” The chefs’ fees, which do not include the cost of food, range from $45 per person for a buffet for 25 people to $75 per person for a multi-course dinner for 12. While most guests use their own glassware and dinnerware, Chefs Lawrence and Wilson can arrange for these items and will hire professional servers and bartenders, for an additional fee. 64 H hillrag.com

system that’s neater for the house with equipment that’s better or comparable to anything anybody else is selling, and we can usually do it at a better price,” Kelly said in terms of what distinguishes his company from its competitors. “We strive to maintain architectural integrity and add modern conveniences by creating designs that can condition a house properly without destroying the inside architecturally,” Kelly explained. “They stand behind what they’ve done and offer competitive rates,” says client Peter Hackett, a Hill resident. “Polar Bear has installed five separate systems for us. Joe’s concerned with getting it right.” Hill resident Sharon Hubley switched from another company that she used to use, and has hired Polar Bear for three separate jobs. Kelly “finished the work in no time,” Hubley said, adding, “I always recommend them to my neighbors.” “The Hill has been so great with word of mouth,” said Kelly, who’d like to do even more business in this neighborhood. “I would like the opportunity to sell our wares, our skills and our expertise,” since, as Kelly pointed out, “You can’t live on word of mouth alone.” Contact Polar Bear Air Conditioning and Heating at www.polarbearairconditioning.com or by calling 202-315-0858.

After 12 years of installing modern ductwork into antiquated attics, Joe Kelly, owner of Polar Bear Air Conditioning and Heating, knows his way around a Capitol Hill town house. In fact, 50 percent of his business is on the Hill. “A typical client on the Hill is definitely educated and intelligent and usually has a degree of knowledge about types of equipment available,” Kelly said, “but is looking to talk to someone who knows about products such as variable speed blower motors which pull out the most moisture.” Joe Kelly, owner of Polar Bear Air Conditioning “We can design a and Heating

New Name, New Location, Same Stuart

The business formerly known as MotoPhoto has relocated just across the street at 645 Pennsylvania Avenue, rechristening itself Capitol Hill Frame and Photo. “It’s a much nicer space, much more open,” said owner Stuart Hovell, who opened MotoPhoto 13 years ago. “We can have a lot more inventory than across the street,” Hovell noted. While the majority of Capitol Hill Frame and Photo’s business comes from

printing photos, the store also sells a variety of frames, cards, gifts, journals and photo albums. In addition, Hovell added custom picture framing to his repertoire about a year ago. “We’ve evolved from what we were,” Hovell remarked. “We have to reinvent ourselves all the time.” “We’re less expensive and have a faster turnaround time than our competitors,” Hovell. “Not only does Stuart have a discerning photographic eye, but he’s great with picture framing,” said Hill resident Liza Ander-

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Stuart Hovell, owner of Capitol Hill Frame and Photo, formerly MotoPhoto

son, who’s been a loyal customer since MotoPhoto first opened. “He picks the best mat color and frame choice with which to complement, rather than upstage, the artwork.” To find this Capitol Hill institution, just head up the staircase to the right of Labyrinth. “Stuart’s got a great accent, wacky sense of humor and good taste,” Anderson said, adding, “And I usually leave with a smile on my face.” Contact Capitol Hill Frame and Photo at 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003, by emailing hillframe@gmail.com or by calling 202-547-2100. H HillRag | October 2013 H 65

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66 H hillrag.com

Real Estate Rival Parks

Lincoln and His Cabinet On The Hill

ierre L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for Washington consisted of a grid of streets overlaid by broad avenues that ran at odd angles to the streets. This meant that, at numerous locations, two or more of these avenues would cross, creating a large intersection – and, as far as the designer was concerned – an opportunity. To L’Enfant, these in-

by Robert S. Pohl tersections would be open spaces that would be named for, and cared for, by the individual states – and the congressional delegation would live around these squares. An added bonus was that neither the city or nor the federal government would be on the hook for the upkeep of these nodes, relying instead on the competitive instinct of each state

to transform it into a place of beauty. In the aftermath of L’Enfant’s firing, this plan was one of the casualties, and it was instead the avenues themselves that were given the names of the states. The intersections remained property of the federal government, which had more important things to deal with and they thus languished, nameless,

Lincoln Hospital (LOC) HillRag | October 2013 H 67

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Lincoln Park

It was only during the Civil War that these spaces began to be used. With the influx of injured soldiers from nearby battles, the federal government was in dire need of open space – preferably enclosed, but any large enough space could be filled with tents to turn into a hospital. Of particular interest was the intersection of Massachusetts and North Carolina Avenues, a mile due east of the Capitol. In short order, a large hospital had been erected and filled with recovering soldiers. The inmates soon began to refer to their temporary home as Lincoln Hospital, named for the man they felt was responsible for their current straits. Soon thereafter, the powers-that-be decreed that this was, in fact, an excellent name for this hospital, which, in spite of being made of wood and canvas, was considered one of the most successful and modern of those institutions in Washington. Unsurprisingly, after the end of the war and the death of Abraham Lincoln, the name stuck and the park was eventually rounded out with a statue of the great man himself. And, in fact, when it came to naming further intersections, the idea that the political leaders of the country who had successfully navigated the attempt at secession should be honored was held to. While across the city, these circles and squares were named for Civil War generals (and an admiral,) here on the Hill, two further were named for members of Lincoln’s fabled Team of Rivals.

tion of Maryland and Massachusetts Avenues was named for Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War for most of the conflict. Stanton had replaced the corrupt Simon Cameron less than a year into Lincoln’s first term, and served with distinction for over seven years. He died a year and a half after leaving office and just before being confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. Naming a part of DC after him seemed the least that could be done to honor his work. Sadly, other than the name, little related to Stanton would be affixed to the park. The first attempt to erect a statue in the square came in 1873. It failed, but given that the statue was to be of General George H. Thomas, the “Rock of Chicamauga,” instead of Stanton, and Thomas eventually found himself a spot across town, there was no real issue with this. In 1877, a second attempt at gracing the park with a statue was begun. This time, however, the man honored was General Nathanael Greene of Revolutionary War fame. Once again, Stanton found himself statue-less – and there were even attempts to rename the entire square after Greene. Fortunately for Stanton, this floundered on the rocks of bureaucratic inertia, and thus at least the name stayed.

Seward Square

A few blocks south, at Seward

Stanton Park

202-547-5088 Licensed in DC, VA, MD & FL 68 H hillrag.com

While Lincoln Square was the first to be thus named, it was not much later that the intersec-

Cavanaugh’s Seward statue and Olive Risley Seward herself (RSP, inset Wikipedia)

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The Nathanael Greene statue in Stanton Park (LOC)

Square at the intersection of North Carolina and Pennsylvania Avenues, there actually is a statue of a Seward. However, the statue is not of William Henry Seward who served as Secretary of State during Lincoln’s entire time in office, and after whom the park is named, but his adopted daughter, Olive Risley Seward. Seward had been badly injured by members of the conspiracy that killed Lincoln. While he recovered from this wounds, his wife Frances, and daughter, Fanny, both died, reportedly from the shock they had received that night. Seward thus turned to Olive Risley, the daughter of a friend, to assist him. Over the next few years, she became indispensable to Seward, and they spent so much time together that tongues began to wag about the relationship between him and this woman 30 years his junior. In order to quiet the rumors, Seward adopted Risley. For the next two years until Seward’s death, Risley accompanied her adoptive father everywhere, and assisted him in writing about his travels. Immediately after Seward’s death, the decision was made to name a square in the city after him. Since his colleague Stanton had received this honor just two years earlier, it seemed that a nearby park would be the appropriate recipient of this honor. Unfortunately, once again bureaucratic inertia struck, and it was thus not until 1902 that a bill was introduced to rectify the oversight. Washing-

tonians, for their part, had been referring to the intersection of North Carolina and Pennsylvania as Seward Place for many years. Just under 100 years after Seward’s death, the sculptor John Cavanaugh decided that Seward Square needed some statuary. Beginning with a 46-square-foot sheet of lead, and undeterred by the fact that he could find no picture of Olive Risley Seward, Cavanaugh sculpted what James M. Goode refers to as an “idealized likeness of a Victorian lady” in his book The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington D.C. A few years later, comparisons to actual pictures of Ms. Seward showed that Cavanaugh had actually gotten pretty close. Sadly, by then, Cavanaugh had passed away from lung disease quite possibly contracted through his frequent use of lead. Today, from the front yard of a private home at the corner of 6th and North Carolina Ave. SE, Olive Risley Seward continues to look towards the park named after her adoptive father, which remains otherwise bereft of statuary. Perhaps, as further improvements are made to Capitol Hill, other places where avenues intersect will be named for the other 11 men who served in Lincoln’s cabinet during his time as President.

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Robert Pohl will be speaking about his new book, Urban Legends & Historic Lore of Washington D.C. At 1:30 PM on November 3 at the Southeast Library. H

HillRag | October 2013 H 69

realestate

Changing Hands

Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. 1324 MORRIS RD SE 1432 BANGOR ST SE

BERKLEY

4416 EDMUNDS ST NW

BLOOMINGDALE 59 BATES ST NW

BRENTWOOD

1836 CAPITOL AVE NE

BRIGHTWOOD

854 VENABLE PL NW 608 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 6205 16TH ST NW 1339 SOMERSET PL NW 717 VAN BUREN ST NW 5707 5TH ST NW 859 VENABLE PL NW 7515 8TH ST NW 707 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 6306 7TH ST NW 635 POWHATAN PL NW 509 SOMERSET PL NW 709 SHERIDAN ST NW

BROOKLAND

1509 HAMLIN ST NE 1220 EVARTS ST NE 1310 WEBSTER ST NE 3516 SOUTH DAKOTA AVE NE 627 FRANKLIN ST NE 1204 FRANKLIN ST NE 1212 HAMLIN ST NE 3119 7TH ST NE 1317 JACKSON ST NE 3520 SOUTH DAKOTA AVE NE 605 GIRARD ST NE 1202 FRANKLIN ST NE 502 AVA WAY NE 1312 WEBSTER ST NE 4123 13TH PL NE 326 BRYANT ST NE 115 URELL PL NE 724 EMERSON ST NE 753 FARADAY PL NE 303 ADAMS ST NE

CAPITOL HILL FEE SIMPLE 16TH STREET HEIGHTS 1211 DECATUR ST NW 4904 ARKANSAS AVE NW 1216 GALLATIN ST NW 1228 EMERSON ST NW 1417 ALLISON ST NW 5211 14TH ST NW 1303 ALLISON ST NW 4525 ARKANSAS AVE NW

PRICE $670,000 $645,500 $639,900 $625,000 $555,500 $509,000 $455,000 $275,399

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4641 WINDOM PL NW 4546 HARRISON ST NW 4542 HARRISON ST NW 5109 45TH ST NW 4927 47TH ST NW

ANACOSTIA

1448 MINNESOTA AVE SE 1919 13TH ST SE 2128 13TH ST SE 1604 V ST SE

70 H hillrag.com

BR 5 3 4 4 5 4 4 3

$872,500 $790,000 $725,000 $695,000 $585,000

4 2 3 4 2

$343,000 $325,000 $255,000 $200,000

4 4 3 3

113 3RD ST NE 1321 CONSTITUTION AVE NE #1 228 E ST NE 1009 EAST CAPITOL ST SE 124 13TH ST SE 1333 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 105 13TH ST SE 408 CAPITOL ST NE 514 6TH ST NE 1118 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 411 1ST ST SE 1322 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 421 10TH ST NE 1354 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 521 5TH ST NE 430 6TH ST NE 314 16TH ST SE 402 4TH ST NE 712 5TH ST SE 12 5TH ST NE 629 ELLEN WILSON PL SE 236 14TH ST NE 236 12TH PL NE 516 13TH ST NE 116 DUDDINGTON PL SE

$150,000 $140,000

3 2

$1,150,000

$635,000

1314 C ST SE 445 15TH ST SE 819 E ST SE 1349 K ST SE 729 10TH ST NE 14 14TH ST SE 254 WARREN ST NE 935 8TH ST NE

CAPITOL QUARTER $214,000

$729,900 $599,000 $581,621 $575,000 $540,000 $399,999 $350,000 $349,900 $338,000 $314,000 $295,000 $281,000 $260,000

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

$810,000 $690,000 $649,000 $599,900 $566,000 $545,000 $535,000 $475,000 $471,000 $459,900 $455,000 $453,000 $448,000 $435,000 $420,000 $389,900 $340,000 $326,280 $277,500 $190,000

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

$1,595,000 $1,315,000 $1,295,000 $1,265,000 $1,167,500 $1,150,000 $967,000 $955,000 $932,500 $850,000 $840,000 $835,000 $820,000 $799,000 $791,000 $770,000 $742,000 $740,000 $728,000 $721,000 $690,000 $665,000 $665,000 $654,000 $646,250

4 4 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 4 3 2 3 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 4 2

1019 4TH ST SE

CENTRAL

1421 HOPKINS ST NW

CHEVY CHASE

6702 OREGON AVE NW 3135 WORTHINGTON ST NW 5514 33RD ST NW 3755 MCKINLEY ST NW 5701 MORELAND ST NW 3765 NORTHAMPTON ST NW 5340 41ST ST NW 5925 32ND ST NW 2962 NORTHAMPTON ST NW 5350 NEBRASKA AVE NW 3629 JOCELYN ST NW 5724 27TH ST NW 6270 29TH ST NW 3720 MCKINLEY ST NW 6204 UTAH AVE NW 5310 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 3209 MILITARY RD NW

CHILLUM

6119 DAKOTA AVE NW 22 NICHOLSON ST NW

CLEVELAND PARK 3009 34TH ST NW 3434 34TH PL NW 3066 PORTER ST NW 3138 38TH ST NW 3428 PORTER ST NW

COLONIAL VILLAGE 2254 SUDBURY RD NW

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

3619 11TH ST NW 421 NEWTON PL NW 1342 OTIS PL NW 643 KEEFER PL NW 718 GRESHAM PL NW 449 NEWTON PL NW 3012 WARDER ST NW 3729 9TH ST NW 746 FAIRMONT ST NW 1444 TAYLOR ST NW 642 KEEFER PL NW 1405 PERRY PL NW 625 COLUMBIA RD NW 3505 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 630 QUEBEC PL NW 725 HOBART PL NW 429 MANOR PL NW 771 FAIRMONT ST NW 3033 SHERMAN AVE NW 741 HOBART PL NW 3234 WARDER ST NW 3021 SHERMAN AVE NW

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 4406 BARNABY RD SE 831 MARJORIE CT SE

$640,000 $610,000 $586,000 $561,500 $548,500 $530,000 $480,000 $340,000

3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2

$1,100,000

$700,000

$1,455,000 $1,430,000 $1,251,700 $1,235,000 $1,112,000 $1,075,000 $951,000 $885,000 $869,000 $850,000 $840,000 $840,000 $825,000 $815,000 $807,500 $729,900 $670,000

5 5 5 5 4 6 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3

$375,000 $340,000

3 3

$1,660,000 $1,395,000 $1,214,000 $1,170,000 $1,110,000

6 3 4 4 3

$640,000

811 CHESAPEAKE ST SE 4002 1ST ST SW 726 CONGRESS ST SE

CRESTWOOD

4500 BLAGDEN AVE NW

DEANWOOD

417 60TH ST NE 1023 50TH ST NE 4232 GRANT ST NE 245 57TH PL NE 307 57TH ST NE 4906 JUST ST NE 4501 JAY ST NE 245 56TH PL NE 930 52ND ST NE 4248 DIX ST NE

DUPONT

1522 T ST NW 1614 20TH ST NW 1758 CHURCH ST NW 2114 O ST NW

ECKINGTON

27 R ST NE 2405 3RD ST NE 163 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 51 FLORIDA AVE NW 1936 4TH ST NE 42 R ST NE

FOREST HILLS

2915 BRANDYWINE ST NW 2950 DAVENPORT ST NW 3404 GARRISON ST NW 2906 UPTON ST NW 3001 BRANDYWINE ST NW

FORT DUPONT PARK 4533 C ST SE 703 BURNS ST SE 7 RIDGE RD SE 3345 DUBOIS PL SE

FOXHALL

4437 P ST NW $828,000 $789,000 $769,000 $635,675 $635,000 $621,000 $610,000 $545,000 $537,500 $525,000 $500,000 $495,000 $480,000 $459,000 $452,000 $450,000 $445,000 $441,000 $434,900 $421,000 $380,000 $300,000

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

$230,000 $190,000

3 4

FOXHALL RIDGE

4534 WESTHALL DR NW 4528 WESTHALL DR NW 4540 WESTHALL DR NW

GEORGETOWN

1409 31ST ST NW 3127 DUMBARTON ST NW 3410 N ST NW 3024 CAMBRIDGE PL NW 2800 P ST NW 3652 WINFIELD LN NW 3612 RESERVOIR RD NW 3206 Q ST NW 3603 WINFIELD LN NW 1649 34TH ST NW

GLOVER PARK

2218 HALL PL NW 2413 TUNLAW RD NW 2306 TUNLAW RD NW 2403 TUNLAW RD NW

HAWTHORNE

6930 GREENVALE ST NW

$179,000 $130,000 $120,000

3 2 3

$800,000

$375,000 $269,900 $215,000 $205,000 $138,000 $134,299 $105,000 $90,000 $85,000 $65,000

5 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 3

$1,430,000 $6,200,000 $1,800,000 $1,500,000

4 7 3 5

$735,000 $430,000 $371,923 $360,000 $325,000 $290,000

4 2 3 3 3 3

$1,675,000 $1,490,000 $1,127,500 $905,000 $895,000

4 4 4 3 3

$325,000 $315,000 $260,000 $199,000

4 3 5 3

$770,000

$1,619,555 $1,536,741 $1,484,695

3 3 3

$2,675,000 $2,200,000 $2,125,000 $1,650,000 $1,400,000 $1,350,000 $1,282,050 $1,235,000 $1,176,000 $875,000

3 5 4 4 2 3 4 3 4 2

$1,255,000 $901,000 $780,000 $739,000

3 3 3 2

$730,000

HIISTORIC ANACOSTIA 2122 13TH ST SE

$275,000

HILL CREST 2537 36TH ST SE 1714 25TH ST SE 3034 M PL SE

$389,900 $195,000 $159,000

KALORAMA 2405 TRACY PL NW 2130 WYOMING AVE NW 1806 WYOMING AVE NW 2316 TRACY PL NW

$2,600,000 $2,500,000 $1,900,000 $1,895,000

NO TRICKS! TREAT YOURSELF TO A GREAT

HILL HOME!

3 4 2 5 5 9 4

KENT 2844 ARIZONA AVE NW

$833,000

KINGMAN PARK 602 21ST ST NE

$207,000

LEDROIT PARK 320 U ST NW 150 ADAMS ST NW 2118 NORTH CAPITOL ST NW

$939,000 $597,000 $384,500

LILY PONDS 1215 44TH NE 326 35TH ST NE 307 34TH PL NE

$250,000 $243,000 $183,150

3 3

E BL A IL W! A AV NO

1406 E Street, SE 2 BR/1.5 BA $659,000

3 3 3

ONE OF A KIND MODERN TRANSFORMATION of a Victorian gem! Truly immaculate renovation and maintenance - redesigned floor plan, kitchen, bath, windows, skylights, stairs. Top notch in design and execution! Perfect private patio. Steps to grocery, Metro, and more!

3 3 3

LOGAN 2113 13TH ST NW 1112 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 1420 CORCORAN ST NW

$879,000 $1,500,000 $1,299,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5527 C ST SE 5307 D ST SE 5028 A ST SE 5530 BASS PL SE

$300,000 $315,000 $220,000 $180,000

MICHIGAN PARK 4842 EASTERN AVE NE 3922 20TH ST NE 4123 18TH ST NE

$599,850 $461,000 $349,000

MOUNT PLEASANT

3149 17TH ST NW $1,240,000 1605 HOBART ST NW $850,000 1630 OAK ST NW $581,000 NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3665 UPTON ST NW $1,350,000 4221 38TH ST NW $984,000 4214 38TH ST NW $905,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 3817 CATHEDRAL AVE NW

$1,182,000

OLD CITY #1 230 E ST NE 1328 A ST SE 213 11TH ST NE 663 MARYLAND AVE NE 724 5TH ST NE 241 10TH ST NE 442 15TH ST NE 911 12TH ST NE 614 4TH ST NE 1336 A ST SE 1200 LINDEN PL NE 1215 CARROLLSBURG PL SW 336 18TH ST NE 1014 I ST NE 1622 GALES ST NE 1411 H ST NE 1539 A ST SE 1504 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 1255 WYLIE ST NE 1625 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 933 8TH ST NE 2008 C ST NE 2009 GALES ST NE 448 20TH ST NE

$1,150,000 $1,100,000 $880,000 $856,000 $805,000 $750,000 $711,000 $675,000 $664,000 $650,000 $615,000 $590,000 $580,000 $567,200 $565,000 $545,000 $450,000 $439,900 $429,000 $417,000 $415,000 $375,000 $349,900 $240,000

OLD CITY #2 931 R ST NW 1837 12TH ST NW 1501 CAROLINE ST NW 1432 FLORIDA AVE NW 1442 T ST NW 1523 1ST ST NW 61 N ST NW 18 BATES ST NW 43 HANOVER PL NW 1524 3RD ST NW

$2,288,000 $706,000 $700,000 $677,500 $625,000 $515,000 $515,000 $375,000 $374,000 $274,299

3 5 4 3 4 4 2

E BL A IL W! A AV NO

R T! DE C N A U TR N CO

518 14th Street #1, SE 3 BR/2.5 BA

4 3 3

Beautifully renovated row home with wide open floor plan. Roof and systems added in 2003. Hardwoods throughout, granite counter tops, grade A appliances, and gas fireplaces in LR & separate DR.

R T! DE C N A U TR N CO

Amazing condo of unparalleled size and quality! Only 2 units, each completely rebuilt in 2008 from the ground up and inside out: ALL NEW systems, roof, floors, & windows (25 of them in each!). PLUS top-of-the-line appliances, fixtures, hardware & more! 2,000+ sf plus private off street parking!

5 3 3

R DE 4 N IN U CT A TR

5 4 4 4 3 3 2 5 3 3 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 2

YS DA

315 11th Street, SE 2 BR/1.5 BA Charming Federal Front home within a short stroll of Eastern Market, The Metro, and Barracks Row!! Features: hardwood floors, two fireplaces (one in the master suite), built-in bookcases, exposed brick walls, and updated kitchen. Plus, HUGE rear yard with brick patio, garden, and gated parking!!

