77 Theater Night: A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV by Matthew McClure
78 Poetic Hill by Sandra Beasley
80 Capitol Cuisine by Celeste McCall
82 Exciting New Art Spaces At The Hill Center by Rindy O’Brien
85 Grief Karaoke: Performed at Historic Congressional Cemetery by Pattie Cinelli
88 The District Vet: West Nile Virus by Dan Teich
Notebook by Kathleen Donner
on the cover: A Day in New York
John Aquilino oil on canvas, 16x16, 2022
Price: $1,600 (A0649JA)
Available at: Calloway Fine Art & Consulting 1643 Wisconsin Ave, NW Washington, DC 20007 202.965.4601 gallery@callowayart.com / callowayart.com
John Aquilino is a native of the New York metropolitan area. His artistic journey has taken him from Manhattan to Maryland. He has had 13 solo exhibitions and participated in over 75 juried and invitational group shows, garnering recognition through various awards. Galleries have exhibited his work at art fairs including Red Dot Miami, SOFA Chicago, Art Fair 14C, Affordable Art Fair NYC, Architectural Digest Home Design Show, and Boston International Art Fair. His paintings are included in over a dozen corporate, nonpro t, and museum collections.
Coming Soon at Calloway: Atmosphere – Caroline Adams
Sept. 12th - Oct. 11th
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 20th 4-6 PM
Egg Tempera Live Demonstration: Friday, September 12th 8-9 PM 1643 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
To
with the Suburbs!
Lima, Peru - Nothing’s perfect. Yet some things can come close. Fair prices, modest costs, public transport available. Cleaner streets, parks abound. Surf, parasail, swim, dive, or just long walks along the beautiful Pacific beaches. Rents are lower than here (isn’t everywhere?)
I‘m not a great writer, but oh, the architecture! Some buildings seem to grasp the sky in Lima, framing a picture of new and old, modern skyscrapers, abandoned palaces, churches, etc. The views are gorgeous, and as the mist lifts, a mystical shrouded island seems to emerge from off the coast.
A
and
Lovely walking communities. Food is available from small carts, they ply you with drinks, snacks, anticuchos (beef satay), and the national drink, ‘pisco’ on every menu. Public areas have mimes, mimics, small shops w/ native art, fresh food markets, & more.
Next Issue: October 4
Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of:
Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com • www.hillrag.com
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.
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Art All Night (Bring a friend. Stay out late.)
DC Art All Night occurs from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following morning on two nights, Dec. 12 and 13. The festival takes place in all eight wards with different activations on each night, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, literary arts, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and private spaces, including local businesses and restaurants. dcartallnight.org.
Because They’re Funny (BTF) Comedy Festival at the Wharf
On Oct. 11, 8 p.m., Jay Pharoah hosts the third annual “Breakout Comedian of the Year” competition at The Anthem. Six rising comics compete for a $10,000 grand prize and the career-changing opportunity to sign with a top Hollywood talent agency. On Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m., the Hey Ladies Comedy Experience is hosted by Sommore at The Anthem featuring Tisha Campbell, Zainab Johnson, Leslie Liao. It is an unfiltered night of stand-up and unapologetic truth from some of the funniest women in comedy. On Oct. 12, 10 p.m., the Last Laugh wraps at Union Stage with an open mic, where comedy veterans and rising stars take the stage to test brand-new material and leave it all on the mic. becausetheyrefunny.com.
Air and Space After Hours
From groundbreaking technologies to creative preservation methods, innovation is at the heart of the National Air and Space Museum’s exhibitions. On Thursday, Oct. 9, 6 to 8 p.m., come for an after-hours event at the Museum to: Talk to their curators about the past, present, and future of aviation and space. Get behind-the-scenes stories from staff that care for their artifacts and develop their exhibitions. Enjoy a live tour of the sky in the Northrop Grumman Planetarium. Sample aviation and space themed food and beverages (first-come, first-served). For ages 21 or older, guests must present a valid ID for entry. Free tickets (required) are available in September at airandspace.si.edu/whats-on/events/air-and-space-after-hours-2025.