626 13th Street, NE 4 BR/2.5 BA FULLY RENOVATED VICTORIAN with classic details! HIGH CEILINGS and gleaming hardwoods THROUGHOUT! Phenomenal MASTER SUITE With in-suite MARBLE BATH AND TWO HUGE CLOSETS! Plus contains spacious 1 BEDROOM IN- LAW suite!

5 3 3 5

1243 I Street, NE 3 BR/2.5 BA $579,000

G IN ! M N CO OO S

YOUR HOUSE HERE!

In times of market shift, homebuyers and sellers are finding our energy, creativity, and direct experience more vital than ever. For the BEST RESULTS, put us to work today! Call Joel for a free consultation on market values, smart improvements, and more!

5 2 3 2 3 3 4 0 3 3

HillRag | October 2013 H 71

PALISADES

4848 HUTCHINS PL NW 4608 LAVEROCK PL NW 4815 RESERVOIR RD NW 5305 ARIZONA AVE NW 4839 RESERVOIR RD NW

PETWORTH

The East of the River Experts!

Anacostia River Realty Sell. Buy. Property Management. 2412 Minnesota Ave. SE, Suite 101 Washington, DC 20020

202.678.REAL(7325) www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

424 SHEPHERD ST NW 4125 7TH ST NW 4207 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 3927 ILLINOIS AVE NW 4327 8TH ST NW 515 ALLISON ST NW 919 EMERSON ST NW 201 JEFFERSON ST NW 5411 ILLINOIS AVE NW 5205 2ND ST NW 4413 5TH ST NW 4423 3RD ST NW 623 VARNUM ST NW 908 LONGFELLOW ST NW 637 GALLATIN ST NW 513 BUCHANAN ST NW 406 DELAFIELD PL NW 322 MISSOURI AVE NW 233 JEFFERSON ST NW 5014 5TH ST NW 5315 8TH ST NW 4201 4TH ST NW 827 INGRAHAM ST NW

PHILLIPS PARK 4410 W ST NW

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1909 VALLEY TER SE 1915 SAVANNAH PL SE

RIGGS PARK

5060 10TH ST NE 100 ONEIDA ST NE 5214 12TH ST NE

RIVER TERRACE 332 34TH PL NE

RLA (SW)

809 CAPITOL SQUARE PL SW

SHAW

1525 8TH ST NW 1430 5TH ST NW 1411 5TH ST NW

SHEPHERD PARK 7541 14TH ST NW

SW WATERFRONT 707 G ST SW

SPRING VALLEY 4610 RODMAN ST NW

CARTUS MASTERS CUP WINNER

New MilleNNiuM BUY • SELL • LEASE • MORTGAGE • TITLE • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • RELOCATION

www.c21nm.com

I look TO THE HILL for my buyers, sellers, friends and neighbors!

I live, work, serve and play ON THE HILL! John Bratton Bratton Realty LLC 202-744-2642 (c) john@BrattonRealty www.brattonrealty.com 72 H hillrag.com

202-546-0055

Peter Frias “Your Connection to Capitol Hill and Beyond” I’ve been representing buyers and sellers on the Hill for over 15 years, and I can help you too! 1% of my commissions are donated to Habitat for Humanity DC

Looking to Buy or Sell? Call Me Today! www.peterfrias.com Peter@johncformant.com (202) 544-3900 | (202)744-8973

TAKOMA PARK

14 UNDERWOOD PL NW 6110 1ST PL NE

TRINIDAD

1328 MONTELLO AVE NE 1422 MORSE ST NE 1604 LEVIS ST NE 1420 MORSE ST NE 1018 17TH PL NE 1270 PENN ST NE 1159 SUMMIT ST NE

TRUXTON CIRCLE 1311 1ST ST NW

U STREET CORRIDOR 1022 W ST NW 1250 FLORIDA AVE NW 2128 10TH ST NW

WAKEFIELD

3540 BRANDYWINE ST NW

WESLEY HEIGHTS 4520 DEXTER ST NW 4351 WESTOVER PL NW 4450 WESTOVER PL NW

$2,453,750 $1,425,000 $816,850 $815,000 $775,000

6 4 4 4 3

$730,000 $727,000 $725,000 $723,000 $719,000 $689,000 $672,000 $630,000 $612,000 $600,000 $585,000 $575,000 $512,000 $499,999 $455,000 $440,000 $430,000 $423,000 $405,000 $395,000 $380,000 $363,000 $344,500

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

$3,050,000

$256,000 $235,000

4 3

$320,000 $315,000 $232,500

3 4 3

$201,000

$729,900

$1,350,000 $877,500 $775,000

4 4 4

$735,000

$840,000

$1,385,000

$303,500 $290,000

3 3

$625,000 $399,999 $385,000 $335,000 $305,100 $300,000 $194,500

5 3 2 3 5 3 2

$772,500

$660,000 $699,000 $600,000

2 2 2

$1,195,000

$1,680,000 $1,093,000 $980,000

6 4 4

WOODLEY

2702 WOODLEY PL NW

WOODRIDGE

1901 LAWRENCE ST NE 2415 NEWTON ST NE 3712 24TH ST NE

$1,150,000

$500,000 $455,000 $425,000

4 3 3

$730,000 $700,000 $700,000 $667,000 $599,900 $583,000 $565,000 $539,000 $512,000 $510,000 $500,000

2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2

Making Your Real Estate a Success Story!

CONDO ADAMS MORGAN

2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #402 2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #404 1700 KALORAMA RD NW #403 2514 17TH ST NW #4 2514 17TH ST NW #3 2514 17TH ST NW #2 2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #304 2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #T-06 2514 17TH ST NW #1 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #308 1930 18TH ST NW #21

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #502 4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #341

BLOOMINGDALE

51 RANDOLPH PL NW #302

BRIGHTWOOD

7425 BLAIR RD NW #7425 343 CEDAR ST NW #305

BROOKLAND

3725 12TH ST NE #1 2817 7TH ST NE #3 1353 ADAMS NE #3 3719 12TH ST NE #106

CAPITOL HILL

1323 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 628 14TH ST NE #4 310 CAPITOL ST NE #D 1407 A ST NE #1407 651 A ST SE 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #408 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #440 40 15TH ST NE #40 124 D ST SE #B 2 17TH ST SE #102 423 18TH ST NE #2

CENTRAL

675 E ST NW #300 1155 23RD ST NW #NPH1F 616 E ST NW #852 1275 25TH ST NW #808 777 7TH ST NW #314 2012NW O ST NW #32 616 E ST NW #819 1133 14TH ST NW #1110 915 E ST NW #1107 1325 18TH ST NW #R-602 777 7TH ST NW #708 631 D ST NW #1035 1301 20TH ST NW #706 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #218 1121 24TH ST NW #303 801 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1005 631 D ST NW #338 2201 L ST NW #406 1121 24TH ST NW #300 1409 21ST ST NW #1409

CHEVY CHASE

5402 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #106

CLEVELAND PARK

3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #T-5 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #4004 2725 ORDWAY ST NW #4 3617 38TH ST NW #310 2721 ORDWAY ST NW #4 3531 39TH ST NW #499 2725 ORDWAY ST NW #2 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #3014 3816 PORTER ST NW #C399

$518,000 $487,500

1 1

$260,000

$430,000 $396,000

3 2

$272,000 $253,737 $220,000 $190,000

2 2 2 1

$1,299,000 $740,000 $730,000 $550,000 $539,500 $476,250 $355,000 $340,000 $281,000 $242,500 $380,000

4 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3

$875,000 $732,500 $615,000 $610,000 $530,000 $480,000 $471,000 $452,500 $434,000 $429,900 $415,000 $410,000 $355,000 $352,000 $351,500 $336,000 $315,555 $285,000 $262,000 $250,000

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

$289,900

$657,000 $485,000 $389,000 $385,000 $375,000 $375,000 $370,000 $360,000 $357,000

2 3 1 2 1 4 1 2 1

423 4th St, NE $1,195,000 Under Contract!

The GranT, ryall, andrew real esTaTe Group Grant Griffith 202.741.1685 Ryall Smith 202.741.1781 Andrew Glasow 202.741.1654 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE • 202.547. 3525

ATTENTIVE! Joan Carmichael Realtor 202.271.5198 joanvcarmichael@gmail.com Bridgette Cline Realtor 202.271.4196 bcline8041@aol.com for all you real estate needs 1000 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Wash., DC 20003 office #202-546-0055 HillRag | October 2013 H 73

Realtor.com

WashingtonPost.com

Celebrate the 4th in a New Home!

1014 D Street NE â€¢ Victorian of Rare Proportions w/ front & rear staircases, 6 brs, 2 bas, full basement, garage. $650,000

All Properties Listed On:

Bob Williams BrendA Phillips BobWilliamsRealEstate.com ColdwellBanker.com CBMove.com Realtor.com

Yahoo.com Google.com Trulia.com WashingtonPost.com

NYTimes.com HomesDatabase.com OpenHouse.com

1014 D Street NE â€¢ Victorian of Rare Proportions w/ front & rear staircases, 6 brs, 2 bas, full basement, garage. $650,000

ly Sold:

ependence Ave.SE ield Pl.NW dan St.NE St.NE St.NE treet NE

1214 C Street SE â€¢ Sweet serenity from the front porch to the rear garden. Unassuming facade belies the exquisite renovations within. $689,500

We believe that Experience 3110 26th NE â€¢ Deliciously deep yard, makes aStreet Difference. gorgeous new renovation of a 3br/3.5ba bunga-

1214 C Street SE â€¢ Sweet serenity from the front porch to the rear garden. Unassuming facade

Recently Sold: low. $529,000

belies the exquisite renovations within. $689,500 With so many choices, itâ€™s hard to know who might be your best fit. Our properties haveAnd soldthat in less thanwe3 promise weeks atthat near asking (if not, above). 3110 26th Street NEor â€¢ Deliciously deep yard, is why when gorgeous new renovation of a 3br/3.5ba bungalow. $529,000 References can and will be provided. you hire us then you work with Bob andOur â€“ no assistants or trainees. Former Owner of Burns &Brenda Williams Real Estate â€¢ Coldwell Bankerâ€™s 2% in 2011 1stabove). Qtr. properties have sold in less than 3 weeks at ortop near asking (if not,

1811 Independence Ave.SE 927 Delafield Pl.NW 908 Sheridan St.NE 511 23rd St.NE 4223 Clay St.NE 103 8th Street NE

References canâ€¢and will be provided. generation Capitol HillWe resident back totransaction 1918 Selling Real Estate on Capitol Hill since 1977 handle- dating your entire Former Owner of Burns & Williams Real Estate â€¢ Coldwell Bankerâ€™s top 2% in 2011 1st Qtr.

34 YEARS from EXPERIENCE WORKING ONto 1918 YOUR BEHALF start toCapitol finish. Third generation Hill resident - dating back â€¢ Selling Real Estate on Capitol Hill since 1977

202.543.5959 02.543.5959 202.543.5959

34 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF

Visit www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com

www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com bobwilliams@mris.com

www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com Serving Capitol Hill Since 1977

All Properties Listed On:

â€¢ Zillow.com â€¢ Trulia.com â€¢ Realtor.com â€¢ â€¢ BobWilliamsRealEstate.com â€¢ CBMove.com â€¢ â€¢ OpenHouse.com â€¢ ColdwellBanker.com â€¢ â€¢ WashingtonPost.com â€¢ Google.com â€¢ â€¢ Yahoo.com â€¢ NYTimes.com â€¢

Hi, Bob, 3690 38TH ST NW #236 $337,000 3010 WISCONSIN AVE NW #B8 $302,000 3863 RODMANfor ST NWeverything! #52 $200,000 Thanks You (and 3100 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #138 $425,000

1 H STREET CORRIDOR 1 1367 FLORIDA AVE NE #302 $399,900 2 0 Brenda) have really 1 HILL CREST been great to work with! Weâ€™ll stay in touch and also 2006 38TH ST SE #101 $64,100 2 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 2037 38TH ST #102 $40,000 1 let you know if anyone we know wants to SEsell... 1333 EUCLID ST NW #PH-3 $794,000 3 1333 EUCLID ST NW #PH-1 $752,500 KALORAMA Sincerely, 23 1211 HARVARD ST NW #2 $749,000 1803 KALORAMA SQ NW #2 $2,675,000 3 2550 UNIVERSITY PL NW #5 (3 transactions $729,000 â€“ last Closing 2 in August Adrienne 2013) 2120 WYOMING AVE NW #1 $1,750,000 3 2550 UNIVERSITY PLN NW #4 $586,100 2 2126 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #65 $1,095,000 3 622 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW ##2 $580,000 2 2153 CALIFORNIA ST NW #403 $782,150 3 1303 CLIFTON ST NW #2 $549,000 2 2012 WYOMING AVE NW #701 $679,000 2 1336 HARVARD ST NW #2 $536,000 2 2416 19TH ST NW #1031 $654,202 2 1324 EUCLID ST NW #301 $535,000 2 1934 CALVERT ST NW #4 $625,000 2 1360 KENYON ST NW #2 $530,000 2 2415 20TH ST NW #22 $625,000 2 1333 EUCLID ST NW #201 $505,000 2 1845 KALORAMA RD NW #6 $565,000 2 1333 EUCLID NW #102 $450,000 1 1858 CALIFORNIA ST NW #30 $500,000 2 1324 EUCLID ST NW #B-5 $449,000 2 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #205 $424,900 1 3431 14TH ST NW #4 $439,000 1 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #105 $422,900 1 1324 EUCLID ST NW #B-4 $434,200 2 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #107 $409,900 1 1119F HARVARD ST NW #1119F $425,000 3 2127 CALIFORNIA ST NW #303 $390,000 1 1466 HARVARD ST NW #PH4 $407,000 1 2227 20TH ST NW #307 $389,900 1 1333 EUCLID ST NW #103 $390,000 1 1810 CALIFORNIA ST NW #203 $385,000 1 4012 KANSAS AVE NW #2 $374,000 1 2010 KALORAMA RD NW #404 $355,000 1 1333 EUCLID ST NW #203 $365,000 1 1851 COLUMBIA RD NW #401 $350,000 1 1333 EUCLID ST NW #101 $349,000 1 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #502 $338,000 0 1333 EUCLID ST NW #104 $337,000 1 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #001 $317,000 1 1333 EUCLID ST NW #202 $335,000 0 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #003 $299,900 1 1420 HARVARD ST NW #306 $330,000 2 2410 20TH ST NW #211 $211,500 0 4012 KANSAS AVE NW #1 $324,900 1 1915 CALVERT ST NW #2 $525,000 2 3540 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW #202 $297,000 1 3900 14TH ST NW #221 $294,000 1 LEDROIT PARK 1495 NEWTON ST NW #304 $292,000 2 523 FLORIDA AVE NW #3 $286,950 1 1438 MERIDIAN PL NW #6 $240,000 2 55 M ST NW #202 $190,000 2 2823 11TH ST NW #1 $650,900 3 CONGRESS HEIGHTS LOGAN 3221 8TH ST SE #11 $61,800 2 1220 11TH ST NW #4 $965,000 3

DUPONT 1408 21ST ST NW #3 1731 T ST NW #3 1704 19TH ST NW #6 1621 T ST NW #806 1704 T ST NW #102 1726 17TH ST NW #402 1332 21ST ST NW #501 1332 21ST ST NW #402 2114 N ST NW #23 1301 20TH ST NW #402 1910 T ST NW #32 1545 18TH ST NW #913 1545 18TH ST NW #522 1545 18TH ST NW #411 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #202 1718 P ST NW #610 1728 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #B2 1700 17TH ST NW #502 1617 SWANN ST NW #4

$807,500 $800,000 $719,000 $621,000 $540,000 $445,000 $425,000 $405,000 $315,000 $315,000 $414,500 $411,000 $395,000 $375,000 $303,000 $272,000 $270,000 $42,500 $875,000

ECKINGTON 303 SEATON PL NE #1

$250,000

FOGGY BOTTOM 800 25TH ST NW #1003 3 WASHINGTON CIR NW #1005

$1,000,000 $545,000

FOREST HILLS 4701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #200 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #524 3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #712 4007 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #503

Call Me and Come Visit Your Dream Capitol Hill Home

FORT DUPONT PARK

17 15th Street NE, DC â€¢ â€¢ â€¢

4469 B ST SE #101 4002 E ST SE #104 4000 E ST SE #101

Three Bedrooms and Two & a Half Baths Two Story Master Suite Amazing Views!

home on the Hill

605 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 Office: 202 547-3525 Cell: 202 369-7902 Email: dbranand@cbmove.com Web: www.deedeebranand.com

74 H hillrag.com

$100,300 $61,000 $37,000

GEORGETOWN

$799,000

Dee Dee Branand At

$510,000 $449,000 $415,000 $406,000

3150 SOUTH ST NW #1E 3012 R ST NW #1/2 3246 N ST NW #3A 1080 WISCONSIN AVE NW #N405 2111 WISCONSIN AVE NW #305 2111 WISCONSIN AVE NW #111 2500 Q ST NW #242 2605 O ST NW #1

$1,850,000 $679,900 $675,000 $530,000 $530,000 $530,000 $405,000 $360,000

GLOVER PARK 4004 EDMUNDS ST NW #UNIT 2 4114 DAVIS PL NW #219 2725 39TH ST NW #202 3825 DAVIS PL NW #202

$695,000 $460,611 $410,000 $380,000

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

1401 Q ST NW #201 1220 11TH ST NW #3 1220 11TH ST NW #2 1320 13TH ST NW #12 1229 12TH ST NW #5 1300 13TH ST NW #104 2109 10TH ST NW #PH2 1441 FLORIDA AVE NW #2B 1517 CHURCH ST NW #C 1221 12TH ST NW #5 1340 Q ST NW #33 1515 15TH ST NW #214 1300 N ST NW #219 1300 N ST NW #409 1440 N ST NW #414

$865,000 $685,000 $651,000 $565,000 $485,000 $394,500 $785,000 $475,000 $1,520,000 $717,000 $682,000 $635,000 $399,999 $385,005 $246,900

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5208 F ST SE #1 4932 A ST SE #403

$149,900 $95,000

MOUNT PLEASANT 2328 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #412 2428 17TH ST NW #GSW 1830 LAMONT ST NW #3 1763 COLUMBIA RD NW #501 3314 MOUNT PLEASANT ST NW #33 1661 PARK RD NW #105 1613 HARVARD ST NW #403 2515 17TH ST NW #1

$1,210,000 $616,500 $505,000 $365,400 $329,500 $276,000 $206,000 $189,000

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE 1001 L ST NW #702 301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1006 1001 L ST NW #807

$699,900 $375,000 $460,000

MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE 440 L ST NW #603 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1109

$580,000 $405,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 2 2

2501 WISCONSIN AVE NW #2 2828 WISCONSIN AVE NW #307 2801 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #615 2111 WISCONSIN AVE NW #310 3051 IDAHO AVE NW #416 3901 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #501

$900,000 $629,000 $490,000 $339,000 $265,000 $250,000

OLD CITY #1 61 14TH ST NE #61 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #409 128 18TH ST SE #4 132 18TH ST SE #3 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #257 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #422

$525,700 $514,000 $499,000 $479,000 $440,000 $365,000

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

HillRag | October 2013 H 75

Steve Hagedorn Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Truly one of a kind weekend retreat or year-round home!

It’s all about finding a good home.

Search listings at cbmove.com/steve.hagedorn Licensed in DC & MD

Direct: Cell: Office: Fax: Email:

1524 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE #303

OLD CITY #2 Gibbs. Rescued 1/2011

202-741-1707 202-841-1380 202-547-3525 202-547-8462 shagedorn@cbmove.com

“The Capitol Hill Psychiatrist”

Joseph Tarantolo, MD BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST CERTIFIED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPIST HERBALIST, NUTRITION COUNSELOR Just an hour and 20 minute drive south of DC. Superior post & beam construction contemporary design with open concept & loft. Breathtaking views of the Wicomico River on nearly 8 ac. Many amenities – come & see for yourself!

Bonnie Baldus Grier Associate Broker bonniegrier@gmail.com

301.807.1400

Specializing in all aspects of Real Estate Settlements

We Guarantee Attention to Detail & Personalized Service 650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Suite 170 Washington, DC 20003-4318 202-544-0800

Specializing in: • Individual, Couples, and Group Psychotherapy • Patients with the Diagnosis of Cancer • Self Exploration without Psychotropic Drugs: “Talk Back to Prozac”

202-543-5290 “We are part of Capitol Hill, We don’t just work here... We live here, too. Let our neighborhood experience work for you...”

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Gessford Court

Clockwise from left: 21 Gessford Cort musicians Mark Johnson, Gordon Tenney, Ann Eilers, Cecil Conley, Roberto Hoffman, Charles Whalen, Jeff Clair, David Weiner, Carl Lacey. Photo: Cyd Price 80 H hillrag.com

Itâ€™s All in the Beat

Local Capitol Hill Jazz Band Unites Musicians With Neighbors at Monthly ‘21st At 21’ Gatherings by Cyd Price

Gessford Court is more than the address of David Weiner’s artfilled home, nestled away in a colorful alleyway courtyard off 11th St. SE. It’s also the name of a lively local jazz band, as well as the venue for that band’s performances, held on the 21st of every month. And, as word of this monthly musical jam session continues to spread, 21 Gessford Court is becoming the destination for more and more musicians – both amateur and professional – as well as their followers and neighbors from around Capitol Hill. Take the most recent Saturday, Sept. 21, gathering as an example. Approximately 50-60 people showed up, most with bottles of wine and potluck dinner contributions in hand (Weiner or a volunteer chef make an entrée – chili, lasagna, roast chicken – to give the meal a start). For a $10 cover charge, they rocked the night away while mingling with a rotating mix of musicians and singers who took turns jamming together on the open, two-story performance floor with guests listening from the balcony above. “The monthly 21st @ 21 events and Sunday evening practice sessions give local musicians a chance to engage in their passion in a relaxed, informal setting. And neighbors and friends love getting together to talk, eat and listen to the music,” said Weiner, adding that “the 21st gatherings have continued on without missing a beat” even when he has been away for extended periods on work-related projects. In 2010, the band 21 Gessford Court officially became affiliated with the nearby Corner Store, a nonprofit arts center that regularly showcases the work of actors, playwrights, musicians, filmmakers, artists, poets and chefs (see www.cornerstorearts.org). Weiner serves on its board. But the band’s origins trace back much farther than that, to the late 1990’s when a group of neighbors who met walking their dogs in Lincoln Park and their musician friends on the Hill began gathering regularly around the living-room grand piano of original band member Gordon Tenney.

Among Gordon’s earliest recruits were his old college buddy, Hill East resident Mark Johnson, a singer-songwriter and style guitarist; his nextdoor neighbor and former partner Audrey Taucher, a percussionist; and his former Hill yoga instructor Kamakshi Hart, a singer. Weiner and neighbor Brad Cooper soon joined in on drums and bass, respectively, and the group rotated their near-weekly jam sessions to include Cooper’s house and Weiner’s 21 Gessford Court residence, where they would typically spend their Sunday evenings sipping wine, playing jazz standards and soaking in the hot tub afterwards. The band quickly developed a local following and they soon found themselves getting booked for paying engagements, including weddings, gallery openings, parties, and, most notably, gigs at the former Park Café on Lincoln Park, The audience gathers on the stairs of the two-story where they performed July 4 performance space. Photo: M. Ashabranner weekend 2002 under the sponsorship of the restaurant’s owner Alcione Vinet, and engaged in a lively jam session that formed the basis of their “21 Gessford Court: Live at the Park Café CD.” Back then, Weiner never had any intention of his home becoming a regular performance venue, although he had always wanted to “create a salon-like setting, where such gatherings could Neighbors chat during a break in the music.

CD cover of the band in early days.

HillRag | October 2013 H 81

take place.” Following a home expansion and remodeling, he was intrigued by the idea of providing a walk-in venue to any neighbors or friends who wanted to join him in on Sunday evening jam sessions. But the initial momentum of the original band was cut short, first by the departure of Taucher, then Tenney, for a year-long round-the-world trek, and relocations by Cooper and Hart. Weiner was spending much of his time working in Africa, and the band, at least in its first iteration, went mostly dormant.

21 @ 21 Re-emerges

David Weiner. Photo: Cyd Price

Neighbors enjoying an evening of good food, great music and lively discussion. Photo: M. Ashabranner

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Fast forward to 2013: The three original members – Weiner, Tenney and Johnson – still remain and have since been joined by other musicians in the neighborhood, several of whom have become regulars while others rotate in and out, depending on their schedules. Among those who regularly jam with the band these days are Ann Eilers (vocalist) bass Cecil Conley (bass), Jeff Clair (guitar), Carl Lacey (percussion), Charles Whalen (trumpet), Jan Zastrow (vocalist) ,and Weiner’s lifelong friend Roberto Hoffman (selfdescribed “jack-of-all-musical-trades” who regularly fills in wherever needed on bass and keyboard). Most of the current players also have formally studied music and several play or have played professionally. For example, one frequent guest player has been

well-known pianist, composer and arranger Peggy Stern, who recently moved to Austin, Texas, but who will be back in DC performing at the Corner Store on Oct. 18. Stern, who has performed professionally worldwide, and most recently in Washington at Blues Alley, first learned of the 21 Gessford Court jam sessions while walking her dog in Lincoln Park. Another player who discovered the band serendipitously is Wayne Estrada, an accomplished jazz and lead trumpet and flugelhorn player, who stopped to chat with saxophonist Karlton Sloane after hearing live music as he was walking by. And it wasn’t long before Wayne and his wife, Jeannie, a former professional singer, and many others in the neighborhood, were regulars who attended just for the sheer joy of engaging in their passion. At times even entire bands, such as the neighborhood’s Native Makers, featuring New York Times Deputy Bureau Chief Carl Hulse on the drums, and Johnson’s and Tenney’s longtime pal Pat Burns, on bass, among other players, have joined in. “We do this as a lark; it’s all for fun, with a very open, fluid group dynamic,” said Weiner. “I’m not a very good musician,” he added, “but I get a chance to play with some really good, first-rate musicians. And, best of all, we get to partake in a great community gathering that echoes the ‘Just do it!’ spirit of Corner Store creator Kris Swanson, who helps make it all possible.” H

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The Lumpia at Baby Wale. Photo: Andrew Lightman.

w a h S e n e c S g n ini D t s e w e DC’s N

by Jonathan Bardzik

arlier this month, my husband, Jason, sent me an email. “Our friend Kyle’s in town. We’re having dinner at 8:00. Can you choose somewhere?” Five minutes later, Alex Padro from Shaw Main Streets blasted “Baby Wale is open,” and I made a reservation. Starting with that night at Baby Wale, we’ve discovered that right under our noses, a decade of investment from business owners, Shaw Main Streets (www. shawmainstreets.org), developers and pioneering residents, has poised Shaw to explode as the city’s next dining destination. Fifteen new restaurants and bars --from Burmese to a bakery, Thai to Turkish-- will be joining Ethiopian and American bistros, along with the O Street Market, the largest Giant Food store in the city and likely one of the most distinctive supermarkets in the country.

Corduroy Chef Tom Powers Opens Baby Wale

Baby Wale (1124 9th Street NW) is a casual new restaurant and clever play on words from Chef Tom Power, whose acclaimed Corduroy (1122 9th Street NW), is located next door. Built in a formerly roofless shell of a building, Baby Wale’s skylit ceilings and an upside down tree cum chandelier are as successful as the delicious and budget-friendly menu. Kyle and Jason ate like pros, allowing us to taste two-thirds of the menu. Silky and smooth, the Northern Neck Corn Soup is blended with lobster stock, and drizzled with Thai basil oil. A brilliant flavor pairing, you can’t tell whether the 84 H hillrag.com

The biergarten space at Dacha. Photo: Andrew Lightman.

sweetness and light fresh flavor comes from the delicate starches of fresh corn, or the light sea-saltiness of lobster. Rich and lightly-crusted, duck pupusas were amazing (though I wouldn’t mind an extra splash of vinegar on the slaw that accompanies it). Each bite of the oversized, Filipino Style Spring Rolls, or lumpia, was perfectly crisp and lightly fatty with a balancing bite from the sweet-sour dipping sauce. The inspiration for the dish came from a friend of Tom’s who taught him how to hand-roll them.

Drinking in the Biergarten at Dacha

The next day I saw a Facebook post from our friends Fernando and Will. “Drinking outdoors at Dacha!” Seeing the same post three more times that week, surprised us with their newfound loyalty, if not their drinking schedule (just kidding boys!). We checked it out. Dacha (1600 7th St. NW) set in a formerly parking lot, has authentic German biergarten tables, great landscaping, and a soon-to-be-unveiled, three-story-tall mural of Elizabeth Taylor. Jason is really the beer drinker in our home, but owners Ilya Alter and Dmitri Chekaldin converted me, though I’m not sure whether it was the high quality or higher alcohol percentage of their carefully curated list of draft German and Belgian beers. On our first visit (yes, we’ve been back already), I started light and crisp, with a Weihenstephaner Pilsner, which is currently only available on tap, in

Thally’s Celery Root Panna Cotta. Photo: Andrew Lightman. The Madrid sandwich at SUNdeVICH / A&D Bar. Photo: Andrew Lightman.

Washington, DC at Dacha. On our second, a cooler night, we drank the recently tapped Octoberfestbier. When you think you’ve had your fill, Ilya and Dmitri will ply you with a small glass of Kölsch - it’s light and easy, and the perfect cap to your night.

Eating SUNdeVICH at A&D Bar

After a busy month, with this article nearing deadline, Jason and I hit two Shaw hot spots only to find them both closed on Mondays. As we stood on the sidewalk, poking at our iPhones looking for something to eat, Jason turned around and said, “Why don’t we just go here?” We pulled up to the bar at A&D (1314 9th St. NW), ordered a couple of drinks, and quickly discovered that the cool list of snacks would not make a meal. Our bartender, Lisa, told us that SUNdeVICH, the foodtruck and popular back alley sandwich shop, occupied the same building, and A&D owner Ali Bagheri is more than happy when his patrons grab a sandwich to enjoy at the bar. It made Jason and I pretty happy too. I pegged Jason for the Havana, a Cuban with Gruyere cheese. But he ordered Madrid, with rich and spicy chorizo, beautifully balanced by a bright, fresh chimichurri. Jason guessed the Moscow, filled with a chicken, egg, potato and pickle salad, for me. I settled on the Istanbul with a super-sized, tender patty of beef and lamb, paired with tart sumac seasoned onions, mellowed by a creamy tzatziki.

Mockingbird Hill Wants You to Drink More Sherry

The night after our visit to A&D Bar, I ventured out with friends to finish my tour of Shaw. We kicked off the night at Mockingbird Hill (1843 7th St. NW), a sherry and ham bar. “It’s a grandma drink,” my friends said. Owner Derek Brown’s selection of more than 60 bottles tells a very different story about this Spanish, fortified wine. A little overwhelmed by the list, my friend Nancy and I tucked into a flight of three wines inspired by the ocean. The three glasses painted a spectrum from nearly clear to a rich, dark caramel. The first pour was pale, light and dry Fino. The middle pour, an Amontillado, was golden, with flavors of caramel and a hint of salt. The Amoroso, our third glass, was bold and rich. Needing some food to balance our light buzz from the sherry, we ordered potted pork, rich with fat and balanced by both pickled beets and lightly-dressed, sharp kale. Our second plate featured Firefly Farms’ aged Cabra La Mancha goat cheese. It was mild and creamy, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with coffee grounds. Mockingbird Hill’s delightful flavor combination complemented and illuminated every flavor note in the Hidalgo Napolean Amontillado. It was a perfect pairing, and a perfect way to prepare our palates for our next stop at Thally.

Thally: Save Room for Dessert

I have never began a review with dessert, but one bite of Thally’s (1316 9th St.

Ocean flight of Sherry three distinct color tones at Mockingbird Hill. Photo: Andrew Lightman

NW) celery root panna cotta changed that. The elegantly smooth custard, under a thin layer of gelée challenged everything I knew about celery root. Celery root is sharp and earthy, but Chef Ron Tanaka has brought forth sweet herbal notes that taste of fennel and green tea. My entrée was another first. I ordered the vegetarian plate of earthy swiss chard and rich, creamy tarbais beans topped with roasted fennel. It helped that my four friends allowed me to taste the duck breast in olive sauce with sunchokes, a Delmonico dusted with coffee, rockfish, and branzino. I would gladly pass up the meat (well, maybe not that duck breast) to order the swiss chard again. The flavors were as well developed as the other entrées on the menu, all of which were delicious. The meal started with crab roulettes - crisp pastry cigars filled with Peekytoe. Recently popular, Peekytoe is a cold water crab, traditionally thrown back from the lobster traps whose bait they would eat. Light and mild, the meat is seasoned with a spicy Old Bay that is complex and hot without overpowering the delicate crab.

Just Getting Started

With the long slate of openings, we’ll be back to Shaw frequently. Besides, Jason wants to make sure Dacha’s beer stays nice and cold for you. He’s really considerate like that. Jonathan Bardzik is a storyteller, demo chef and author living in walking distance of Shaw. You can find him outside at Eastern Market, each Saturday morning, cooking with local, fresh produce. Jonathan’s first cookbook, Simple Summer: A Recipe for Cooking and Entertaining with Ease, is available now. Grab a copy and find out what Jonathan is cooking at www.jonathanbardzik.com or his Facebook page “What I Haven’t Cooked Yet.” Need some foodporn? Follow @JonathanBardzik on Twitter and Instagram. H

HillRag | October 2013 H 85

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

O T

by Celeste McCall

t’s been a busy fall in the Atlas District, as H St. NE welcomes RedRocks. Located at 1348 H St. NE, the latest offshoot of Doug Baj’s local group measures 6,800 square feet, the largest restaurant/bar in the neighborhood. Three dramatically designed floors have as many bars, a 100-seat private dining area, two 900-degree wood-burning ovens and a (retractable) roof deck. Craft beer and cider flow from the bar’s 20 tap lines, and special spouts dispense wine and surprisingly good prosecco, First time we’ve tasted bubbly on tap. Accompanying the libations are Chef Angel Mendoza’s puffy-crusted Neopolitan-style pizzas, an antipasti selection, pastas, grilled shrimp and even wood-fired suckling pig. Weekend brunch offers breakfast pizzas, including a “hangover” version. While I did not suffer from that malady, I enjoyed the 11-inch pie (big enough for two), heaped with sausage, potatoes, fresh-tasting mozzarella and crowned with a sunnyside-up egg. Peter’s RedRocks hash was replete with bacon, potatoes, caramelized onions and an egg, showered with a green cascade of crisp arugula.

Purchased by Evolve Property Group, the RedRocks building has been vacant since the 1968 riots. RedRocks is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; FridaysSaturdays 11 to 11. Call 202-621-7300. Other RedRocks are in Columbia Heights, Old Town and South Arlington.

Purple Reign

Da Luft, 1242 H Street NE, also arrived last month. You can’t miss the purple façade. Since we missed the Sept. 21 opening bash, we decided on dinner the following Tuesday. The sleek black and white décor has a glittering chandelier by the entrance and handsome bars on both floors. Hostess/operations manager Tobi Solaja ushered us upstairs, which we sat at cocktail tables. Da Luft (luft is German for “air”) is primarily a night club. The tables were too high for comfortable dining, so we moved to the bar with its ever-changing lights. Chef Ernest Todd’s menu offers shrimp hushpuppies, shrimp- and-grits, blackened salmon and the like. Good club grub. We shared a colorful house salad, a confetti of mesclun greens, tiny sliced cherry tomatoes, cukes and tangerine segments. Then Peter went for the fried catfish basket, while I opted for a trio of turkey sliders. Our light dinner came to $36 before tip. Da Luft is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight; FridaySaturday ‘til 3 a.m.; Sunday noon to midnight. Closed Monday. Call 202-3881200 or DaLuftDC.com

Easy Being Green

RedRocks Neapolitan Bistro opens this weekend as the largest restaurant on H Street. 86 H hillrag.com

While Peter and I driving along H Street

on a warm afternoon, he suggested stopping for a gin-and-tonic. Why not? So we popped into the Queen Vic British Pub. As I squeezed a lime wedge into my Bombay Sapphire gin, I requested a cocktail napkin. Turns out the very “green” Queen Vic eschews paper, so instead, proprietor/ bartender Ryan Gordon brought me a nice black cloth napkin. We noticed weird menu prices: $7.27 for Mediterranean roast chicken; $14.55 for lamb rogan josh; $7.27 for a glass of prosecco. “I hate coins,” Gordon explained. “I hate hauling them to the bank. So I do the math and since DC tax is 10 percent, it always comes out even.” (Da Luft’s menu lists prices the same way. Is this a trend?) Highlighting Queen Vic’s upstairs covered patio is a dart board and huge TV. Open daily. Don’t miss the hearty Sunday brunch, Queen Vic is at 1206 H St. NE; call 202-396-2001.

Coming Soon

Ris Lacoste, Chef/Owner of Ris, the upscale West End restaurant, is unveiling a stall at Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Around mid-November, look for Lacoste’s stocks, sauces, soups, prepared foods, baked goods, and “Ris Bowls” (stews, salads and “nutritious children’s foods”). Assisting Lacoste in her enterprise will be Allison Cortese, Ris’ dining room manager. RIS at Union Market

will operate during regular market hours, Wednesday through Sunday.

Piano Bar Facelift

Be sure to check out the renovated piano bar at Banana Café, Jorge Zamorano’s lively Mexican/Cuban/Puerto Rican hot spot at 500 Eighth St. SE. The extensive upstairs facelift involves new flooring, cabinets and a refurbished bar. As before, there’s live piano music and karaoke; happy hour specials, start at 4 p.m. The piano bar features tapas and other light victuals, with a full menu downstairs. Now 21 years old, Banana Café is open daily—‘til late Fridays and Saturdays. Call 202-543-5906 or www.bananacafedc.com.

South American Flair

We knew Del Campo, Victor Albisu’s Latino-inspired Chinatown restaurant--was a class act when the wine list arrived in a leather cover. For a leisurely midweek lunch, Peter and I were promptly seated at a pristine, white linen-covered table. (We could have opted for the asado bar overlooking the open-flame kitchen.) A plate of house-baked chapa appeared, the traditional Argentine bread accompanied by a smoky duo of olive oil and sea salt. We tucked into a pair of wagyu beef empanadas with romesco sauce, a tomato/ ground nut/garlic/olive oil concoction. My entrée was an appetizer of grilled octopus, artfully presented on a stark white rectangular plate flanked with pureed vegetables and

tary plate of grilled corn slathered with spices and dusted with parmesan shavings. Too much food! The tab came to less than $50, but they forgot to include my $11 glass of Albanio Spanish wine. When we pointed out the error, our server said never mind, so we tipped her extra. Open daily (‘til late weekends), Del Campo is at 777 I St. NW. Call 202-2897377 or visit www.DelCampoDC.com.

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Family Night Out

They’ve been back in school for more than a month, and youngsters come home hungry. Harried parents tired of cooking now have a weekly solution: On Wednesday Family Night, kids under 12 eat free at the Argonaut, 1433 H St. NE (202-250-3660). Dine-in only, hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Yes, there’s a junior menu. …Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (202-546-8412) feeds youngsters 8 and younger (from the kiddie menu), Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m., with an adult purchase.

Ben’s Update

Ben’s Chili Bowl, the 55-year-old landmark on U St. NW, is unveiling its second spinoff (the first one was Ben’s Next Door). A year in the works, the two-level offshoot will open at 1001 H St. NE later this year. In keeping with the original, the latest Ben’s will serve the famous chili-drenched half smokes (no booze) on the first floor, but the upper level will have a bar, a different (healthier?) menu and a rooftop.

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Bon Anniversaire….

To Belga Café, 514 Eighth St. SE, marking its ninth year in business. The Barracks Row mainstay celebrates the milestone October 21-27, with a festive beer dinner that last day (Sunday). Call 202-544-0100….and Le Grenier, the French charmer at 502 H St. NE, is a year old.

Fall Tradition on Capitol Hill

Oktoberfest AT

Departing the Station

After 20 years of dishing out Low Country cuisine, B. Smith is pulling out of Union Station. The creation of Colorful salad at Da Luft former model Barbara Smith, her restaurant was enthroned in the ornate, former Presidential waiting room in Union sprinkled with pickled onions. Peter had the Station’s East Hall. While we haven’t dined chori pan—a sandwich stacked with pulled there recently, I remember a “Swamp Thang” pork and chorizo, with fiery chimi churi dipa tongue-tingling concoction of crawfish, ping sauce. Other meat-centric options enscallops, collards and a spicy Dijon mustard compass chorizo, empanadas, skewered meats, sauce. No word so far on a closure date or Friday street food and a bar menu. future occupant. H The kitchen also presented a complimen-

Featuring Old World Favorites, Special Oktoberfest Beers and an Extensive German Wine List!

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HillRag | October 2013 H 87

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

Everything You Need To Know About Spanish Wines by Lilia Coffin

s the weather gets a little cooler, and wine drinkers start to back off whites and roses to look for reds, I always turn to Spanish wines. The spice, tobacco, and pepper present in so many of their reds (and the racy touch of citrus and minerals in their whites) makes me warm all over, like the sweaters I just pulled out of my closet. As a wine consultant, I find Spain has the perfect balance between Old World structure and balance, and New World intensity and richness. And you can find an amazing wine at any price range. With France and Italy as the major players and exporters of wine in Europe, it is easy to overlook that Spain has been producing fantastic wines for about 3,000 years. Vines were introduced by the Romans, who hated going anywhere that vino was not, and cultivation was not stifled by the Islamic Mughal Empire. When France’s vines were struck with phylloxera in the 19thCentury, Spain helped to supply their thirsty French neighbors, and Rioja red became a nice substitute for Bordeaux. Sherry (fortified wines from Spain) and Port (from Portugal) were first created when the British and Dutch added brandy to wines they exported from the region to make them last the trip home. When the wine market was oversaturated in the 1970s, Spanish wines, like Italy’s Chiantis, gained a reputation of being cheap juice. Spanish wine culture has since reinvented itself and today’s wines, from regions all over Spain, can be incredible. When shopping for Spanish wine, where do you start? One way to ensure you make the right decision on your next Spanish wine purchase is to learn the vocabulary. For all wines in Spain, there are specific legal labels put on reds and whites that have been aged and oaked: Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Crianza red wines are aged for two years with a minimum of six months in oak. Crianza whites and rosés must be aged for at least one year with six months in oak. Reserva red wines are aged for at least three years with a minimum of one year in oak; whites must be aged for two years with at least six months in oak. Gran Reserva wines are sourced from better vintages with the red wines requiring at least five years aging, 18 months in oak and 36 months in the bottle; whites must be aged for at least four years with six months in oak. Spanish wine will often be labeled for the region. All wine lovers can find a style they enjoy in Spain, but the most popular come from La Rioja, Castilla y Leon, and the warm regions along the Mediterranean Coast. The main grape in Spain, and in Rioja in particular, is Tempranillo, but there is also Garnacha (Grenache), Syrah, Carinena (Carignan), Monastrell (Mourvedre), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, just to name a few. La Rioja is itself divided into Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja, and Rioja Alavesa. Alavesa’s chalky soils and high elevation lead to perfumed wines that require age to show off their best qualities. The Alta and Baja both have iron-rich limestone soil that create beautiful wines, though Baja and its lower elevation can sometimes be too hot to produce great grapes. A traditional Rioja is a blend of grapes from all three regions. The acreage of Rioja is generally dedicated to Tempranillo, with small amounts of Garnacha and local grapes Mazuelo and Graziano. Castilla y Leon lies along the banks of the Duero River, with high eleva88 H hillrag.com

tions that make it home to several incredible wine regions, including Ribera del Duero, Rueda, and Toro. The region’s long cool growing seasons preserve acidity, but vintages can be ruined if it’s so cold that the grapes don’t ripen fully. Ribera del Duero is planted to 90% Tempranillo, but Cabernet, Merlot, and Malbec are also grown in small amounts and are often added to the blend. Vega Sicilia, one of the premier houses in Spain, has been making world-renowned wines in Ribera del Duero for 150 years, and introduced the Bordeaux-style grapes to the region. Rueda focuses on whites, and sometimes oaks its high-acid Verdejos, Viuras, and Sauvignon Blancs. Toro is a flatter with a gentler terroir than Ribera del Duero but still creates bold and rich reds, often with century old vines; they represent amazing values. Along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the warm weather promotes rich, smoky reds, crisp Cavas, and dry whites. Jumilla and Montsant have mastered the Rhone-style grapes of Garnacha, Carinena, and Monastrell, despite the warmer climate and often sandy soil. Priorat’s Garnacha and Carinena blends are big and warm, with a distinct mineral quality, due to the granite and slate soil, and alcohol levels legally required to be over 13.75%. Even with all of this info on the regions, grapes, and history of Spanish wine, the final decision can be daunting. These are some truly delicious wines to start with, at any budget: From Rioja: Baigorri de Garage 2005 - $74.99 Baigorri Reserva 2004 - $39.99 The Saint Rioja Reserva 2008 - $14.99 From Castillo y Leon: Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5 2007 - $159.99 Pagos de Penafiel Crianza Ribera del Duero 2008 - $29.99 Legon Reserva 2004 - $24.99 Nisia Old Vines Verdejo Rueda 2011 - $14.99 Mania Verdejo-Viura 2011 - $11.99 Dehesa de Cadozos Toro 2004 - $49.99 Spada Toro 2009 - $9.99 From Priorat, Jumilla, Montsant: Portal del Priorat Clos del Portal Somni 2009 - $79.99 Jaspi Maragda Montsant 2010 - $29.99 Merum Monastrell Jumilla 2009 - $9.99 Jaspi Blanc 2012 - $19.99 Gran Gesta Cava (NV) - $13.99 Lilia Coﬃn is a Wine Consultant at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill. H