Jay Pharoah hosts the third annual “Breakout Comedian of the Year” competition at The Anthem.
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show: Wear Your Art!
On Friday through Sunday, Sept. 26 to 28, more than 70 artists from across the country are selling their fine arts and crafts creations, including jewelry, accessories and wearable art. This year, the show is held in a new location, the historic Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building on the National Mall, between the Smithsonian Castle and Hirshhorn Museum. Craft show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $20 on Friday and Saturday; $15 on Sunday; students with ID, $10. smithsoniancraftshow.org/craft2wear.
“Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” at the Folger.
Erika Nizborski
From Tuesday, Sept. 23 to Sunday, Oct. 26, award-winning writer, journalist, and podcast host Al Letson harmonizes with Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in his retelling of the story, Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare at the Folger, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Letson highlights and reflects on contemporary challenges by blending Shakespeare with the story of Civil Rights leader Malcolm X. Julius X champions Shakespeare’s original text and timeless tragedy, amplified with Letson’s verse, to highlight the cyclical nature of societal strife and shared human experiences of ambition, betrayal, and brotherhood. $20 to $90. folger.edu.
The H Street Festival (ALWAYS A BLAST!)
The 20th annual H Street Festival is on Saturday, Sept. 20, noon to 7 p.m., during which there are many ways to celebrate the vibe on the H Street NE Corridor, from Third Street to 15th Street NE. The festival is famed for its incredible performance line-ups across multiple staging areas; delicious food choices; the unique mile long shopping experience; and the countless patios H Street businesses host. The local H Street businesses always come through with fantastic promotions and offerings on festival day. hstreetfestival.org.
Flying Circus Hot Air Balloon Festival
The annual Flying Circus Hot Air Balloon Festival is on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21, with hot air balloon launches on both days. (Gates open at 6 a.m. during the Balloon Festival.) Festival admission at gate is $20 for adults; military $15; and kids, $10. Ballooning requires very light winds and an absence of thermal activity to be safe and enjoyable, therefore, most balloons fly in the early morning and late evening hours. Free-flight rides are $300; tethered rides are $20 for adults and $10 for kids, 12 and under. The Flying Circus Aerodrome is 14 miles SE of Warrenton, VA, just off Route 17, at 5114 Ritchie Road (Route 644) in Bealeton, VA. flyingcircusairshow.com.
Photo:
Hat by artist Karen Morris.
“The American Five” at Ford’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his inner circle imagined a pluralistic society in which equality and justice is guaranteed for all. In the face of surveillance, intimidation, arrests and life threats, five giants form a powerful coalition to advance civil rights and shape a defining moment in American history. Together, Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, Bayard Rustin, Stanley Levison and Clarence B. Jones plan the March on Washington and craft the speech that would galvanize the nation and inspire generations to advance America’s efforts to turn a dream into reality. “The American Five” is at Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth St. NW, from Sept. 19 to Oct. 12. Tickets are $26 to $53. fords.org.
Alex Harsley, Nite Meetings, 1959, printed 2024 inkjet print image: 30.5 x 45.7 cm (12 x 18 in.) sheet: 33 x 48.3 cm (13 x 19 in.) mat: 18 x 24 in. framed: 47.9 x 63.2 cm (18 7/8 x 24 7/8 in.). On loan from the artist.
Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985 at the NGA
Uniting around civil rights and freedom movements of the 1960s and 1970s, many visual artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, photographers, and filmmakers expressed hope and dignity through their art. These creative efforts became known as the Black Arts Movement. Photography was central to the movement, attracting all kinds of artists—from street photographers and photojournalists to painters and graphic designers. This expansive exhibition presents 150 examples tracing the Black Arts Movement from its roots to its lingering impacts, from 1955 to 1985. Explore the bold vision shaped by generations of artists. National Gallery of Art West Building from Sept. 21 to Jan. 11, 2026. nga.gov.