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HillRag | October 2013 H 89

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

Measure for Measure Let’s Talk About Sex … And Love by Barbara Wells

ven for the biggest Shakespeare fan, a new production of Measure for Measure might not spark eager anticipation, but instead evoke the grim prospect of watching a nasty little Puritan chase a distressed nun around the stage in a perverse bid to steal her

Clockwise From Left: 1. Natascia Diaz as Mariana and Kurt Rhoads as The Duke in the Shakespeare Theatre Company production of Measure for Measure, directed by Jonathan Munby. 2. Scott Parkinson as Angelo and Miriam Silverman as Isabella in the Shakespeare Theatre Company production of Measure for Measure, directed by Jonathan Munby. 3. Cameron Folmar as Lucio and ensemble members Gracie Terzian, S. Lewis Feemster, Jacqui Jarrold and Amber Mayberry in the Shakespeare Theatre Company production of Measure for Measure, directed by Jonathan Munby. Photo:Scott Suchman

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virginity. So director Jonathan Munby’s exuberant—even delightful—rendering is all the more satisfying. Infusing this production with color, music and bawdy wit, he brings the play’s texture to light. Measure for Measure is often called a “problem” play, mainly for its challenging blend of comedy and tragedy. Too often the real problem isn’t that comedy and tragedy can’t coexist in a play—as they always do

in life—but rather that a dreary story centered on an almost abstract moral dilemma either smothers the humor or feels entirely disconnected from it. Not so in Munby’s hands. Even the darkest moments of the play have a glimmer of wit, while the comedy floats over more serious undercurrents. Here’s the deal: The Duke of Vienna calls on Angelo, a pillar of righteousness so cold that his urine is said to be “congealed ice,” to clean up Vienna, a city that’s suffered 14 years of moral decay. Angelo’s first order of business is to make an example of Claudio, a young gentleman who has committed fornication with his now very pregnant betrothed, by condemning him to death. Enter Claudio’s sister Isabella in a crisp nun’s habit, who begs Angelo for Claudio’s life, only to become ensnared by his despicable proposition: Angelo promises to spare Claudio if Isabella will “yield up her body” to his will. It’s no small feat to make this situation not just interesting but relevant to an audience. Munby begins by seeking the context that, as he says, will “release” the play. He finds it in 1930s Vienna— a party town in deep decline that eventually gave way to Fascism, an equal and opposite reaction to unbridled licentiousness. Then he goes one better. Instead of a simple overlay of costumes and sets to conjure a modern

period that itself really is a distant memory, he opens the play with a 20-minute jazz-era cabaret that leaves no doubt Vienna is a tad out of control. It’s the cabaret that necessitates, in an abundance of caution, a rare warning for the theatre: “Recommended for ages 18 and above but may be suitable for mature audiences, 16 and above.” Any kid who’s watched the MTV Awards and can define “twerk” wouldn’t bat an eye at the scene, but I confess to an occasional blush and perusing my program to avert my eyes. And just as in Shakespeare’s time and the 1930s, today such sexual expression can fuel a fervent conservative backlash. In this brilliant stroke, Munby literally sets the stage in a thoroughly entertaining way, making perfect sense of the Duke’s unusual decision to put Vienna in the hands of the puritanical Angelo. Presumably he believes only a man beyond reproach and temptation can reverse this city’s moral decline—and in subtle ways, Munby makes clear the Duke himself is not that man. Enter Scott Parkinson as Angelo, the picture of self-restraint who from the start looks like his stiff demeanor is ready to crack. He’s almost immediately thrown off his unrelenting quest to rigidly enforce the law by an overwhelming desire for Isabella, expressed not in wooing but in Parkinson’s perfectly pitched bursts of rage and awkward attempts at sexual assault. The situation is all the more creepy because Angelo is not so much smitten as consumed with the urge to defile a paragon of his own ideals. He actually wonders if his lust could be Isabella’s fault, not his, and then concludes:

Most dangerous Is that temptation that doth goad us on To sin in loving virtue; never could the strumpet, With all her double vigour, art and nature, Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid Subdues me quite. Ever till now When men were fond, I smiled and wondered how.

As Isabella, Miriam Silverman exudes the purity and intellect that enthrall her tormentor. Through each of their emotional and occasionally violent encounters, she holds her own, as if anchored by an unshakable faith that won’t let her give in to despair. While Parkinson’s brittle Angelo and Silverman’s stalwart Isabella grapple with their moral dilemmas, other characters navi-

gate ethics in pragmatic and expedient ways, weaving the cabaret’s laissez-faire mentality—and a culture accustomed to bending and outright breaking the rules—through the play. As Lucio, Claudio’s friend and advocate, Cameron Folmar does it best. He deftly sports a casual disregard for morals and the truth, with a verbal and physical delivery that milks the last drop of humor from every line he speaks. Even when he’s being condemned to be whipped and hanged, he manages to draw appreciative guffaws. Other characters too see and operate under moral shades of grey—divining convenient loopholes in the rules to forgive crimes and sexual transgressions in often laughable ways. In the midst of tense discussion with Isabella of Angelo’s unthinkable proposition, Avery Clark’s Claudio sheepishly suggests that sleeping with Angelo might not be so bad: “Sure it is no sin, or of the deadly seven it is the least.” Pompey the pimp, played by the amiable and endearing Chris Genebach, faces a life of imprisonment for being “a notorious bawd” until he accepts the more socially acceptable executioner’s job from the provost, who says, “Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man’s head?” Throughout the play, Alexander Dodge’s sets and the lighting by Philip S. Rosenberg evoke garish stages, somber chapels, crumbling streets and chilling cellblocks. They vividly showcase this world of illicit sex, first taking center stage under a red velvet curtain and then relegated to the fringes. This vibrant set gives way to the social repression signified by a clever construct of prison bars, seamlessly moving across the stage. By turns it entraps and releases various characters as the foundation of rules and laws breaks down—and shifts the audience’s perspective from looking out from behind the bars to looking in from outside. The Duke watches all of this play out in the guise of a friar who observes and occasionally intercedes just enough to avert disaster or death. (Of course! This is Shakespeare, after all.) In Kurt Rhoads’ calm and thoughtful portrayal, we can almost forgive the Duke for leaving most of the cast of characters in dire straits so he can discover just how low Angelo will sink and how high everyone else—especially Isabella—will rise. Once he finds out, the experiment in social austerity can end, and love and forgiveness prevail. Barbara Wells is a writer and editor for Reingold, a social marketing communications firm. She and her husband live on Capitol Hill. H

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ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

ATTHE MOVIES

Two Worlds: A Saudi Bicycle Fable and an Auto Racing Rivalry by Mike Canning prize. Yet when she is asked by Ms. Good movies can immerse you into an alien Hussa what she is going to do with world and give you a palpable sense of another cul- the award money, she honestly anture. Such a one is the new Saudi Arabia film “Wad- nounces she will buy a bike—a jda” (rated “PG”, this film, in Arabic, is in selected request coldly refused by the headmaster, who directs that it go to theaters and runs 97 minutes). “Wadjda” tells the simple story of the epony- charity instead. To add to Wadjda’s woes, word mous ten-year-old girl (played by Waad Mohamreaches her and her mother that, indeed, dad is med) who, more than anything, wants to ride a bike taking another bride. The pending ceremony is like the neighbor boy, Abdullah (Abdullrahman al celebrated right on their street, yet mom, realizing Gohani). There’s a bike in the neighborhood store that she and her daughter still have each other, that she craves. Contending against her are—just has a surprise for her enterprising child. about everybody: her mom, (Reem Abdullah), who This unassuming tale achieves real resonance besees her dream as entirely unladylike, her school cause of how it calmly and attentively introduces us principal, Ms. Hussa (Ahd), who thinks such a deto Saudi society. Rarely enough seen in any kind of sire stems from the devil, and young Abdullah himmotion picture (since the Kingdom itself prohibits self, who feels it’s a dopey wish for a girl. The family movie theaters), “Wadjda” reveals the simple intimamay be at a crossroads: Wadjda’s father (Sultan al cies of Saudi middle-class family life, where there Assaf ), with only one wife and one child, is thinking is ample consumption and modernity (Wadjda digs about a son and, perhaps, acquiring another wife. Western music; the family shops at an upscale mall). Though she is doggedly entrepreneurial, makIt also introduces us to Saudi elementary eduing deals in her girl’s grade school, Wadjda cannot cation, a sex-segregated, black (girls) and white cover the cost of the bike. Hope comes in the form (boys) context where dogged conformity reigns. It’s of a school contest which offers a significant award within that educational context that we see lively (1,000 rials) for the scholar best able to recite verses Wadjda quietly challenging that conformity. It’s evifrom the Koran. Though hardly pious, Wadjda dedident from the film’s first shot, when we see, below cates herself fully to the Koranic task and wins the abayas, the footwear of three small girls, the two flanking wearing plain black shoes, while the contrary Wadjda (in the middle) sports worn sneakers and frilly socks. It’s of such delicate yet telling moments that the film is constructed. Other elements of the Kingdom are nicely limned. One perfect example has Wadjda’s mother preparing a massive meat-and-rice dish in her kitchen. She carries it to a closed door in another room, knocks on the door and waits for her husband to take the food (intended for male guests who are forbidden to see his wife). She then Waad Mohammed stars as “Wadjda” in the first Saudi Arabia feature film.

Wadjda

Photo: Tobias Kownatzki © Razor Film, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

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Director Haifaa Al Mansour. Photo: Tobias Kownatzki © Razor Film, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

returns to the kitchen where she, like a kitchen maid, shares the leftovers with her daughter. Not only is “Wadjda” the first full-length feature filmed in Saudi Arabia, it was written and directed by a woman, Haifaa al Mansour, who has created a singular breakthrough. She had made short films before (none of them aired publicly) but was able to produce this effort with the help of German funding and a complete German crew. Still, the vision is all hers. And it wasn’t always an easy task. Al Mansour, in an interview, noted that there is no film infrastructure to support filmmakers (much less women filmmakers) and that open casting calls do not exist. She also remarked that she “occasionally had to run and hide in the production van (in some areas) where people would have disapproved of a woman director mixing professionally with all those men.” She later admitted that while she might be a polarizing figure in the Kingdom, “it is definitely not my intention to offend anyone.” To these Western eyes, she hardly offends; she inspires.

Rush

And now, as the Monty Pythons would say, “For something completely different.” Director Ron Howard’s “Rush” is a pulse-pounding narrative about what is perhaps the greatest season in Formula One auto racing: the year-long showdown in 1976 between the Austrian champion Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and the British contender James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). It was a thrilling contest contended by two men who could hardly be more different and

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whose natures are well captured by Howard and company (now in cinemas, the film is rated “R” and runs 123 min.). Both the earnest Lauda and the playboy Hunt come from wealth and want to break away from their families’ traditions of business (Lauda) and well-heeled aristocracy (Hunt) to race fast cars. Otherwise, they have nothing in common. Lauda’s attraction to vehicles is coolly technical and hands-on—he’s drawn by the essence of machinery. Even in his scary business, he doesn’t want to take risks. Hunt’s attraction to racing is openly intuitive and adrenalin-laced—he’s hooked on winning and heedless in his car. Lauda is appropriately contained, a bit shriveled; colleagues say he looks rat-like. Hunt is a prototype playboy, a long-haired Adonis with a yen for the ladies, the bottle, and the cusp of danger. The core of the film is a tracing of the dramatic 1976 season in which Lauda takes a commanding points lead, only to suffer a horrendous crash at the German Grand Prix then pull off an amazing physical recovery to come back to compete in the chase. Hunt, in the meantime, gains steadily on Lauda in the points race, and the gripping finale comes down to a rain-troubled race in the Grand Prix of Japan. Howard has cast his leads well. Both Brühl and Hemsworth personify the two contrasting types in manner and language, and they both look strikingly like the real drivers (whom we see in some clips at the end). The smart script, by British screenwriter Peter Morgan (“Frost/Nixon,” “The Queen,”), gives each character equal time with equal weight to their outlooks and arguments. Did I mention it was pulse-pounding? Whether you know or care anything about auto racing, you can still be thrilled by the ample footage (shot by Anthony Dod Mantle) of the races themselves, where close-ups of pistons popping and brakes slamming mingle excitingly with track zooms and turns that leave you dizzy, and, given the volume, make your head hurt. Whether you like it or not, you can admire an editing job that truly tucks you in the driver’s seat. Ron Howard is both a popular and honored director, principally for films that are distinctly American (from “Parenthood” to “Frost/Nixon”) but here he opts for a more clearly European aesthetic. The subject matter (a profoundly European sport), the overseas shooting locations, and the casting (only one significant American actor) combine to give a different flavor to “Rush.” Howard has done Europe before (“The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels and Demons”) but never this effectively and formidably. Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag for 20 years. He is the author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www.mikesflix.com. H

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DC Documentary Debuts

A new documentary personalizing the effects of urban gentrification in our own neighborhood will have a free premiere on October 10 at the Atlas Performing Arts Theater. “Fate of a Salesman” traces the last days of Men’s Fashion Center, a menswear staple of the H Street corridor in Northeast for 60 years before it closed in 2012. The store’s demise, victim of a tough economy and a changing neighborhood, is told in a sweet yet poignant half-hour film produced by husband and wife team Tessa Moran and Ben Crosbie. The store’s character is revealed through the voices of its dapper longtime manager, Willie Carswell, its teddy bear salesmen Steve, and its owner Jerry Goldking, the latter the son of the founder who opened the store in 1952. Moran and Crosbie have run the DC-based production company Eidolon Films for ten years and this is their most fully realized project in the city. Their film will receive its free premiere on October 10, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street, NE. This screening will precede the film’s broadcast premiere on local PBS station WHUT on October 17th, 2013 at 8 p.m. Tickets to the premiere are free to the public, and can be reserved at www.whut. org/salesman.

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22 Years on Capitol Hill HillRag | October 2013 H 93

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

ichard Fitzhugh captures the energy of the city. It’s not just in the force and movement of his personal style. He sees the little things that make Washington “DC”: the low human-scale skyline, the crazy traffic, the tourists, government workers, the give and take of freedom and restrictions. It’s that fusion of people from all over the world, and from right here. You can almost hear the languages. But what makes his work so genuine is the buildings. They not only have their unique identity, they have structural integrity. These are the places you know—where you live. “Energy” is the only way Richard Fitzhugh can paint. He walks the street, any street, and when the starting point of the painting hits his eye, that is where he starts. The watercolors come out and the painting follows his hand—free and loose. You can feel his joy in painting and his love for the city. Richard grew up in DC and graduated from Howard University. He has lived and painted in so many places—from concrete jungles of Manhattan, the mountains of West Virginia, coastal Maine, the green jungles of Guyana , to the Greek islands—that his eye finds the truth in wherever he paints. He came back to DC in 1995 and has been dedicated to painting his town. Art and design has been central in his life since his early years. He has worked much of his life in architectural rendering, and first turned to watercolor

painting 1984. He has displayed and sold his work through galleries wherever he lived. You can share his energy through November at the Zenith Gallery show at the Washington DC Economic Partnership building (see at the galleries).

Fall Gallery Preview

In lieu of “Thoughts on Art,” my usual self-indulgent screed on the state of art and the general demise of aesthetics in the USA, I am leaving space to suggest museum and gallery shows so you may see, and buy, art— the holidays are coming.

(e)merge Art Fair, Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 “I” Street, SW. Oct 4-6

What makes the (e)merge art fair so compelling is that it’s global. There are two general divisions or categories: the “Gallery Platform” and the Artist Platform . Galleries from all over the world highlight young, unheralded artists of all media, styles and approaches. Eighty exhibitors are showing the work of over 150 artists from 30 countries. You will find them in hotel rooms on designated floors. Additionally, artists not represented by a gallery are given free space throughout the hotel grounds and public areas. This is big. You can see what’s happening around the world all in one place. To make that easier, the (e)merge art fair is launching “The Mapping Project.” It’s a way for everyone—artists, buyers, dealers, curators—to stay connected and tuned in to the “larger international community of emerging art. www.emergeartfair.com.

“Wet Dreams”, Catalyst Projects, 716 Monroe St NE, Studio 13, Oct 12— Nov 2, Recep–Oct 12, 6-9

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We all know that getting started can be Herculean, especially with a big idea. DC artists Zofie Lang and Gail Vollrath have launched “Cat-

artandthecity

Artist Portrait: Richard Fitzhugh

by Jim Magner

A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at ArtandtheCity05@aol.com

From Left to Right: 15th St. & Constitution Ave, NW, Watercolor on paper, 42” x 31” framed. 7th and “G” St., NW, Watercolor on paper, 41” x 31” framed. 7th St., and “I” St., NW #2, Watercolor on paper, 40” x 31” framed.

alyst, “ to bring artists and marketers closer. Now they have a gallery for contemporary artists at the Monroe Street Market. The inaugural show is provocatively titled, Wet Dreams – Contemporary Use of Water-Based Media. Seven artists, including DC painters Mariah Anne Johnson and Jenny Walton, provide a variety of watercolor styles and approaches. http://catalystartprojects.com.

“Great Streets – the Urban Life of DC”, Zenith Gallery, Washington DC Economic Partnership, 1495 F St. NW, to Nov 8.

This is an important show because of what it is and where it is. It is about the life, soul and art of Washington. It features the dynamic city paintings of Richard Fitzhugh (see Artist Profile). Six other top-rated artists, through sharply contrasting styles, capture those qualities that are so distinctly the District: Anne Marchand, Bradley Stevens, Philip Hazard, Glenn Moreton, Curtis Woody and me, Jim Magner. The Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) exists to attract business to the District and to help existing DC businesses with “Accelerate DC” a mentorship program. It’s on the corner of 15th and F St.— close enough for the president to stroll over to check out terrific homegrown art. You should too. www.zenithgallery.com.

“Uncommon Objects”, Zenith Gallery, 1429 Iris St. NW, Nov. 2

Katie Dell Kaufman’s “found object, assemblage and encaustic paintings” span a 30year career of finding the “fragile beauty of overlooked objects of daily life.” You will find dozens of other artists at the same location. www.zenithgallery.com.

All Member Show, Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Avenue, NW, Oct. 4 –27, Recep: Oct 4, 6-8:30

This is the annual big show of all 45 artist-members in the main gallery. You won’t find a better mix of styles and approaches in a complete range of media. There are two solo shows, Anthony Dortch and Mary Trent Scott, in the smaller rooms. www. touchstonegallery.com.

Fall Shows, Gallery plan b, 1530 14th St. NW, Recep: Sat, Oct. 19

Chad Andrew and Joey Manlapaz have very different but sophisticated styles in expressing ideas about the world in which we live. The year-end “Gift Giving” group show of over 30 artists runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, with the artist reception on Sat. Dec 7, 6-8. These are smaller works that you can buy and take with you. www.galleryplanb.com.

Ahmed Alkarki, Hill Center Galleries, 921 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Nov. 7 – Jan. 5, Recep: Tue, Nov 9, 6-8

Ahmed Alkarki is from Iraq. His personal story is a marvel of surviving the trials and tragedies of that country over the last 30 years. Whether the topic is landscape, a portrait or simply abstraction, his true subject is light. www.Alkarkhi.com.

National Gallery of Art, West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW

The NGA usually has several special exhibits at the same time. Here are three: Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections traces the Byzantine visual arts from the fourth to the 15th century—from the pagan world of the Roman Empire to the opulent, yet spiritual world of the Christian Byzantine Empire. Over 170 rare works bring you the exquisite splendor of the Byzantine Empire: sculptures, icons, mosaics, frescoes, manuscripts, metalwork, jewelry, glass, embroideries, and ceramics…it’s all there. Oct. 6—March 2. Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris.

About 100 photographs and three albums span the artist’s career of city scenes and landscape studies across Europe in the1850s including his photographs of Paris both before and after many of its medieval streets were razed. Through Jan 5. Tell It with Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Shaw Memorial honors one of the first regiments of African Americans formed during the Civil War, the 54th Massachusetts. The unit famously fought in the Battle of Fort Wagner and was the subject of the 1989 movie “Glory. The exhibit includes daguerreotype, tintype, and carte de visite portraits of the soldiers and the people who recruited, nursed, taught, and guided them. To Jan 20. www.nga.gov. A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at Artandthecity05@ aol.com. Jim’s award-winning book, “A Haunting Beauty” can be acquired through www.ahauntingbeauty.com H

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ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

The Idea Bar

A Salon-Style Gathering Where Friends Share Conversation, Ideas and Fun by Pattie Cinelli

TOP: Michael Skinner (co-founder of Idea Bar) introduces Dr. Victor Ibrahim, who captivates the Idea Bar audience with the latest in what is possible from the world of regenerative medicine. Photo: Elizabeth Dranitzke (photopia.com) BOTTOM: The Idea Bar crowd listens to Juliet Eilperin’s talk on a new way of thinking about sharks. Photo: Elizabeth Dranitzke (photopia.com) 96 H hillrag.com

arking was at a premium around Pendragwn Productions on 7th Street SE on a humid Thursday evening in late August. People milled about in Pendragwn’s modern office, chatting and grabbing a drink and food in the workspace of the local film and video company. We were not there to watch a movie, however. We were guests at the first Idea Bar. My invitation came through an email tagged “a fun way to wrap up the summer.” My neighbor Michael Skinner announced the Idea Bar, an event he and his friend Scott Kratz were organizing. More than 30 people gathered together to hear three professionals from very diverse fields of study talk about their passions – sharks, regenerative medicine and the Washington Monument. The Pendragwn studio was a perfect fit for the Idea Bar. Ambient white lights, a black ceiling and a unique configuration of office space with a balcony that gave presenters a prominent perch from which they could be seen by all. I ran into an old friend and a former neighbor who I caught up with before the event started and met several new people – connections that Michael had hoped to spur through this event. “We wanted to invite our own friends, but we also felt like this kind of thing might attract people that we didn’t know and that somehow getting them to come too would make it a richer evening. We were stunned with the response.” About a third of the people who attended didn’t know either of the creators.

“They came solely based on the description on the Eat Feastly site (the sign up site).” Each speaker presented a slide show that accompanied their 15 minute talk and fielded several questions after the presentation. Washington Post journalist and author Juliet Eilperin shared photos of her world travels seeking information and interviews for her recently published book, Demon Fish: Exploring our Shark Obsession, and What it Means for the Sea. Her talk gave me an entirely different perspective on these ancient creatures. Dr. Victor Ibrahim, an orthopedist who is opening a Capitol Hill office, spoke about recent advances in medical research that are enabling doctors to help our bodies heal from dramatic injuries that include torn tendons, damaged nerves and muscles, degenerative disks and spinal injuries. Two women in the audience had been treated by Dr. Ibrahim and successfully healed their injuries with regenerative medical techniques. G. Martin Moeller, Jr.’s illustrated talk traced the Washington Monument’s tumultuous history, the various alternative designs proposed, and the story behind the obelisk’s longdelayed completion. Michael Skinner, storytellerin-chief at Pendragwn and Scott Kratz, vice president for education at The National Building Museum, who both live on the Hill, dreamed up the event while sipping coffee and watching their dogs play at the Virginia Avenue dog park. Michael explained. “We each got interested

“Washington could use more places like Zest” – Washingtonian magazine

in the work the other was doing. During our talks we’d mention friends who were also doing interesting stuff. We realized that between the two of us we knew a lot of interesting people.” Michael used to host salonstyle evenings when he was in college at the University of Delaware. “Students would give a quick talk on something they were working on. It was really cool to hear someone talk about something they were passionate about and then get them to answer questions.” “We want to create a forum where folks who are passionate about their work can engage an audience with their ideas. We intentionally selected a variety of disciplines to be presented – science, medicine and history. Our goals were to spark curiosity and conversation about the world around us,” said Scott. “I think we were successful.” Attendance, discussion during the event and feedback afterwards proved him correct. Not only was there positive feedback (the presentations were succinct, informative and riveting) but also, according to Scott, each presenter engaged in a prolonged discussion about their respective topic via e-mail after the event. Michael said they will be hosting another Idea Bar this fall. The date and speakers are still in the works. If people are interested in finding out more or have a suggestion for a topic they’d love to hear about email: dc.ideabar@gmail.com.

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Pattie Cinelli is a fitness professional and journalist who has been writing for the Hill Rag for more than 30 years. Email her with story ideas at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. H

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the

LITERARY HILL

A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events

by Karen Lyon

An Eastern Market chef shares his inventive recipes, cooking tips, and hints for hosting a great party.

Simply Delicious

“Simple Summer” may well be the first book I’ve reviewed that had cooking stains on it before I’d even finished it. If you’ve ever seen author Jonathan Bardzik’s Saturday demonstrations at Eastern Market, you’ll understand why. Making the most of farm-fresh produce, he has a knack for creating beautiful dishes that sparkle with invention but let the natural flavors of the vegetables shine through. In his new book, he maintains that tradition, supplementing his recipes with a warm and breezy narrative and bright, sunny photos that show off not only his creations but also a summery Eastern Market and his easy entertaining style. His cooking style is equally relaxed. He realizes that home cooks may not have all the ingredients on hand, so encourages creativity. “No one’s pantry has everything” he 98 H hillrag.com

writes. “Go ahead and make a substitution.” He even offers ideas on how to throw together a tasty meal after a hard day’s work (hint: compound butters) and several tempting ways to use leftover bread. Bardzik’s recipes come with cooking tips, menu suggestions, and ideas for entertaining. And while “Simple Summer” focuses on the fresh bounty of that season, it also includes a section of fall recipes for such mouth-watering treats as pumpkin pancakes, butternut squash soup, and his mom’s mom’s apple crisp. I can hardly wait to see what he’s cooking up for winter and spring. Learn more at www.jonathanbardzik.com.

Boo, Georgetown!

“Ghost stories are fun,” writes Tim Krepp, “or at the very least they should be. They’re quirky and serve

A local tour guide leads a literary excursion to discover who (or what) is haunting Georgetown.

to bring into focus fascinating events from our history.” If anyone should know, it’s Krepp. Author of the 2012 “Capitol Hill Haunts,” he now turns his attention to “The Ghosts of Georgetown,” where, he notes, having a haunted house “is something of a status symbol.” From the ghostly Indian princesses who moan whenever somebody is about to drown in the Potomac to the madam whose silk skirt still swishes thought her former bordello, Krepp tells a raft of engaging and eerie stories. There are headless men (and headless horses), spectral sweethearts, Irish bullies who return

from the grave to throw stones, and lost souls who shriek down abandoned slave tunnels. Krepp is well-versed in local history as well as the politics, trade and commerce, and social milieu of the eras he’s discussing, and is a great storyteller who, with a confident grasp of the facts and judiciously inserted asides, can bring to life both the haunters and the haunted. His way of ending his chapters with – gasp! – the literary equivalent of a horror movie organ chord lends a delightfully chilling touch. Meet Tim Krepp at Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW, Oct. 30, 6pm.

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

• • • • • • •

Truth and Consequences

Need to have the soles glued back on your shoes or some pruning done? Then Adam Melon (a k a Melonhead) is your man. Or, rather, your boy. In Katy Kelly’s latest book for young readers, “Melonhead and the We-Fix-It Company,” Adam and his friend Sam establish their own Capitol Hill handy-boy business to pay for the repair of Mrs. Melon’s dented teapot (long story). “Even though most of the situations [we get into] are unpredictable and a shock to Sam and me, we get a consequence,” says Melonhead. In addition, he and his dad then have to discuss the Melon Family Guidelines for Life, one of which is ‘Why This Was Not a Freak Accident and Could Have Been Avoided.’ The world of grown-ups continues to puzzle Melonhead and his friends, who try their best to make sense of it. Adults instruct them to sneeze into their elbows, but “how come nobody cares if you get snot on your elbow?” And why is the cheese in the refrigerator “moldy on purpose?” It’s all such a mystery. In the end, of course, all that matters is sticking by your friends, telling the truth, and owning up to your mistakes, even if they’re freak accidents. Because if you don’t have CLC (Character, Loyalty, and Courage), it doesn’t matter what you have —“even if you’re a millionaire baseball player who never loses and owns a private island and a fleet of dolphins... Except owning dolphins could make up for some stuff.” Buy Katy Kelly’s books at Fairy Godmother Books and Toys, 319 7th St., SE.

A diverse product line of quality beverages from all over the world One of the largest and most unique wine selections on Capitol Hill A friendly and knowledgeable staff Located just minutes form Downtown, DC and Alexandria, VA 1 block south of Eastern Market Metro on the vibrant Barracks Row Owned by the Williams Family since 1978; established before 1919

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Capitol Hill’s favorite kids start their own handy-boy business in Katy Kelly’s latest adventure.

HillRag | October 2013 H 99

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Believe It Or Not

Was D.C. built on a swamp? And did the portly President Taft really get stuck in the White House bathtub? In a new book, “Urban Legends & Historic Lore of Washington, D.C.,” local author Robert Pohl discourses on — and debunks — many of the myths that have grown up around the nation’s capital. As a tour guide whose stock in trade is telling stories, he may be putting himself out of business, but as a historian, he can’t help but seek the truth. Using logic and a wealth of original sources, Pohl demolishes such myths as the zero-year presidential curse and the ‘rule’ that ties the Redskins’ victories to those of the incumbent party. “As long as you have enough events and can cast a wide enough net,” he explains, “you will find these coincidences.” Nor does he buy the legend of the keeper of the crypt, a U.S. Capitol employee whose sole function was to guard the flame burning above George Washington’s empty tomb. He carefully examines the ‘evidence’ and finds it sadly wanting. “It is a great story,” he concedes, “particularly for those who feel that the government’s budget has gotten out of hand” — but it is not true. Pohl realizes that, despite his best efforts, people will continue to believe what they want to believe—especially when it reinforces their expectations. But his book may just inspire you to raise a skeptical eyebrow next time somebody tries to tell you about the time Taft got stuck in the bathtub.

Scan to visit DCanter’s website

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

545 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003 Tuesday-Saturday (11:00am-9:00pm) Closed Monday Sunday (12:00pm-6:00pm)

The Grape American Road Trip Wednesday, October 16th (6:30pm-8:00pm) Discover Your Wine Style Wednesdsay, October 23rd (6:30pm-8:00pm)

A local historian examines and debunks ‘tour guide tales’ about the nation’s capital.

Meet Robert Pohl at the Southeast Neighborhood Library, Nov. 3, 1:30pm.

This Month on the Hill

The Hill Center presents two literary events this month: a poetry reading by Nick Flynn moderated by Washington Post book critic Ron Charles, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. (registration required); and “Language, Love and the Writing Life,” a conversation with writers Judith Harris and E. Ethelbert Miller, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. Free. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-5494172. The Library of Congress offers five talks by authors this month: Eileen Rockefeller, “Being a Rockefeller, Becoming Myself: A Memoir,” Oct. 1, noon; Robert G. Kaiser, “Act of Congress: How America’s Essential Institution Works, and How It Doesn’t,” Oct

The Dark Side of Beer Wednesday, October 30th (6:30pm-8:00pm) www.dcanterwines.com (202) 817-3803 hello@dcanterwines.com Follow us @dcanterwines Like us /dcanterwines

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17, noon; Cynthia Y. Levinson, “We’ve Got a Job to Do; The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March,” Oct. 24, 10 a.m.; Nicholas Basbanes, “On Paper: The Everything of Its Two-Thousand-Year History,” Oct. 28, noon; and Linda Barrett Osborne, Paolo Battaglia, and Mario Mignone, “Explorers Emigrants Citizens: A Visual History of the Italian American Experience from the Collections of the Library of Congress,” Oct. 30, noon. For more, visit loc.gov or call 202-707-5221. The O.B. Hardison Poetry Series opens its season at the Folger Shakespeare Library with a reading by C.K. Williams and Stanley Plumly, Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m., and PEN/Faulkner Fiction presents novelists Tom Perrotta and Maria Semple, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. For more, visit www.folger.edu/whatson or call 202-544-7077. H HillRag | October 2013 H 101

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL

Thoughts of A Jazz Lover

Jazz can be enigmatic, an alchemy of mysterious sounds and moods that is spontaneous and yet deliberate in its free flowing creativity. The music can be complex, but good jazz feels as simple as first love—it goes straight to the heart and rests there, beating gently. Jazz strikes one as a beautiful music for everyone. And it is, especially for those of us who not only enjoy but truly love the music. You can walk in your door after a hard day’s work and a harrowing Metro ride, put on Sarah Vaughn and your world is transformed. Your mind clears, your body relaxes and suddenly life is pretty good. There’s no drug in the world that can do that. Jazz is beautiful music.

Dreamweaver •••• George Duke, Concord Records

A legendary keyboardist and pioneer in the jazz, funk and R&B genres, George Duke, who died on August 5 at the age of 67, has left us with a farewell album that encompasses all of his musical styles. Everything about Mr. Duke’s life and his music is captured in the appropriate title, Dreamweaver. A keyboard pioneer, singer, composer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres, Mr. Duke first made a name for himself with the album The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. During his long career Mr. Duke gave us more than 30 solo albums, often collaborating with many other famous and successful musicians, most notably with Frank Zappa. All through the album, the music is first class. It’s almost as if Mr. Duke wrote his own eulogy, brought to life by music for celebration, dancing, romancing, lostand-found-love, memories of yester102 H hillrag.com

day, and the breathtaking journey of jazz explorations. In experiencing the world between living and dreaming, Mr. Duke has erected his own ecclesiastical monument in the pantheon of our eternal world of music. On Dreamweaver the colorful flags blow in the winds of songs like “Stones of Orion,” “Trippin’,” “Ashtray,” “Missing You,” “Happy Trails,” and “Jazzmatazz.” Check it out and say hello to George Duke for me. And if you are lucky, you just might see his big, happy smile for sharing his music with your friends.

Live2Love ••• Theresa Grayson, L2L Records

Saxophonist Theresa Grayson’s Live2Love mesmerizes us with a spellbinding album for those nights when passion runs wild and wishing that particular lover is only your life’s story down memory lane. Live2Love reminds us that memories that celebrate the joys of love do tell the story of who we are, what makes us happy, and what’s next to come. The sweet and lovely sounds of her saxophone beckon and seduce us with songs of Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Sade, Hall & Oats, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5 and others. The album also showcases five soul-jazz originals, four of which were written by Ms. Grayson including “Afterthoughts,” an urbane track featuring soprano sax, scat-like vocalization and live instrumentation. This is a great follow-up for the Texas-born and Houston-raised musician whose 2010 debut album, It’s All About You, featured a rich endowment of inspirational instrumentals. Here Ms. Grayson alternates between expressive tenor and

soprano sax, amplified by graceful flute flourishes. The frenetic pace on “Locked Out of Heaven” pours streams of flowing melody. “Sarah Smile” is a soulful tenor serenade. Her glowing but soothing lead and backing vocals surprise on “Smooth Operator.” She employs soprano on the lush ‘70s retro-themed “More Pressure.” “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” soars upon a futuristic aural sound giving flight to the Ms. Grayson’s impassioned calls. “Moves Like Jagger” prances with a sense of urgency established by a driving beat. Lights dim for “Spend My Life” and “Close Your Eyes,” seductive urban adult contemporary grooves lit by Mr. Grayson’s sensual soprano. Desire permeates “Just A Little Time” while the longing continues on the classic slow jam “It Never Rains in Southern California,” which closes the collection.

Tango Caliente ••• The Jay D’Amico Quintet

Although the title of this album is Tango Caliente, the music heard here is pure and simple jazz for total peace and contemplation. The interplay between musicians is more fitting for classical ballet dancers on an open-air stage nestled in a garden-like park on a warm spring day. Other pieces take you to an outdoor café on a wide plaza watching a parade of beautiful dancers doing the milonga at the end of a soft, cool summer evening. Standouts include the title track “Tango Caliente,” “Etruscan Call,” “Maura’s Chant,” and “Balland in E Minor.” Best jazz

performances include “Alfreda,” and “Song for Maria.” Performers are Jay D’Amico (piano), Paul Gill (bass), Tim Horner (drums), Andrew Sterman (sax and flute), and Richie Vitale (trumpet and flugelhorn).

Eleven ••• Tommy Igoe & the Birdland Big Band

Perhaps having 19 of New York’s finest musicians on this album was not enough. Too many performers with not enough space on many of the album’s standards left little room for enjoyable improvisations and cohesive collaborations. All this is even more strikingly evident when you compare many of the other compositions to those delightful highlights like “Moanin’, ” “Common Ground,” and “Open Invitation.” That the whole album was a challenge might best be summed up as “too many cooks in the kitchen.” Enjoy the opening track, “New Ground,” but stick to the highlights. Musicians of note include Tommy Igoe (drums), Tom Kennedy (bass), Rob Paparozzi (harmonica), Glen Drewes (trumpet), Nathan Childers (sax), and Rolando Morales-Matos (percussion). All CDs and DVDS reviewed in this article are heard through Bowers & Wilkens Nautilus 801 speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, and Rotel Preamp 1070, amplifier 1092 and CD player 1072. B&W speakers are now available at Magnolia, Best Buys (703.518.7951) and IQ Home Entertainment (703.218.9855). CDs are available for purchase through amazon.com For more information about this column, please email your questions to fagon@hillrag.com. H

t i h s a h G A R L L I The H ! R E T T I W T D N A K O O B E C FA “Like” HILL RAG to stay on top of your local community news on FACEBOOK

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@ CAPITOL HILL BIKES! How much risk can you tolerate? All Bikes On Sale! - October 11th to 14th Here’s the Gamble, all bikes 11th, Friday - 10% Off* 12th, Saturday - 15% Off* 13th, Sunday - 20% Off* 14th, Monday - 25% Off* You take your chances that the bike you want will still be in stock if you wait. 719 8th Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 544-4234 • www.capitolhillbikes.com Sale applies to all in-stock bicycles. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

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Health & Fitness A Labor of Love

One Woman’s Path To Becoming A Veterinarian

didn’t always want to be a veterinarian. There were a few years in elementary school when I wanted to own a horse ranch in the foothills of Colorado and write novels about animals. And there was a brief period in college when I felt defeated by calculus and didn’t think I could make the grades. But from a pretty early age, veterinarian was high on the list of things I wanted to be when I grew up. I

by Heather McCurdy, DVM

read James Herriot. I knew my path. What I didn’t know – I was eight after all – was all of the choices I would have after completing my degree. To become licensed to practice veterinary medicine, vet students must pass a national test called the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or NAVLE, taken during their fourth year. The NAVLE covers anatomy and diseases of food or “production” animals as well as companion animals. All vets need to pass this exam regardless of the species they plan to work with after they graduate. This means that I needed to learn how to diagnose mastitis in a dairy cow, and how to recognize and contain a pseudorabies outbreak in a grower

pig operation. Not exactly pertinent knowledge to a small animal veterinarian practicing in Capitol Hill! After passing the NAVLE and completing four years of veterinary school, we are veterinarians. We can look for a position in a practice and begin our life as a doctor. But we can also pursue further clinical training or additional degrees to work in public health, research or academia. We can also seek to work for governmental organizations such as the USDA and FDA, and branches of the military. While not required, many veterinarians participate in a one year clinical internship upon graduation. After completing the internship, the vet can then pursue a residency to become board certified in a special area. There are currently 40 distinct specialties in both small and large animals, as well as zoo, shelter and lab animals. Most of these residencies last two to four years. At the end, the resident must pass comprehensive exams to become board certified in that specialty. After I graduated I chose to do an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at a private practice emergency and specialty referral hospital in Rochester, NY. There I worked one-onone with specialists in internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurology, and cardiology. We interns also did a lot, and I mean a lot, of overnight emergency and urgent care. I then went into my professional career as a small animal veterinarian. While I have achieved a great deal of satisfaction as a general practitioner, I did need to come to terms with a number of things that surprised me once I HillRag | October 2013 H 105

Acupuncture

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graduated. For instance, a large part of my day is spent writing and record keeping. Writing the record can take longer than the animal’s exam! Another surprise was how much time I spend balancing medical care and finances. When I was a child my stuffed animal patients did not need me to find creative cost-effective solutions for their hurt leg, or consider euthanasia for their achy stomach. I have to offer different medical plans and itemize costs, always trying to keep the wellbeing of the pet and the financial means and goals of the owners in mind. The last surprising, and most difficult, aspect of medicine for me to accept, is how rarely we get a definitive diagnosis. In school we learn that X disease will present with symptoms A, B and C, and these are the tests you run to prove it. In reality, symptoms A, B and C can mean diseases X, Y, Z, XX, YY, ZZ, or idiopathic (which means we have no idea). We have suspicions. We learn to make a list of differentials, or “rule-outs,” and we make a list of tests to narrow them down. We treat things symptomatically, the animals get better, and we never know if we had the correct diagnosis. It is frustrating but that frustration is tempered by knowing we have done all we can for the animal. When I was ten I did not consider whether I wanted to be a board certified veterinary dentist or critical care specialist, or whether I was going to limit my practice to dogs and cats or horses, or pursue a PhD during my veterinary training so that I could go into research. After vet school, I considered specializing, and I spent time in emergency medicine, but in the end I came back to what appealed to me the most, and what coincidentally fell in line with my childhood aspirations-working with people and their pets in a small animal practice. Dr. McCurdy is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She currently works at AtlasVet in Capitol Hill, located at 1326 H St. NE. She lives with her husband, two daughters and assorted animals in the northeast Washington DC neighborhood of Brookland. H

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Well Nourished with Mollie Katzen

A Generous Gift from the Heart of the Plate

by Annette Nielsen

ost of us who cook and are of a certain age are familiar with the Moosewood cookbook – we might have used it for our first foray into vegetarian cooking. Selling between 20 and 30 thousand copies annually, the book will begin its 40th birthday celebration next September, when Ten Speed Press will issue an anniversary edition, including some of the original material from Katzen’s first self-published tome. “I wrote that cookbook for the parents of friends, the ones who had adopted a vegetarian lifestyle,” says Katzen humbly, “I never knew it would be so popular.” Now, with the publication of her twelfth cookbook, The Heart of the Plate, Katzen says, “I’m writing cookbooks for others – and as I don’t use recipes when I cook, I truly want to be of service – I am the coach in the kitchen.” Not concerned about being clever, she obsesses about getting it right and says, “It’s truly important to me that I’ve included enough information for a range of skill levels – as people are investing in the book, ingredients, and ultimately their time preparing the food.” In this book you’ll find some of the most well-tested, great-tasting and clearly written recipes, ones that will make you eager to get into the kitchen. She’s generous with her instructions, warm in tone, and oﬀers many ideas for substitutions or visual cues, whether a recipe for Autumn Vegetable Lasagna or Spinach-Mushroom Mac and Cheese (see recipe below). While her pitch is for plant-forward cooking and eating, Katzen doesn’t shun meat, “If a piece of steak or poultry lands on the plate, that’s fine. I’m not antimeat, I just really love vegetables. The term ‘vegetarian’ should really describe the food and not the individual.” Katzen says that it’s great to have passion for ideas and ideals, but we don’t need more labels that divide us. “My focus is not to have a main course with sides, it’s all about side-by-side dishes, and to celebrate a collaboration of ingredients.” On her recent book tour, Mollie Katzen visited Washington, DC. Here Katzen is with a copy of her latest cookbook, The Heart of the Plate. Photo by Annette Nielsen

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She feels that we’d have a healthier world if more people cooked at home instead of eating out, as then you can control what ingredients make their way into a dish. “It would be great if we could cultivate a culture of home cooks – where everyone could become literate in cooking, even if they learn how to make just a couple of dishes. Cooking also leads you to good home economics – it’s less expensive to cook and eat at home.” Katzen remembers that when she was only seven, she learned to prepare coﬀee in the percolator before her parents woke on weekend mornings, and by the time she was 10, she was responsible for making dinner on Tuesday nights. “It was a classic flank steak made from the London broil cut with mustard, frozen French-cut green beans, minute rice and a salad made with Russian dressing my mom had taught me how to make with mayonnaise and ketchup – I was the boss of that meal,” citing she’s never called herself a chef, but in this instance, where the translation of the word, ‘chef ’ is boss. “It’s human instinct to want to give back, and kids are honored to be invited into an adult realm. Their cooking is only marginally about eating the food themselves—what they really want is to feed you.” Katzen is a talented artist and musician, accomplished in painting and playing the piano – she even shot all of the photos and created the lovely illustrations for The Heart of the Plate (the title coming from a cafeteria station she designed with Walter Willett at the Harvard School of Public Health). From her years of cooking and the experience with Harvard, she states, “There is no firewall necessary between healthy and delicious.” Asked what she would most like to be remembered for, Katzen replied, “Nothing would make me happier than to know that I might have made people more comfortable in their kitchens and fluent in delicious plantbased cooking.” Invite Katzen into your kitchen with The Heart of the Plate – you’ll feel as if you’ve just made a new best friend.