National Dance Day at the KC
The Kennedy Center, in partnership with American Dance Movement, presents National Dance Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, 12:30 to 7 p.m. Now in its 16th year, this free, community event invites people of all ages and abilities to experience the joy of dance through performances, workshops, and the opportunity to learn. This year’s celebration includes appearances from local dance companies such as Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble, chitra.MOVES, Corazón Folklórico Dance Company, DC Rawhides, Furia Flamenca, Jessica Featherson, The Lion’s Den DMV, Emerald Holman, Motion X Dance Company, Project ChArma, and more. kennedy-center.org.
Nyo Chong, “Untitled (Subliminal World),” circa 2000, Acrylic paint on fabric, 31.5” x 43.75.” Lily Yeh papers circa 19942020. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
“Breaking Down Walls: Art as a Portal for the Incarcerated” at the Archives of American Art
From Sept. 5 to Jan. 18, 2026, the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art presents “Breaking Down Walls: Art as a Portal for the Incarcerated,” an exhibition that showcases two separate prison art projects led by nationally acclaimed artists Lily Yeh (b. 1941) and Emanuel Martinez (b. 1947). The exhibition highlights the role of the arts in creating transformative experiences for inmates and their communities. At the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, 8th and G streets NW. Free admission. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. si.edu/museums/archives-of-american-art-gallery.
Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, during which he delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, calling for an end to racism.
“Marimba Melodies” at the American Indian Museum
A symbol of Guatemalan national identity, the marimba is a large instrument played by striking rows of wooden bars with mallets. Traditional marimba music serves as a link to Guatemalan culture for young Guatemalans living in the United States. Hear “Marimba Melodies” on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21, at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., as part of part of the museum’s Hispanic Heritage Month events. Have a seat and enjoy the music, or feel free to dance solo or with friends. americanindian.si.edu.
Home Rule Music Festival
(The Energy, The People, The Vibe)
Home Rule Music Festival returns to Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 1 to 9 p.m., bringing with it a full day of live music, DJs, and cultural celebrations. This community event continues the festival’s mission to celebrate, preserve, and promote DC’s rich and diverse music culture. Attendees can expect a vibrant atmosphere with food trucks, local vendors, a music/record fair, art installations, and family-friendly activities. The festival is free and open to all ages, offering an inclusive space for the community to come together through music and culture. homerulemusicfestival.com.
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” at GALA
In an Argentine prison cell, two complete opposites discover that love may spring in the most unlikely of places. Valentin, a political prisoner whose commitment to the Marxist cause takes precedence over all other things, forges an unlikely relationship with queer, movie-loving Molina, who escapes his harsh reality by retelling film noir classics as their glamorous leading ladies. Poignant, chilling, funny and sensual. The bilingual (in Spanish with English surtitles) EL BESO DE LA MUJER ARAÑA –Kiss of the Spider Woman is at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, from Sept. 4 to 28. $27 to $47. galatheatre.org.
cofounder
“The One Good Thing or Are Ya Patrick Swayze?”
at Washington Stage Guild
Brothers Jamie and Tommy share a small cottage overlooking the sea in Southern Ireland. One morning, after a violent storm, Jamie announces that he is dead…he is a ghost. Disbelieving this ridiculous claim, Tommy is convinced his brother’s delusion is simply the aftereffects of grief he suffered following their mother’s death. With wit and pathos, American playwright Joe Bravaco explores the emotional depths of these Irish siblings as they grapple with love, grief, forgiveness--and the afterlife. Washington Stage Guild, 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW, from Sept. 25 to Oct. 19. All tickets: $60. stageguild.org.
Alabama Shakes at The Anthem
Alabama Shakes are an American rock band formed in Athens, Alabama, in 2009. The band currently consists of lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, and bassist Zac Cockrell. Early critical reviews of their debut, Boys & Girls (2012), noted that the band borrowed from mid-20th century rhythm and blues. The songs were compared to artists such as Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin. In January 2025, the band posted on Instagram that they are working on new music, and in February 2025, Alabama Shakes announced a reunion tour scheduled July to September. Alabama Shakes is at The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, on Friday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m., (doors at 6:30 p.m.). theanthemdc.com.
GALA’s
Hugo Medrano performing as Molina in GALA’s production of Kiss of Spider Woman in 1994.
Photo: Courtesy of GALA Theatre.
Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
Photo: Nick Moreland
LOCAL CALENDAR
2025 Capital Hill Art Walk. Sept. 13 and 14, noon to 4 p.m. Local artists and artisans will display their work in their own micro-galleries, in Capitol Hill home-studios, on porches or in yards. Walk to more than 50 locations to enjoy art and crafts made by 100 + local artists and crafts folks. hillrag.com/2025/07/15/art-walk-2025.
Concerts at Hill Center. Sept. 3, 7 to 9 p.m., Foghorn Stringband: American Stringband Concert. The Foghorn Stringband is the present day gold standard for real-deal hard-hitting genuine old-time American string band music. $25. Sept. 5, 7 to 9 p.m. Kipyn Martin. He is an emerging Indie Folk singer-songwriter whose roots sink deep into the banks of the Shenandoah River. $20. Sept. 22, 7 to 9 p.m., Nidia Góngora. Throughout her more than 20 years of experience as a composer and performer, Góngora has successfully built bridges between the traditional music of her native Timbiquí (Cauca) and other world music genres. $20. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Upcoming Nat’s Home Games. Sept. 1 and 3, 1:05 p.m. and Sept. 2, 6:45 p.m. vs. Marlins; Sept. 12, 6:45 p.m., Sept. 13, 4:05 p.m., and Sept. 14, 1:35 p.m. vs. Pirates; Sept. 15, 6:45 p.m., Sept. 16, 1:05 p.m., and Sept. 17, 4:05 p.m. vs. Braves; Sept. 26, 6:45 p.m., Sept. 27, 4:05 p.m. and Sept. 28, 3:05 p.m. vs. White Sox. District tickets for as little as $5. mlb.com/nationals.
Fitness in the Park. Saturdays through Oct. 4, 9 to 10 a.m. Onelife Fitness and Barracks Row Main Street have gotten together to offer Fitness in the Park--a series of free outdoor fitness classes at the playground at 900 D St. SE. barracksrow.org.
Hua Du Theatre: Something Crazy at the Atlas. Sept. 4 to 7. Set in the earliest days of the pandemic, Something Crazy explores what happens to the human spirit under pressure—escape, resistance, rage, desire, despair, and flickers of hope. $24.25 to $29.25. The Atlas is at 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Songs of the Goat-Antigone at the Atlas. Sept 4 to 14. In the war-torn city of Thebes, Antigone is resolved to defy her uncle King Kreon’s edict. Her brothers have killed each other in battle, and Kreon, labeling one a
Evening Concert at the Botanic Garden. Sept. 18. The Garden offers extended hours, staying open until 8 p.m. with live music and food and drinks vendors. usbg.gov.
traitor, forbids his burial. $32.75. The Atlas is at 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
SW Night Market. Sept. 5 and 19; 4 to 10 p.m. Southwest DC’s eclectic night market, at Fourth and M, returns with a mix of art, crafts, handmade jewelry, accessories, bath and beauty goods, and vintage and antique furnishings. Additionally, specialty food businesses, a beer garden, cigar lounge and food trucks add to the programming mix. Family and pet friendly. marketswdc.com.
Jaws 50th Anniversary at Miracle Theater. Sept. 19, 7 p.m. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody (Roy Scheider) capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature. $10. Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE. themiracletheatre.com.
September Music in the Meadow at the Arboretum. Sept. 5, 7 p.m. Rock out at the National Arboretum and celebrate the spirit of the National Herb Garden’s rock music garden theme. The Route 66 Band will play a medley of classic rock songs inspired by plants growing in the Herb Garden, like ‘Purple Rain’ peppers and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ sunflowers. General admission, $25; community discount, $15. fona.org.
Sensory Friendly Evening at the Botanic Garden: “Fall” About Leaf Shapes. Sept. 6, 5:30 to 8 p.m. You can explore different leaf shapes and discover how leaves make carnivorous plants so unique. Interactive activities will be offered at this program. Pre-registration required. usbg.gov.