Spinach-Mushroom Mac and Cheese

(adapted from The Heart of the Plate, by Mollie Katzen, 2013) Makes 5 or 6 servings A golden path to popularity, this is a great use for leftover flat beer. It can also be made with present-tense, still-perky beer – in the unlikely event that “leftover” means the other half of the one you’re drinking while you read this. • Different beers can yield vastly different flavors, and it’s fun to experiment with various light and dark varieties when making beer-cheese sauces, such as this one (which is a riff on Welsh rarebit). Continuing the theme, plan to drink something that matches (chilled bottles from the same six-pack, perhaps?) with your dinner. • In a pinch, you can use a 10-ounce package of frozen chopped spinach instead of the fresh. Defrost thoroughly and squeeze as dry as possible ahead of time. Nonstick cooking spray ½ pound orecchiette, elbow macaroni, or equivalent-sized shells 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus a little more for the pasta 1 cup milk (low-fat is OK) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter ½ pound mushrooms, wiped clean, stemmed as necessary, and cut into ½-inch dice 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste 1 teaspoon minced or crushed garlic 1 teaspoon prepared Dijon or plain yellow mustard 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour HillRag | October 2013 H 109

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Just in time for cooler weather you’ll find recipes for true comfort food, healthful and delicious in “Spinach-Mushroom Mac and Cheese” from Mollie Katzen’s latest cookbook, The Heart of the Plate, released September 2013. Photo by Annette Nielsen.

1 cup room-temperature beer (your choice) 1 pound fresh spinach, stemmed as necessary and chopped (4 packed cups) 1½ (packed) cups grated sharp white cheddar (6 ounces) ¾ cup fresh whole-wheat bread crumbs (see note)* ½ cup minced walnuts (optional) 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F, with a rack in the highest position that will fit your baking pan. Lightly spray a 2-quart baking dish or an 8-inch square pan with nonstick spray. 2. Put on a medium-large pot of water to boil. When the water boils, add the pasta and cook until just tender enough to bite into comfortably, then drain and transfer to a bowl. Toss with a little olive oil and set aside. 3. Heat the milk – ideally in a spouted measuring cup in a microwave – until it is steaming and too hot to touch, but not boiling Set the hot milk near the stove. 4. Place a medium-large saucepan over medium heat for about a minute, then add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Toss in the butter, letting it melt into the oil. Add the mushrooms and ½ teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring, over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. 5. Whisk in the garlic and mustard, then turn the heat to low and sprinkle in the flour, whisking constantly; it will quickly become a paste. Continue to whisk for another 15 seconds or so. 6. Keep the pan over low heat as you drizzle in the hot milk, whisking constantly. When the milk is incorporated, whisk in the beer. Turn up the heat to medium and stir constantly with a wooden spoon as you add the chopped spinach and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Cook for about 5 minutes,

or until the spinach wilts its way into the sauce. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in both the cooked pasta and the cheese. 7. Taste for salt, add a touch more if you wish, then transfer the mixture to the baking pan. Top with the bread crumbs and walnuts, if desired, and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges and crisp and golden on top. (It might look loose on its way into the oven, but it will pull itself together by the time it comes out.) Serve hot. *To make delicious, fresh whole-wheat bread crumbs, simply toast slices of your favorite whole-wheat bread until they are crisp, then break them into pieces and grind to the desired consistency in a food processor or blender. If you want to keep a nice stash in your freezer, spread the crumbs in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 20 minutes, then transfer to a heavy zip-style plastic bag. (This method helps prevent them from freezing into a solid clump.) Keep them frozen for optimal freshness, taking out just what you need. Two average slices of whole-wheat bread will usually yield a generous cup of crumbs. Optional Enhancements: At the end of many of her recipes, Katzen gives ideas for pairings using other recipes in the cookbook – here, she recommends side-by-side dishes like AppleParsley Saladita or Nectarine-Thyme Saladita, with a good first (or second) course in Citrusy Beets or Roasted Beets Surrounded by Mango. She also suggests serving the Spinach-Mushroom Mac and Cheese in a “vessel” such as a portobello. H

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kids&family N O T E B O O K Sub-Title

by Kathleen Donner event is sponsored by the Von Schlegel Realty Team and Tunnicliff ’s Tavern.

Pay-Your-Age and Student Discounts at Arena Stage

Film still from Room on the Broom (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, UK, 2012)

“Frightfully Funny” at the National Gallery of Art

Join them, Oct 5 and 19, 10:30 a.m.; Oct 6 and 20 at 11:30 a.m., for a selection of animated films featuring witches and monsters. In a new release from the creators of The Gruffalo, a friendly witch and her cat suffer hilarious consequences when they offer some Room on the Broom to a group of helpful animals ( Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, UK, 2012). Other films include A Dark, Dark Tale (Ruth Brown, Weston Woods Studios, 1983) and Leonardo the Terrible Monster (Mo Willems, Weston Woods Studios, 2007). Approximately 50 minutes. Free and for ages 4, up. Seating is offered on a firstcome, first-served basis. Groups are welcome. No advance registration required. National Gallery of Art, East Building Auditorium, 4th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. nga.gov

Hilloween at Eastern Market

On Halloween night, Oct 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m., every kid on the Hill should be at Eastern Market on Sev-

enth St. SE for Hilloween. There will be hay rides, moon bounces, carousel rides, toys, balloons and candy. This much-anticipated, free Halloween

Patrons ages 30 and under can pay your age! Tickets go on sale eight weeks before the performance date, and patrons may purchase tickets by phone or in person. PayYour-Age tickets are limited to four per household. Proof of age for each member of the party will be required at time of purchase or pick-up. They are subject to availability and purchase includes any applicable fees. Full-time students (one student ticket per valid ID) may receive 35% off regular ticket prices. This discount is offered by phone or in person for every performance and is subject to availability. arenastage.org

Night Adventure at the Botanic Garden

Ever wonder what it’s like to be at the U.S. Botanic Garden late at night after the public and gardeners have gone home? A night adventure awaits you as you venture out on a flashlight tour of the Jungle, explore HillRag | October 2013 H 113

kids&family night-blooming flowers and night pollinators, experience the cool of the night desert and participate in several hands-on plant science experiments. Please note: Participants must be between the ages of 8 and 12 and be accompanied by an adult. No adults may enroll without registered children. Parents must remain on site during the program. Night Adventure is on Saturday, Oct 26, 7-9:30 p.m. It’s free but pre-registration is required. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov

build, using rhythm, rhyme and imagination! A free-play session at the end of the performance invites the children to explore the show’s props. Presented by Imagination Stage collaboration with England’s

Shake Up Your Saturday: Designing Shakespeare at the Folger

On Saturday, Oct 12, 10-11 a.m., children and parents are invited to join the junior production team as everyone plots and plays their way

Student Matinees: Romeo and Juliet at the Folger

The classic tale of deathmark’d love: When the children of two warring families discover their love for one another, their faced with danger on all sides, described in Shakespeare’s most poetic language. Experience the excitement of live theater with a student matinee! These fulllength, weekday Folger Theatre performances are followed by post-show discussions with members of the cast. Come early and eat lunch in their Great Hall or Elizabeth Garden. Student Matinees are Oct 23 and 31; Nov 14 and 20. For tickets and availability, call 202-6750336, or email kdittrich@folger. edu. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu

Kids Euro Festival Event at Library of Congress

On Oct 19, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Lithuanian artist Kestutis Kasparavicius presents “The Real Giraffe,” a hands-on illustration workshop for ages 7-12 in the Young Readers Center, Ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building. 202-707-1950. loc.gov

Imagination Stage: “From Here To There” at the Atlas

A delightful show for the youngest theatre-goers all about the joy building bridges and knocking them down, too. Join two playful characters that climb over, craw under, and even hide behind the bridges they 114 H hillrag.com

Mr. Gabe “The Pied Piper of Takoma Park”

Kid’s Music: Mr. Gabe at Ebenezers

Mr. Gabe’s repertoire combines classic children’s folk songs and nursery rhymes with child-friendly pop songs and a smattering of originals. A typical Mr. Gabe performance might start with a medley of “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” “the ABC Song,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” move on to “Do Re Mi” from the “The Sound of Music,” culminate in a rousing rendition of “Five Little Monkeys” and end with “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles. Throughout his performances, Gabe encourages the audience-children and grown-ups-to sing, shout, stomp, dance, and make animal and car noises. So is seeing Mr. Gabe an educational experience? “Perhaps, in the larger sense of the word,” Gabe mused when asked that question recently. “But my goal is really to allow the children-and me-to have fun. And to set them up for a nice long nap afterwards.” $5 for everyone 1 year and older. Saturday, Oct 19, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. at Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com

award-winning Tell Tale Hearts Theatre Company. For ages 1-5. $8. Oct 16-21. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org

through the Folger’s latest exhibition, Here is a Play Fitted. It’s free and recommended for ages 6-12. Reserve your spot at folger.edu. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E.

Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu

Barn Night and Kid’s Day at the Horse Show

The Washington International Horse Show Barn Night is a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win big prizes and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening! Barn Night is on Thursday, Oct 24, with activities beginning on the concourse at 6:00 p.m. It includes a Stablemates painting party hosted by Breyer Animal Creations. The first 100 kids to arrive will receive a special prize. Participate in the WIHS Barn Night Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win an Essex Classics show shirt. Enjoy the hilarious Gambler’s Choice Show Jumping Costume competition, a Shetland Pony Racing exhibition presented by Charles Owen, a t-shirt toss, plus an autograph session with top riders. wihs.org Kids’ Day is a free, fun, family-friendly event created to engage the local community and educate kids and their families about horses and equestrian sport. It will take place (rain or shine) on Saturday, Oct 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both inside Verizon Center and on a closed city street just outside the arena. wihs.org

Kid’s Night at Labyrinth Games & Puzzles

On Oct 5 and Nov 2 7, 4-6 p.m., kids learn to play Magic: the Gathering. Labyrinth has started a monthly event, specifically for younger Magic players! They’ll teach tips and tricks, strategies, different deckbuilding techniques, and more! This class is great for kids who know how to play but are looking for opponents their age, and for beginners as well! Magic is a complex, highly strategic game that develops analytical and math skills. Recommended age is 9+. $10. RSVP is required for this event by emailing kathleen@labyrinthgameshop.com.

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Boo at the Zoo

This Halloween party is full of merry (not scary) surprises for families with children ages 2-12. Get ready to fill your Boo at the Zoo tote bag at over 30 snack and treat stations throughout the Zoo. In between collecting the goodies enjoy animal encounters, keeper talks, and exploring the grounds that will be transformed into a Halloween haven. Oct 25, 26 and 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets on sale now at nationalzoo. si.edu.

Back To School Safety For Teen Drivers

As part of their ongoing effort to help raise awareness for teenage driving safety, Driving-Tests.org, a leading online educational learning site that offers free permit practice test services to US learner drivers, recently released a new ParentTeen Safe Driving Contract, which is available for free download at driving-tests.org. Why is a Parent-Teen Driving Contract necessary? Car accidents are still the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds, accounting for almost 40% of all teen deaths. Helping your teenager learn how to be a safe, careful driver can make the difference in their survival behind the wheel. Although this parent-driver contract may seem rather formal, it should serve as a symbol of the great passage of knowledge that goes into learning how to drive.

Celebrate Cats Day at the Zoo

This event offers educational and fun activities for children and adults, keeper talks and animal demonstrations. Take a look into the fascinating lives of big cats. Learn how National Zoo staff cares for these incredible animals and find out about the threats to different cat species face in the wild. Oct 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Parking at the Zoo costs $16 for the first 3 hours, and $22 for more than 3 hours. nationalzoo.si.edu

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“The Big Draw” at the American Art Museum

The Big Draw is an international celebration of the idea that everyone can draw. The 2013 theme is Draw the Future and the American Art Museum is offering handson workshops, free drawing space, supplies, and lots of creative ideas to get you started. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm and courage to put pencil to paper and see where it takes you! Saturday, Oct 12, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. 202-633-1000. americanart.si.edu

NSO Family Concert “Halloween Spooktacular: The Sequel!”

In this frightfully fun follow-up to the NSO’s popular Halloween Spooktacular program, an incognito Ankush Kumar Bahl conducts a new round of goosebump-inducing favorites including the Toccata and Fugue in D minor-J.S. Bach’s most famous organ piece-featuring the new Rubenstein Family Organ, the “Ritual Fire Dance” from Manuel de Falla’s ballet score El amor brujo (“Love the Magician”), “Anitra’s Dance” from Edvard Grieg’s music for the play Peer Gynt, and a selection from John Williams’s score for the Harry Potter films. For ages 5 and up. Don your spookiest ‘ween wear and come early for pre-concert trick-or-treating plus a special Haunted Hall Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo,” a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO. Oct 27, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Immediately following the 3 p.m. performance, meet concert artists for a free Kids’ Chat. Tickets, from $15. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202-416-8000. kennedy-center.org

Reading Partners Needs Volunteers

Reading Partners is a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-on-one literacy tutoring to students who are struggling with reading. Tutors use a researchbased curriculum, and program staff regularly assess students to benchmark and monitor student

progress. Devoting just one hour each week to a student can make a tremendous impact. Last year, 99% of Reading Partners’ DC students improved their rate of learning in reading, and 90% narrowed their achievement gap. This year, Reading Partners is partnering with 12 local district and charter elementary schools and is opening opportunities for 600 students living in economically disadvantaged communities. readingpartners.org

Pumpkin Panache Family Festival at Brookside Gardens

The whole family will enjoy this event, including lots of pumpkin crafts, games, and activities. Try your bowling skills with a pumpkin, paint a pumpkin, play pumpkin golf and pumpkin penny pitch plus taste a few delicious pumpkin treats! Register children ages 2 and up. $8/child (adult free); registration required at ParkPASS.org; Course number 247699. Event is Friday, Oct 18, 5-8 p.m. For more information: call 301-962-1400 or visit brooksidegardens.org. Brookside Garden is at 1800 Glenallan Ave. Wheaton, MD.

Day of the Dead Family Day at the American Art Museum

On Saturday, Nov 2, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., explore the museum’s new Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art exhibition and celebrate the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). Enjoy performances throughout the day and try out craft activities, including making paper marigolds, papel picado (a decorative paper-cutting craft), creating memory books, and decorating skull masks. American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. 202-633-1000. americanart.si.edu

Fall Family Day at the Daughters of the American Revolution

On Saturday, Oct 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., fall into the spirit of the season by making a beeswax candle to light the autumn nights and other fun crafts like a magnetic puzzle. Contact the museum at (202) 879-3240 or museum@dar.

org. Supplies are limited. Advance registration requested; drop-ins welcomed. Free and for ages 5 and older. DAR Museum, 1776 D St. NW. 202-628-1776. dar.org

Air and Scare at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Their annual Halloween event, Air & Scare, features the spooky side of air and space at the UdvarHazy Center! Each year, people arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating. They participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloweenthemed activities. The tiniest visitors check out the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story. They can even pose for a photo with their favorite Star Wars character! Saturday, Oct 26, 2-7 p.m. at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA. 703-572-4118. airandspace.si.edu

Kids Euro Festival

Kids Euro Festival returns to the Washington area Oct 16-Nov 13, with more than 200 free, European-themed events for children aged 2-12 and their families. The Festival unites the 28 embassies of the European Union (EU) and more than 30 American cultural institutions, such as the Kennedy Center,, DC Public Library, Strathmore, Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre, National Geographic, and AFI Silver Theatre. Croatia, new to the EU this year, will participate in the Festival for the first time. All of the embassies and organizations work together to transform the capital region into an actionpacked cultural adventure. Kids Euro Festival artists include many of Europe’s most talented performers for children in diverse and imaginative live shows of puppetry, dance, music, theater, storytelling, and more. Weekend programs offer performances, films, and reading workshops that showcase favorite stories from several EU nations. While all of the performances are free, some performances require reservations, which can be made at kidseurofestival.org. H

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kids&family

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

Deirdre Schmutz at dschmutz@stpeterschooldc.org; 202.544.1618 or visit www. stpeterschooldc.org.

Calling All Capitol Hill School Librarians

The Friends of Southeast Library have a new program to help out school libraries continue their important work of creating a new generation of readers. Any librarian at a public school on Capitol Hill can apply to receive money to help out their libraries. Funds can be used for all library-related purposes. In order to qualify for a grant, the school must have a PTA or similar organization that can be the recipient of the money and disburse it. The application process has been made as St. Peter school receives National Blue Ribbon Award simple and stream-lined as possible, to ensure that no improvements are being made in stutime is wasted in writing a proposal, but can be spent in making dents’ levels of achievement “We are absolutely thrilled to libraries an important center within receive the National Blue Ribbon the schools. To get an application, award! As a community, our ambiplease email foselibrary@gmail.com. tion is to ‘always reach higher,’ said St. Peter School Principal Jennifer Ketchum. “This award reflects our commitment to high standards and St. Peter School Named 2013 the climate of high expectations; the National Blue Ribbon School outstanding dedication and talent of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne our faculty and staff; and the positive Duncan today recognized St. Peter work ethic of our students.” School as a 2013 National Blue RibSecretary Duncan announced bon School. Entering its 145th year the coveted National Blue Ribbon of service to the Capitol Hill com- School awards via live stream, and munity, St. Peter School was nation- the Department will honor the 286 ally recognized as “Exemplary High recipients from across the nation at a Performing,” a category in which recognition ceremony on Nov. 18-19 private schools are recognized among in Washington, D.C. the nation’s highest performing “Excellence in education matschools, as measured by nationally- ters and we should honor the schools normed tests. The National Blue Rib- that are leading the way to prepare bon Schools award honors public and students for success in college and private elementary, middle, and high careers,” said Secretary Duncan. “Naschools where students perform at tional Blue Ribbon schools represent very high levels or where significant examples of educational excellence,

St. Peter School News

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Langley Elementary Celebrates Art

and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education.” To select National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department requested nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A list of the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

St. Peter’s Fall Open House

St. Peter School Fall Open Houses will be held on November 13 from 6-8 p.m. and November 14 from 9-11 a.m. Prospective families are invited to tour the school and meet with faculty and parents. If you are interested in learning more about the school, please contact Mrs.

On September 15th Langley Elementary, a DCPS public school, celebrated International Dot Day! The book, The Dot by Peter H Reynolds, is a story about a girl named Vashti who says that she “just can’t draw!” Her art teacher encourages her to just make a dot and see where it takes her. After Vashti makes her first dot, it opens her confidence to making more and more dots. Amanda Rogers, visual arts teacher at Langley Elementary, loves to use this story at the beginning of the year to encourage her art students to try new things and build their confidence. “All children need is a little confidence and a skill they can be proud of and they will be ready to take on the world!” says Rogers. Located just outside the visual arts room at Langley Elementary is a bulletin board where the students have displayed their own dots in honor of National Dot Day. There are papers filled with oodles of tiny dots and papers filled with one large colored in dot and there is even dots strung together that make up new images. The diversity and color of the dot display reflects the diversity and vibrancy in the student body. It looks like Langley is one exciting place to be! The classroom blog can be viewed at http://northeastcityart.blogspot. com and the classroom instagram name is northeastcityart and donation to purchase supplies can be giv-

en through Donors Choose at http:// www.donorschoose.org/amanda.rogers. - Amanda Rogers, Visual Arts Teacher. Langley Elementary School, 101 T St. NE, 202-724-4223.

few weeks and, when they have hatched from their chrysalises, release them. While we are shivering this winter, they’ll be sunning themselves in Mexico.

Maury Elementary

Labyrinth Games and Puzzles is selling hand-knit hats as a Maury fundraiser.

Maury is working to put the “E” in STEM! In Think Tank, students are using their visual/spatial and interpersonal intelligences (Picture and People Smarts) to complete Engineering challenges. One resource that helps us achieve these goals are Lego Simple Machine kits. We purchased these with the generous funding of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation in 2010. The third grade students have begun to study levers (the first of six types of simple machines) by building catapults. Lots of fun but also hard work. The exercise presents many challenges, not the least of which is learning to work together, collaboratively. For more information about the Think Tank program, feel free to follow Maury Think Tank at http://maurythinktank.blogspot.com or on Twitter at @maurythintank.

Our Monarchs are here!

Butterflies, that is. The larvae arrived this week and have been distributed to each classroom where they are being fattened up on a crop of delicious milkweed, grown for their enjoyment in our front yard. Our students will study their development over the course of the next

Each is the individual creation of a local knitting-nut/ Maury-aunt and would make good gifts during the upcoming holiday season. They cost $15 and come in sizes from infants through adults. All proceeds go directly to the Maury PTA. Many thanks to Labyrinth, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. -Elizabeth Nelson. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE. 202698-3838; mauryelementary. com. Facebook and Twitter.

Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan School News

From left to right Seniors and Members of the Student Govt: Giancarlo Montes, Mark Yde, Ellis ByrdTabscott and Brother Ignacio Gonzalez, one of the school’s monks and teachers.

We have had a great start to the school year with more students than ever – over 300! CHML has our first 6th grade class which begins our journey to expand CHML to include a full Montessori middle school through the 8th grade. Parents, teachers and students are excited about a middle school that will marry academic excellence with project-based, hands on learning experiences that

allow students to explore and begin to master the full complement of 21 st Century skills they need to achieve in college, work, and life. This fall, we are particularly thankful to the DC Council, the DC Public Schools administration, and the Department of General Services for approving and beginning the renovation of our playground to provide our growing student body with safe, exciting play spaces. Our gardens, living classrooms, and outdoor play spaces are critical aspects to achieving an engaging, challenging and full learning experience for all or our students.

Haunted Harvest

Maury Student building catapults in Think Tank.

Please join us! On October 26, we will host our 3rd annual Haunted Harvest Festival from 6-9 pm at 215 G St NE. Capitol Hill families, put on your costumes and join us for activities such as a haunted house, ghoulish games, freaky face painting, pumpkin painting, mad science experiments, and more... if you dare! $20 per family donation suggested. Hot dogs and chili for sale, too (age 3 and under eat free)! http://capitolhillmontessorischool.org

St. Anselm’s School News

The students of St. Anselm’s Abbey School commemorated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a peal of bells from the monastic bell tower. Representatives from the student government sent the sound of bells echoing across the school grounds. Meanwhile, their classmates assembled with the monks, faculty, and staff to watch documentary footage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s prophetic “I Have a Dream” speech. Headmaster Bill Crittenberger led a closing prayer, urging everyone to reflect on the importance of Dr. King’s message—and to let freedom ring from every corner of the school. Amy Talley. www.saintanselms.org.

Friends Community School News Fall Fair

Friends Community School will celebrate the opening of its new arts and teaching spaces in a ceremony at 1 pm during its annual Fall Fair on Sunday, October 20, 2013 from Noon – 4 pm. FCS has expanded its LEED SilHillRag | October 2013 H 119

kids&family gathered to plan and plant a new garden in front of the school. We built several raised beds and planted dozens of seedlings. Those tiny plants have already grown into a beautiful garden of broccoli, kale, carrots, Brussels sprouts, herbs, and more. Think your kindergartner won’t eat kale? Just wait until she grows it herself. -by Hannah Schardt. SWS, 920 F St NE.202-727-7377. schoolwithinschool.org

Ludlow Taylor News

A train will carry children around the school grounds at Friends Community School’s Fall Fair on Sunday, October 20.

ver Certified building to include a lower school science lab, an art studio, and a performing arts space, as well as additional classrooms, offices and much-awaited student lockers. Students have begun to use the new space this fall. The Fall Fair also will include student-run traditional games, a moon bounce, a toy and book sale, face painting, a strolling clown, and plenty of good food prepared by local restaurants and school families. The fair will take place rain or shine and all are welcome.

Open Houses

Friends Community School will host several admissions open houses throughout the fall: October 17, November 2 and November 12. All begin at 9 a.m. sharp, include an informational session and tour of the school, and end at 11 a.m. The deadline for applications for the next school year is January 22, 2014. Friends Community School is a small Quaker kindergarten to 8th grade school that educates children of all beliefs. It has a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 12 in kindergarten and about 15 in other grades. For more info, contact Connie Belfiore, Director of Admissions and Outreach, at connie@friendscommunityschool.org or 301-4412100 x129 or at www.friendscommunityschool.org. 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 -Eric Rosenthal.

Ludlow Taylor has kicked off the new school year with a bang! Of hammers, that is, putting on the finishing touches on the long awaited renovation that is nothing short of remarkable. The school is virtually unrecognizable. Gone are the old windows, floors, walls, HVAC system. In their place you’ll find a modern, state-of-the-art building. From a new dance studio to an incredible parent resource room to West Elm-style décor in the classrooms – you will walk in and may never want to leave! Stop by and take a look! In other LT news, the new PTA Executive Board is off to a great start, setting aggressive community building and fundraising goals. Congratulations to the new board! Daivernee Primus, President; Amy Offner and Ben Allen, Vice President (s); Carrie Elliot, Treasurer; Rebekah Benson-Flannery, Secretary. LT students and families celebrated their first annual Ludlow Taylor Day at Nationals Park on September 22nd as the Nats took on the Miami Marlins. This was their first fundraiser towards realizing their goal of a new playground. This is sure to be an exciting year at Ludlow Taylor and we wish all students attending our community schools a great year! Angelica Alfonso-Royals. Ludlow Taylor Elementary School, 659 G St. NE. 202-698-3244.

Capitol Hill Day School News CHDS Third Grade Explorers

Twenty-three 3rd-graders. Three maps. One destination. Taking their exploration theme to heart, Capitol Hill Day School third-graders recently created maps and used each map’s compass rose to navigate different routes to the Capitol. After each group arrived, they compared notes and determined which route was

School-Within-School News Kindness Day

Happy Kindness Day, everyone! School-Within-School celebrated its 13th annual Kindness Day on September 10—the first in our new, permanent building. Students entered the multipurpose room under an “arm bridge” formed by the teachers, who sang a welcome song. As a group, they sang songs about kindness and friendship. And the students created and exchanged handmade gifts with friends from other classes. Kindness Day was started by the SWS community after the events of September 11, 2001, as a way to set a kind, peaceful, friendly tone for the school year.

New Garden

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SWS celebrated its 13th annual Kindness Day

Kindergartener Graciela Royals on the first day of school in the newly modernized Ludlow Taylor building

fastest, shortest, longest, easiest...and then they all took the shortest route back to school. Future field trips will include visits to a colonial farm, Mount Vernon, and Colonial Williamsburg, and sailing on the schooner Sultana. From maps and orienteering, students move on to an exploration of New World settlements and colonization, and ultimately to an examination of the Lewis and Clark expedition and westward expansion. Studies in science connect to and enhance social studies concepts. Exploration and mapping studies tie into inquirybased experiments investigating magnetic properties and building a compass. Students examine water and rivers, and consider the properties of water as they learn about the rivers and tributaries the Lewis and Clark expedition followed and crossed on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Through literature, hands-on projects, writing, and other creative means, students learn how people lived in colonial times

For Students of All Ages

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CHDS 3rd Grade explorers navigate different routes to the Capitol. Photo: Cathy Callahan

and early America, and begin to understand the pivotal influence of geography and the environment on the daily lives of early Americans. Students also consider ideas of interdependence and the interaction of cultures that took place during this dynamic time in history. These 3rd Grade explorations are one way that CHDS builds confident learners, able to navigate their community, their learning, and, ultimately, their lives. -Jane Angarola (jangarola@chds.org), Sydney Daniels (sdaniels@chds.org). Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Ave, SE.

Eliot-Hine School News Eliot-Hine is Reaching Out

She also has other ideas – cultivating close relationships with their feeder schools, for example; having a smooth transition for their 8th graders into 9th at Eastern; and making the Eliot-Hine campus a place where the community holds meetings and events. “I want to work with Ms. Young and her vision of what she wants for an IB school, and support that with new partnerships and engaging the parents and community,” said Mrs. Morgan. To that end, please let her know if there’s some way you or your company would like to be involved at Eliot-Hine! Contact her at ophelia.morgan@ dc.gov. - E-H parent Heather Schoell. Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave., NE. 202- 939-5380 or eliothinemiddleschool.org. Twitter @EliotHine; www. facebook.com/EliotHineMS

Ophelia Morgan started this school year as Eliot-Hine’s conduit to the community. Ms. Morgan comes from a background of higher education, and will bring her experience of community outreach and partnerships to Eliot-Hine. She has a great sense of “what should be” and “what can be”, in addition to channeling the support of current and future Eliot-Hine families and friends. Mrs. Morgan plans to continue the work of enriching the visage of the school, including landscaping and large-scale photos of students to adorn the entrance and hallways. Eliot-Hine’s Ophelia Morgan meets with 7-Eleven corporate rep Shawn Nelson. Photo: H. Schoell.

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Brent Elementary News Open House Dates Announced

Brent Elementary has announced Open House dates for the school year. At these events interested families will be able to meet Principal Peter Young, Brent teachers and parents, and hear more about Brent’s highquality responsive education and unique museum program. Families will also receive a tour of the school. The 2013-2014 Open House Schedule is: Monday, October 7, 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, November 4, 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, December 2, 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, January 13, 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, February 3, 9-10:30 a.m. To RSVP for an event, please contact Denise Diggs at denise.diggs@dc.gov or at 202698-3364. Children are most welcome to attend. - Denise Diggs. Brent Elementary, 301 North Carolina Ave SE, Washington DC 20003 www.brentelementary.org

Tyler is also please to introduce Karen Geating, our new world languages teacher. Ms. Geating joins Tyler in a part-time capacity serving PS-5th graders in the arts integration program. Ms. Geating has several important goals for her students. “In addition to introducing elements of Spanish language, we’ll also focus on Spanish culture and its interconnectedness with language and the arts,” said Geating. “Another important aspect of world languages at Tyler is to bridge the gap between the Spanish immersion and arts integration programs. It gives us an opportunity to integrate the strengths of both programs for the benefit of all Tyler Tigers.” Additionally, our special education teacher, Jennifer Krystopowicz (“Ms. K”), is giving students a brain boost with BOKS, a before-school program that includes athletic skills training, running, and fabulously

Tyler Elementary News

There are several exciting new programs and staff members at Tyler Elementary this year. We are thrilled to welcome Steve Reichlen as our new arts integration + media teacher. “The arts fuse many of the common core standards taught in the classroom with subjects that students love,”

Law Offices of James M. Loots, PC Serving The Capitol Hill Community Since 1984 General Litigation and Arbitration Franchising and Business Organizations Commercial Leasing and Development Labor and Employment Issues Erin & Max, two Brent second graders participating in Beautification Day.

fun games. BOKS, which stands for “Build Our Kids’ Success” launched at Tyler in 2012 and will run through spring 2014. Colleen Cancio. Tyler Elementary, 1001 G St, SE. For more information, visit TylerElementary.net or contact Colleen Cancio at ccancio@gmail.com.

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Amidon-Bowen News Community Partnerships

Amidon-Bowen students benefit from the many partnerships Exercise is fun with BOKS, a before-school fitness program the school has forged with government agencies and professional orsaid Reichlen. “Our goal is to connect language ganizations that provide them with unique arts, math, social studies, diversity, and charexperiences and educational opportunities acter building skills with self-expression.” Mr. throughout the year. Below are a few of Reichlen is creating new art centers in the classthe partnerships confirmed for the current rooms and developing several new partnerships school year. to enrich students’ art-based experiences. HillRag | October 2013 H 123

kids&family NASA Partnership – Working exclusively with Amidon-Bowen’s fourth graders, NASA will continue its Rover Project in the current school year. Department of Transportation – The DOT will be returning with its Transportation Club, which meets during school hours, for fifth graders. The Washington Architectural Foundation – The WAF has initiated an architecture program for the school’s fifth graders. The program, Architecture in the Schools (AIS) “matches volunteer architects with public school teachers to enrich the learning experience of children,” according to the WAF’s website. Retired Engineers, Scientists, and Technicians in the Classroom – ReSET is a DC-based non-profit that introduces students to engineering, science and technology in the classroom by partnering working and retired engineers, scientists and technicians with elementary school teachers to help “improve science motivation and literacy,” according to the organization’s website. D.C. United – The city’s professional soccer team and its non-profit arm, United for D.C., selected Amidon-Bowen as one of 12 locations in the city where it will run its United Soccer Club, a program that teaches “soccer and the importance of focusing on a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and proper nutrition to youth,” according to the team’s press release. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Volkswagen and the U.S. Department of Health. Lucy Rojansky. http://profiles.dcps. dc.gov/amidon-bowen+elementary+school Amidon Bowen, 401 I St. SW.

Friendship Collegiate Academy Students Honor 9/11 Victims

Committed to community service, students at Friendship Public Charter School’s Collegiate Academy marked the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by assembling 400 emergency-preparedness kits for homeless veterans. The event was hosted by Friendship and Serve D.C. to promote community service as an innovative, sustainable solution to pressing social challenges. The college-preparation high school has been celebrated nationally as a highachievement, high-expectations environment in which every child has the opportunity to flourish academically and is set up for future success. Donald Hense, the Founder and Chairman of Friendship Public Charter School, reminded the students of obligations to others and the communities in which they live. In addition to providing practical assistance to others, students learned how to deal with a fire and discussed and wrote messages to adults familiar with combat service in the nation’s military. The high school students also shared with others their experience of the national tragedy at a much younger age. Community service is an essential component of Friendship Public Charter School’s mission. Students are required to provide 120 hours of community service in each school year--20 more 124 H hillrag.com

than the District mandates for its schools. Friendship’s Collegiate Academy, at 4095 Minnesota Avenue N.E. friendshipshipschools.org

Elsie Whitlow Stokes News Students Commemorate the March on Washington

To kick-off the school year and help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School had a day of special activities. In the afternoon of the anniversary, Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech was aired. Following that the school rang freedom bells at 3 p.m. while students sang “We Shall Overcome.” The celebration demonstrated the school’s commitment to community service and its passion for teaching students about social justice. The Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS is one of a limited number of bilingual immersion D.C. public charter schools. They require pre-K through sixth grade students to speak, read, write and think in two languages—French and English or Spanish and English. Besides the many early education benefits of this approach, the school, which has been categorized as a high-performing Tier One school by the city’s Public Charter School Board, intends its academic program to prepare students to be global citizens. Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School, 3700 Oakview Terrace NE. www.ewstokes.org

pers, and basil. A few hours each week in September, students harvested produce, cleaned and chopped it, to create a popular pesto dip--all the while learning about the nutritional content of common snack foods. On September 11, Stuart-Hobson students got treated to a rock concert at the school performed by Air Force rock band Max Impact. The band invited kids with family members in the military to come up on stage to dance. SEM (School-wide Enrichment Model) Program Coordinator at the Cluster, Stuart-Hobson teacher Dowan McNair-Lee has won the Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching, one of DC’s top honors. The award and $5000 will be presented at the Kennedy Center on November 4. Five students from Stuart-Hobson served as junior journalists at the Congressional Black Caucus convention in September. They manned a booth for the Washington Informer, handing out papers and meeting with congressional officials. Stuart-Hobson 8th grade social studies teacher Sean McGrath and the 8th grade team facilitated a Constitution Day assembly on September 17, to commemorate the signing of the Constitution in 1788. Three lawyers from the National Bar Association, led by former Stuart-Hobson student Dionna Maria Lewis, engaged students in scenarios involving the first and sixth amendments. The second Tuesday of the month is Cluster night at Tunnicliff ’s, from 5 – 10 p.m, when a portion of the profits go back to the Cluster! All are welcome to enjoy food, company, and supporting our school. --Beth Dewhurst, teacher. H

Cluster School News

The Capitol Hill Cluster School had many physical changes this year: Peabody Primary was renovated, and Stuart-Hobson Middle School’s renovation continues. Construction for the latter’s three-story museum magnet addition will begin this fall. The addition will house the school’s bands, choir, art room, and drama room. Watkins Elementary is also to be modernized after 2014. At Peabody, we welcomed Luke Hoffman as the campus’s first fulltime music teacher. In September, Peabody kindergarteners went apple picking at Butler’s Orchard in Maryland. Watkins students are politically engaged: Each class sent a representative to the school’s Constitutional Convention, bearing class rules. Each grade discussed the rules and from there will formulate schoolwide rules. Outside, the Watkins FoodPrints garden is bursting with late summer produce, including cucumbers, pep-

Stuart-Hobson journalists Amber Whetstone and Chloe Pine interview Congressman John Lewis at the Congressional Black Caucus convention.

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Homes & Gardens The Old East Front of the U.S. Capitol

by John Lockwood

he replacement of the old East Front of the U.S. Capitol was a major landmark in the Capitolâ€™s history. Unlike the old West Front, which was simply restored in the 1980s, the original East Front was covered over with a new extended front during 1958 to 1962. The effort to install a new east Front began, rather surprisingly, in 1902. Speaker of the House Joe Cannon suggested a new addition, a proposal that had the House members applauding him. Off and on for the next half-century, the idea popped up and was always batted down. Sometime in 1955, there was even talk of putting up a new Capitol building altogether. But by 1958, the idea finally began gaining traction, supported by many powerful members of Congress, including the thenSpeaker Sam Rayburn. Photograph showing the yellowish color of the old wings of the U.S. Capitol, and the Proponents gave various reasons for the projbluish color of the new East Front. Photo: John Lockwood ect. They said the huge Capitol dome appeared to be asymmetrically placed, tending to overhang the East Front. An extended new front would give the that the House and Senate wings would be sandblasted clean, dome a more central look. Also, the original stone- so their color would match up with the new East Front. On July 4, 1959, President Eisenhower laid the cornerstone work was supposed to be deteriorating badly, and alof the new front. Workers were told to search for the original legedly could not be restored. cornerstone placed by George Washington on September 18, There was another reason, too. Congress wanted 1793, but they were unable to find it. Almost a year later, on more office space and dining rooms. Extending the May 26, 1960, the first new columns were put in, replacing the old front would provide that. Congress would soon have plenty of new room outside the Capitol as well, 24 old ones. The work continued to progress, until it was finally finished for a new Senate and new House building were goin July 1962. The front had been extended some 32.5 feet. It was ing up. At any rate, whether for art, building safety, or apparent, however, that not all was well with the result. Despite restaurants, the old East Front was finally going to earlier promises, the color of the old House and Senate wings be built upon. The first stage was on August 27, 1958, did not in fact match the new front. The two wings were a light when the scaffolding began to go up. Then, on Sep- yellow, while the new front was light blue. Also, the original $10 tember 11, 1958, a contract was signed for Georgia million price had jumped to $12 million. White marble, since the original quarries were not Meanwhile, what happened to the original pillars that were available at that time. removed? They were carried off and stored at the Capitolâ€™s powThe original quarries by the way, were at Cock- er station, and eventually were moved to a permanent home eysville, Maryland, and Lee, Massachusetts, which in the National Arboretum uptown, where they now stand on had earlier supplied some of the marble used in the display to visitors. Washington Monument. Today, the restored West Front is the only portion of The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Feb- the original U.S. Capitol whose exterior is still visible from ruary 24, 1959. It was announced at the ceremony the outside. H HillRag | October 2013 H 127

The

by Annette Nielsen

Bill Dean (left) and David Healy (right) assist with the annual Capitol Hill Garden Club bulb sale. This year, the bulb sale takes place at Eastern Market each weekend through the end of October, while supplies last. Photo: Ida Mae Mantel. 128 H hillrag.com

Capitol Hill Garden Club

tarted in the early 1950s, the Capitol Hill Garden Club (CHGC) is a group of about 100 dedicated members that brings beauty to our local public green spaces. They also schedule a range of educational programming at their general meetings (open to the public) – on topics like how to care for plants and flowers, the art of Ikebana or how to photograph gardens. Carol Edwards, the CHGC president, has been a member for about five years. “Even before I owned a home, neighbors would suggest that I attend a meeting because I had an interest in gardening. Now, I’m particularly interested in encouraging people who are renting to join and in showing them how the garden club can be relevant to them.” Edwards notes that the garden club has had a substantial impact on Capitol Hill and beyond, “We’re a conduit for many of the hor-

cause she wanted to learn more about gardening to improve her won home garden. Her personal projects include helping another club member in renovating and maintaining the extensive gardens around Peabody School (formerly the Peabody Early Childhood Center) and the establishment of a garden at 120 7th Street NE in front of a Verizon building. She notes that another club member established a garden in front of the Sherwood Recreation Center and that several members are assisting with Kim’s Garden at 8th and North Carolina, SE. Adam Pyle of the US Botanic Garden was recently invited to speak about specifics relating to planting bulbs at a meeting of the Capitol Hill Garden Club. He says, “We’ve definitely seen a larger trend toward urban gardening – and garden clubs can help to spread the word, sharing experiences and tips.” Edwards also has seen an increased interest in “green” topics in general, and part of that interest includes gardens. “If you walk around Capitol Hill, you’ll see many more people have included vegetables in with their flowers -- and almost all of the local schools have started gardens – and many of those gardens get assistance from Garden Club members (some being master gardeners).” Partners Anthony Pontorno and Joseph Purdy have lived on Capitol Hill for nearly 30 years, and Pontorno’s greatgrandmother and Purdy’s Capitol Hill Garden Club members host an annual greens Deck the Halls workshop, a member-only event. Photo: Bill Dean. grandmother also resided in Capitol Hill homes. ticulturists in public gardens throughout the Says Pontorno, “We’ve both been memcity to get the word out – education is part bers of the club since the early 90’s and have of their mission and as our meetings are free enjoyed a lot of good times with neighbors and open to the public, when they speak at and fellow gardeners. We’ve served on the our meetings, we can facilitate that mission.” board, attended lectures and demonstrations, She adds, “When people join the club, they’re and have taken several local tours with the also asked to complete a questionnaire that club – including a fascinating boat trip up the asks what sort of topics are of interest. We Anacostia River.” take those suggestions and really try to idenPurdy adds, “The meetings are an incredtify speakers on the topics.” ible learning experience with noted, knowlVira Sisolak, a past CHGC president, edgeable and interesting speakers. It’s hard to has lived on the Hill since 1974. “All of the say what our favorite topics have been, some members play a role in beautifying our neigh- are basic, like annuals and perennials, etc., borhood by caring for their own gardens and while others cover topics that are unexpectedvarious public gardens throughout the Hill. ly helpful, like dealing with the shade we have We’ve worked to renovate public gardens and so much of, and how to utilize the available develop new ones, encouraging the broader space in a small Hill garden. One that I probcommunity to assist us.” ably can’t use but really enjoyed was on bees, Sisolak says she joined the CHGC be- how many varieties there are on the Hill.” HillRag | October 2013 H 129

Capitol Hill Garden Club president Carol Edwards addresses members at their monthly meeting that takes place the second Tuesday of each month. Photo: Annette Nielsen.

They both agree that one of their favorite meetings each year involves Hill residents showcasing their own gardens. With pictures and diagrams, they describe how they planned and built it, and now how they keep it looking great. New member Keats Webb, a digital imaging specialist who just joined the CHGC, says, “I was encouraged to join by my friend Marissa Zapata who has been a member for a couple of years.” Zapata is an enthusiastic supporter and states, “It’s a good place to be on a Tuesday night – the speakers are really good – from an orchid specialists to a person who gave great instruction on how to photograph plants.” Both Webb and Zapata plan to work on the CHGC annual bulb sale, helping out at Eastern Market over the next month. The bulb sale, and annual event fundraiser over 40 years, is also seen as a service to the community since the bulbs beautify spaces both private and public such as tree boxes. This year, the bulb sale will run through the end of October (as long as supplies last) from 8 a.m.

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to 5 p.m. each day at Eastern Market. Here, you’ll find many of tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, and crocuses – all to be planted during the fall, to bloom in the spring. In the future, Edwards would also like to see the garden club undertake a community service project in which all members could participate – she imagines a project that does not rely on strength – maybe some members can’t build a raised bed or hack invasive vines, but they can plant culinary herbs in a pot and deliver them to needy Capitol Hill seniors. Pyle remarks, “Garden clubs have the ability to really bring people together.” He’s noticed throughout the years that it’s hard to find anyone that doesn’t appreciate plants, “Gardens are therapeutic, and they’re wonderful in that they’re open to everyone.” The Capitol Hill Garden Club meets at 7:30 p.m., the second Tuesday of each month from September to May. The regular meetings are free and open to the public at Church of the Brethren, corner of 4th St SE and North Carolina Ave. Membership dues are $25 for individuals and $45 for a couple. Visit capitolhillgardenclub.blogspot.com/ for membership information or contact Donna Brauth, dbrauth@gmail.com. H

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homesgardens

Green Parenting

Half-Dirty, Diapering and Beyond

by Catherine Plume

moved to the Hill in 1997, and one of the most striking changes in the neighborhood over the years is the huge increase in the number of families with children. As an environmentalist, I wanted to see what Hill families are doing to green their lives and reduce their carbon footprint. My search found some fun and innovative things that you might want to apply to your life – if you have kids, or not. First of all, a pat on the back for all of us Hill residents who are striving to green our lifestyles. Just by living in an urban area and in a smaller home than what’s found in the suburbs or rural

areas, we’re already reducing our carbon footprint. And as the Hill is ever walkable, and with parking ever a challenge, on average we drive less than folks in a less populated area. But what green practices have families brought into their lives? Here’s what I found in my investigation: The “Half Dirty” Concept: Believing that we tend to wash things more than necessary, one of my friends has implemented the “half dirty” concept in her home. Cereal bowls used one morning are merely rinsed with water and then stored in a special space on the counter so they can be used again the

Michael, one of the Monkey’s Uncle Owners outside the shop.

Keya Chatterjee, author of “The Zero Footprint Baby”, and her family living green. 132 H hillrag.com

next morning. After two uses, the bowl is destined to the dishwasher. She’s applied a similar concept to her kids’ clothes. There are special hooks in the bedroom for the “half-dirty” clothes. Again, after two wearings, off to the washer they go. This practice has cut their household water and electricity use, and reduced the use of the clothes dryer. Greener – and Safer Cleaning: Having kids – and especially toddlers has spurred more than one Hill resident to opt for greener cleaning solutions. While there’s now a bounty of green cleaning solutions on the market, many are finding that white vinegar and baking soda are very viable and nontoxic cleaning options (be careful mixing these two ingredients together though). One Hill parent created a kid accessible rag drawer with worn out

clothes. As spills occurred, her kids learned at an early age to go to the rag drawer to clean up the mess. This practice decreased the use of paper towels and put worn out material to a further use. The rags are thrown in the washer and reused for the next spill. Game It: Other parents have made green living a game for their kids. A home energy monitor will document how much energy your home is consuming, and you can see energy consumption drop as various appliances and gadgets are unplugged. Other monitors will document energy consumption for a single device. Pepco also has an online function that allows you to monitor your energy use over time and compare it to other similar households. These tools provide plenty of options for games and competitions among friends – just make sure the refrigerator doesn’t stay unplugged for too long! There are online options, too, that encourage kids to adopt a recycling habit. Terracycle.com has brigades for hard to recycle items. You collect the goods (energy bar wrappers, scotch tape dispenser, etc.), send them in a no-cost mail pouch that Terracycle provides, and they’re upcycled into new products that are actually quite useful. Gardens: Household and community gardens can be found all over the Hill and provide kids with a great opportunity to get dirty while learning about urban and organic gardening and the importance of eating locally. Vermiculture (worms) and composting go hand in hand with urban gardening. Both need to be fed regularly and can significantly reduce household waste. DC has recently passed legislation allowing residents to raise bees, though rules on raising chickens remain unclear. Dining out: According to the BeStrawFree Campaign started by a 9 year-old, Americans use some 500 million straws daily. That’s a lot of plastic that is destined for landfills. Have your kids sign the pledge to go “strawless” and bring a reusable container

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with you for any leftovers when you dine out. Resources: Instead of buying new clothes, why not buy – and sell – gently used items. While there are online options for buying or selling clothes such as CraigsList, ThredUp and even Diapersswappers, check out Capitol Hill’s own Monkey’s Uncle at 321 7th St SE just down from Eastern Market. While I knew they had a good stock of infant clothes, their inventory includes clothes for newborns to teens, as well as maternity clothing. FreecycleDC is a great local resource for finding and passing reusable goods along while large plastic toys (as well as laundry baskets and lawn furniture) can be recycled with our curbside recycling. And finally, I must mention my friend, colleague and fellow carbon emissions fighter, Keya Chatterjee, who recently wrote The Zero Footprint Baby: How to Save the Planet While Raising a Healthy Baby. This is a great resource for the ecofriendly parent who is looking for carbon-friendly advice on everything from the baby shower to the minivan and the larger apartment or first house – and of course diapers. (Bottom line according to Keya “the carbon footprint of cloth diapers is not appreciably higher than that of a disposable diaper if you have to use a clothes dryer” ..but line drying works just fine! The book is available on Amazon in hard copy or download and not to be missed! And what about those diapers? There’s an online cloth diapering community in DC called DCCDers for parents using or considering cloth diapers for their babies. It’s a forum for sharing questions, tips, tricks, reviews, offers to trade, buy or sell diapers, or anything else about cloth diapering in the Washington DC area. Catherine Plume is the blogger for the DCRecycler, www.dcrecylcer.blogspot. com H

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by Wendy Blair

ince moving to DC I have noticed that my tulips do not do well here. The blooms are spectacular, but last only days. And the following year, only a few come up again. I follow planting instructions to a T. Can you tell me why – and suggest alternatives? As you imply, there is really no substitute for a tulip. They come in so many shapes, heights and glorious colors. It is our DC summers that overwhelm the tulip – less the heat than the moisture, which rots their bulbs. Tulips need full sun and excellent drainage. Continue to plant tulips but choose ones that bloom in April, not May. And treat your tulips like annuals. Plant new bulbs every autumn. Our landscaper put a small bush near the foundation of our house. I have emailed a photo to see if you can identify it, as our landscaper is out of the country. This small bush is now 12 feet by 12 feet and looks stunning. However it has completely hidden our also-stunning Hibiscus, which used to be much taller than it. The Hibiscus is even closer to the house. What should I do? Put the Hibiscus in a pot and move it to some other sunny place. Your shrub appears to be a variegated Dogwood – Cornus Alba Elegantissima -- not a tree, but a shrub. Because it is large, it will be more difficult to move.

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703.765.9344 You can prune your Dogwood after it blooms in late spring – but only if you must. It seems so happy. My husband takes care of all the watering of our thirsty garden. A case of rheumatoid arthritis has started to rob him of some of the strength in his hands. I won’t go into my own health issues – suffice it to say that I cannot take over this task. We really can’t afford a sprinkler system – or a servant! Any thoughts? There are some new super light garden hoses. See the article in the May 2013 Consumer Reports under flexible garden hoses. When not in use, they shrivel up and can be curled into a circle not much bigger than your fist. Whereas a traditional garden hose is heavy and difficult to wind around a hook or stand, a flexible hose is easy to maneuver. Then when you turn on the water – mirabile dictu – it swells up. After watering, the hose reverts to a small, fist-sized roll. They are reasonably priced -- online and in box stores. On Tuesday, October 8, 2013 the Capitol Hill Garden Club will feature a program on Houseplants. 7 pm at the Church of the Brethren, 4th Street door, corner North Carolina Avenue and 4th Street, SE. Membership details are at 202-544-4261. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to the Problem Lady c/o The Capitol Hill Garden Club at andrew@hillrag.com. Your problems might prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. H

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HillRag | October 2013 H 141

PEST CONTROL

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202-543-5632

zoolatry (zoo-ahl’-uh-tree) the worship of animals – especially a pet

Mid-Day Dog Walking Service Pet sitting – Medications Administered Crate Training Insured – Bonded Member of National Association of Professional Petsitters

(202) 547-WALK (9255) Meet Our Walkers Online at

www.zoolatry.com

Big dogs, puppies, hard to handle and older dogs. I love them all ….and I also love kitties.

Phillip DuBasky Dog Walking, Kitty Care & Pet Sitting

Serving Capitol Hill Since 1995

Never missed a walk in 10 years Experienced and Reliable Outstanding Hill References • Insured by PSA

202.889.0996 HillRag | October 2013 H 143

MISC. LEARN LANGUAGE

Chinese

On the Hill Helen Zhu

Professional language instructor Visionary Practitioner (for children/adults)

New class starts Sep/Mar

Classes + Online lessons + Network

202.885.9406

www.chinesehorizon.net

Our website just got a whole lot better! capitalcommunitynews.com

DOG TRAINING

Learn Chinese Communicate

at Soul Levels FOR RENT OFFICE SPACE

Ofﬁce/Retail Space 500sf. 2nd Flr. 402 8th St. NE, very desirable area for any business or ofﬁce, directly in front of public transportation and minutes from Union Sta. Large window with 8th St. view and minutes to H St. $1500 monthly NNN. Booker Tolbert, 202-701-8901. bbtolbert@hotmail.com.

1BR APARTMENT

In The Heart of Capitol Hill. 1 Bedroom apt. minutes from Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, Georgetown Law School, Eastern Market Metro and Capitol South Metro. $1575. Call Mike 202-841-2063 for more information.

PET ADOPTION

CAPITAL CATS

Adoption Event at Howl to the Chief Sundays Noon to 3 PM 733 8th Street, S.E.

a five-minute walk from Eastern Market Metro.

Visit our Web site to view pictures and their engaging personalities at www.capitalcats.petfinder.com or www.homealone.petfinder.com Capital Cats is a non-profit cat rescue organization on the Hill that has many wonderful, personable cats and kittens available for adoption to good homes.

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FOR SALE SUBARU FORESTER

2005 Subaru Forester 2.5 XS. Asking $9,750. Low Mileage: 59,000. 5 speed manual. AWD. Panoramic sliding sunroof. Original owner. Excellent condition. Call: 202-256-7355

WANT TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS? C O NTA CT

CAROLINA LOPEZ 202.543.8300 X12

thelastword Questioning CSX Project Is Not NIMBY!

I’m lucky to represent a diverse, engaged community, who worked together with me and members of my commission to respond to the inaccuracies of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel Draft Environmental Impact Statement, as well as address safety, environmental, timeline, and construction concerns related to the project, which proposes to dig a massive trench along Virginia Avenue SE between the Navy Yard and Capitol Hill communities for up to five years. I am proud that four of seven ANC 6D commissioners came together to support a letter that asks questions and offers suggestions for how to move forward in ways that are respectful of the community’s thoughtful feedback. If it moves forward, CSX’s proposed project will impact the entire northern boundary of the Navy Yard neighborhood in mostly negative ways. On a neighborhood experience level, it will be more difficult for Capitol Hill residents to filter down to Yards and Canal Parks, and for Navy Yard residents to access Barracks Row, Garfield Park, and Eastern Market -- and it will hamper the Navy Yard neighborhood’s fledgling businesses from being able to attract outside customers. More seriously, it will put residents’ health and safety at risk. We still don’t have proper answers to such fundamental questions like “exactly how close will construction get to existing homes along Virginia Avenue and I Street SE,” “how will emergency vehicles access those homes,” and “why wasn’t a re-routing option considered for the period of construction so that trains are not running in an open trench mere feet from houses, senior apartments, and military quarters?” These are in no way “not in my backyard” concerns, but speak to the community’s desire to stay in our massively growing neighborhood, and to not have our safety, investments, and quality of life put at risk just to do so. ANC David Garber (SMD 6D07) | dggarber@ gmail.com

What About Derailments?

The DC Department of Transportation and The Federal Highway Administration are considering whether to allow CSX to tear a literal gash in our community for up to 66 months so that CSX may widen and deepen the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. These agencies are not considering that CSX trains might not stay on their tracks. Accidents and terrorist attacks are nowhere addressed in the voluminous Draft Environmental Impact Statement. As our neighbors in Baltimore are all too aware, these risks are real. A CSX train derailed in Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel in 2001. From the Baltimore Sun: “For a week much downtown activity stopped. Three Orioles games at nearby Camden Yards were canceled. Freight rail traffic along the East Coast was paralyzed. Temperatures in the tunnel rose as high as 1,500 degrees as a witches’ brew of chemicals burned alongside paper and pulp products, and smoke poured from the openings.” (From “Ten years after Baltimore tunnel fire, much is unchanged,” 7/16/2011.) Thousands of people were exposed to that witches’ brew. The accident caused millions of dollars of damage to the city, its businesses, and residents. Derailments are not rare. There were 20 CSX derailments in Maryland alone, from January 2010 to August 2012, the Baltimore Sun reported. Google “CSX derailments.” You’ll find plenty more. Though some derailments are minor, we may not be so lucky. Here, trains could run on temporary tracks – at 40 mph! – only a few feet from major construction activity. And less than a mile from Congress, the Supreme Court, and other potential terrorist targets. CSX did not report the Howard Street Tunnel derailment in a timely way. Their communications with first responders were poor. I don’t have faith in their ability to properly

handle a similar incident – whether caused by accident or malfeasance – in the nation’s capital. Or in my front yard. Maureen Cohen Harrington | Virginia Avenue Resident | cohenharrington@gmail.com

CSX Expansion Risks Neighborhood Toxic Spill

In 2004, after a major rail accident in South Carolina killed eight people, DC passed a law that banned hazardous materials in the city. The law was challenged by the Bush administration and the rail industry, led by CSX, and was overturned on the Department of Justice’s assertion that rail safety is a Federal responsibility. Not only is CSX still transporting those materials but they are now proposing to increase the capacity of the same rails by more than two-fold. Less than a week after the tragic Lac-Megantic derailment in July that killed at least 42 people, CSX put forward their final preferred options for expanding the capacity of Virginia Avenue Tunnel. It’s important to note that this is a project that has no local benefits; the current tunnel is a bottleneck on the entire CSX East Coast route, and rather than connect their route largely on existing rail rights-of-way outside the city as proposed by The National Capitol Planning Commission, CSX has taken the position that expanding the tunnel and increasing the danger to our neighborhood, this iconic city, and the country is the only option they will consider. Increasing their capacity, either through or around Washington, DC, will allow them to increase their profits along the entire length of the line. Remarkably, given the city’s history of concern about rail safety, catastrophe prevention is absent from the criteria cited by CSX in their selection of preferred options. One may argue against the likelihood of a tragic incident like Lac-Megantic, but it is undeniable that Washington, DC is the highest-profile potential terrorist target in the world, and this puts our neighborhood at increased risk. The risk to the Capitol Hill and Capitol Riverfront neighborhoods posed by this proposed expansion more than justifies the inclusion of alternative routing options outside the city for full consideration for the expansion of rail capacity on the east coast. Anything less puts CSX’s drive to increase profits

over the welfare of our neighborhood and our country. Chris French | Capitol Riverfront Resident | cfrench@frenchstudios.com

Reroute The Trains During Construction

The Virginia Avenue Tunnel (VAT) Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) presents three build alternatives that all require the construction of a second rail track – either temporary or permanent. The DEIS improperly and arbitrarily discarded the reasonable alternative of temporarily rerouting trains on existing tracks during VAT construction (previously known as Concept 7). Temporarily rerouting trains would eliminate the need for building a second rail track. This could significantly reduce the construction time period, footprint, and overall environmental impact of the project. Inaccurate and misleading statements in the DEIS coupled with failure to evaluate Concept 7 leaves me concerned that the DEIS is not thorough or impartial. On page 3-17, the DEIS states that “Although rerouting is common railroad practice under emergency conditions that are usually short in duration, negotiating a 2 plus-year operating agreement would be very difficult.” This is a misleading, uninformed and false statement. Based on history and track location, Norfolk Southern (NS) would be a likely partner in granting CSX trackage rights during construction in the VAT. The Surface Transportation Board has previously approved NS granting temporary trackage rights for two years’ time on March 13, 2013, for ten years’ time on May 16, 2013, and for four years’ time on November 17, 2006. However, the DEIS reveals that NS was not consulted in the preparation of the DEIS. Furthermore, the DEIS failed to provide any substantial or fact-based justification for why temporary rerouting of trains during construction in the VAT was not brought forward for evaluation. Concept 7 requires full evaluation. The failure to consider Concept 7 for evaluation as a reasonable alternative is a violation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidelines. The responsible federal agencies need to withdraw the DEIS and issue a Supplemental Environmental Impact

Statement (SEIS) or a new DEIS that includes all reasonable alternatives including temporary rerouting of trains during construction.

Speak Out Against The Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project

We are writing with concern about the Virginia Avenue Tunnel plan, (VAT) in which CSX proposes a massive construction project that slices through Capitol Hill, will last from 3-5 years (possibly more), and may include an open trench for freight trains. Among other issues, we are deeply concerned about the increase in noise and pollution (including light pollution), the ability for Hill residents and visitors to travel across Virginia Ave. easily and safely, potential construction-related safety issues (especially for our kids), as well as a concern about the more than 300 trees that will be permanently removed as a result of this project. We are also concerned about the VAT construction’s impact on local businesses, especially considering the substantial federal and city investments made in the success of new businesses in Barracks Row and the Navy Yard neighborhoods. In public statements, groups such as the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, and the Sierra Club have criticized CSX’s VAT DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement). They take issue with the project for various reasons, including that it is not necessary, poses health risks to the residents of Capitol Hill, and will cause considerable environmental damage and traffic problems. Although CSX has been donating to many local projects recently, no CSX-sponsored festival or free jump ropes can make up for the adverse environmental implications of their VAT project and the ensuing increased train pollution it will bring to Capitol Hill. Please join us in educating yourself about the VAT, contacting public officials with your concerns, and keeping Capitol Hill a livable, walkable, safe community for our families.

In deciding to live in a vibrant, growing community like Capitol Hill, we recognize there will be change. Positive change benefits everyone. We’ve enjoyed the recent developments taking place in the Navy Yard neighborhood – beautiful public parks, delicious restaurants, baseball games, kayaking, and much more. We acknowledge change is required to see the fruits of these benefits. One change on the horizon, however, threatens these benefits and provides no positive impact to the community. Looking to increase its freight operations (and bottom line), CSX Corporation is planning a three to five year construction project to enlarge an existing tunnel beneath Virginia Avenue SE and Garfield Park. The project’s scope, as currently proposed, could result in an open-trench tunnel with exposed trains running at high speeds – effectively cutting Southeast Capitol Hill in half. To date, CSX has whitewashed the project’s pollution, noise, and vibration impacts and continues to withhold information about how these impacts would be mitigated. More importantly, the project itself increases the risk of a catastrophic train derailment, like the one that killed almost 50 people in Quebec only three short months ago. We must demand better for the neighborhood we love. Unfortunately, the project has crept under the radar (largely because CSX has spread enough money around to keep many happy). But many community groups have legitimate concerns, including Committee of 100 on the Federal City, Sierra Club, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Capitol Quarter HOAs, ANCs, and our friends and neighbors among us. If your family frequents Yards, Canal, or Garfield Park, Results Gym, Nationals games, summer concerts or if you are concerned about traffic, home values, or ensuring a safe and healthy neighborhood for your children, take notice now. Tommy Wells must lead on this issue - contact his office and ask what concrete steps he is taking to ensure the welfare, safety, and security of our vibrant neighborhood.

Mark & Meredith Baker | meredith.henne@ gmail.com

Jennifer McPhillips | 800 Block of Third St. SE | jen.mcphillips@gmail.com H

TJ and Claire Oleksiak | Capitol Quarter Residents | claire.schaefer@gmail.com and tj.oleksiak@ gmail.com

Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project Poses Health Risks for Residents

HillRag | October 2013 H 145

the NOSE

Congress! Take A Few Lessons From The DC Council! by Anonymous

n a beautiful fall day, The Nose often takes a constitutional around the footpath that forms the periphery of Marion Park. Enjoying a toot from a fine cigar complimented by the occasional swig from his handy silver hip flask, he savors the bite of the crisp autumn air while greeting friends and neighbors. This morning, however, The Nose discovered the gate to his favorite oasis padlocked and decorated with an enlightening epigram. “Because of the federal government shutdown this Marion Park playground shutdown.. Photo: Jim Loots National Park Facility is closed.” Outraged by this severe disruption of his essential circadian rhythm, The Nose vowed to turn his poison ment for your dismal, dysfunctional institution, the US pen to schooling the petulant politicians who inhabit the Congress, purloined from the Ray Charles songbook: Whoa Congress, oh Congress, don’t treat us so mean, corridors of the nearby marble Alice-In-Wonder-Land, You’re the laziest legislature that I’ve ever seen. whose local moniker is ‘The Hill.’ I guess if you voted so The District is often the subject of national political I’d have to shut-down my city and go. opprobrium. Citing the ubiquity of DC’s governmental That’s right! malfeasance, members of Congress smugly justify withHit the road Hacks and don’t you come back holding the vote from its 632,323 citizens. They relegate no more, no more, no more, no more. the District to the status of a territory while withholding Hit the road Hacks and don’t you come back no more. all of the tax benefits. What you say? However, the federal government shutdown truly Now Congress, listen Congress, demonstrates which legislature is the real banana repub don’t ya treat us this way lic. After all, while the DC Council has balanced its budCause I’ll being getting the vote some day. get for many years, The House of Representatives has not Don’t care if you do ‘cause it’s understood, even managed to pass one of the thirty appropriation bills you can’t legislate a budget, you just ain’t no good. necessary to fund the US government. Rather, Congress Well, I guess if you vote so has given up the entire idea of budgeting, preferring inI’d have to shutdown my city and go. stead to pass endless continuing resolutions. Unable to That’s right! find the political will to actually make hard choices reHit the road Hacks and don’t you come back quired to balance the country’s books, it unleashed the no more, no more, no more, no more. sequester. Hit the road Hacks and don’t you come back no more. In point of fact, the hopeless hacks of the US ConWell, Don’t you come back no more. gress could learn four choice lessons from the delightful Uh, what you say? denizens of the Wilson Building: Don’t you come back no more. 1. The ABC’s of balancing a budget; Congress, if you can’t legislate, please pack your 2. Methods for quickly and effectively disciplining bags and go home. Leave the hard work of real governfellow legislators; ment to the DC Council; and let The Nose enjoy his 3. Tips for generating an annual surplus; morning walks in peace. H 4. The art of political compromise. For our dear congressional compadres, here is a la-

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