Race The District (go-karts) at Union Market. Oct. 9 to 12, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. In partnership with Events DC, Union Market is bringing a unique go-kart racing experience, powered by K1 Speed, the world’s premier go-kart racing operator. unionmarketdc.com.
er lip-syncs, bold dance moves, and nonstop fun. Wunder Garten DC, 1101 First St. NE. wundergartendc.com.
Damn Yankees at Arena. Sept. 8 to Nov. 9. All the elements that made it famous are there: a diehard love of baseball, one man’s fateful (and hilarious) pact with the Devil, and Broadway’s sexiest femme fatale... but gently re-tooled for its first major revival in the 21st Century. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.
At Issue: The Erasure of Black History Featuring Pulitzer Prizewinning Historian Marcia Chatelain and New York Times White House Correspondent Erica L. Green. Sept. 10, 7 to 9 p.m. Since taking office, President Trump has tried to reframe the country’s past involving racism and discrimination by de-emphasizing that history or at times denying that it happened. As historian Marcia Chatelain notes, “When you erase history, you make people more vulnerable to abuses of power.” $10. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Union Market Friday Night Drive-In Movies. Sept. 12, Wicked; Oct. 3, Clue. Each movie show-
ing costs $20 per car. No tickets are needed to watch the movie on Neal Place. unionmarketdc.com.
The International Nerdlesque Festival at the Atlas. Sept. 12, 8 p.m. ($34.25), and 13, 7:30 p.m. ($45.25). The International Nerdlesque Festival was the first burlesque festival in the world to spotlight nerdlesque—a performance genre where pop culture, fandom, and striptease collide. From Star Wars tributes to anime-inspired acts, this genre revels in the power of fantasy, nostalgia, and queer creativity. The Atlas is at 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
NE Library Used Book Sale. Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. NE Library, is at 330 Seventh St. NE (corner of Seventh Street and Maryland Avenue NE). dclibrary.org.
American Roots Concert Series: The Pine Leaf Boys. Sept. 14, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Louisiana’s finest, four-time Grammy-Nominated, world-renown Pine Leaf Boys have made a name for presenting their own brand of Louisiana music with youthful exuberance. Free. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Chiarina Chamber Players’ If Music Be The Food. Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. A season opener and launch celebrating Chiarina’s debut album. Featuring music of Carlos Simon, Schoenfield’s Café Music, and other delectable selections. General admission tickets $33.85; 18 and under, free. St Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. chiarina.org.
BBQ & Barrels at Nat’s Park. Sept. 19, 7 to 10 p.m. Held in Centerfield Plaza, BBQ & Barrels showcases the finest in local barbecue and a roster full of amazing whiskey, including some rare barrel-aged beauties from your favorite distilleries. General admission, $70; VIP, $105. mlb.com/nationals/ tickets/events/bbq-barrels.
H Street Festival. Sept. 20, noon to 7 p.m. On H Street NE, Third to 15th. hstreetfestival.org.
Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar at the Folger. Sept. 23 to Oct. 26. Just as Shakespeare chronicled history to create a means of understanding the events of his day, Julius X reflects on contemporary challenges by blending Shakespeare with the story of Civil Rights leader Malcolm X. $20 to $90. folger.edu.
Movies at the Plaza at Union Market. Fridays, Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m., Top Gun; and Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m., Ghostbusters. Enjoy classic films under the stars. The Movies at the Plaza, 1325 Fifth St. NE, are free and open to the public. unionmarketdc.com/events.
Talk of the Hill with Bill Press Featuring Best Selling Author Lynne Olson. Sept. 29, 7 to 9 p.m. Lynne Olson is a New York Times bestselling author of ten books of history, most of which focus on World War II. $10. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org. u
The Capitol Hill Art Walk Returns
150 Artists Present Art Around Every Corner
by Tara Hamilton
The Capitol Hill Art Walk has become an event that unites artists, who live on and off the Hill, in creating a weekend devoted to art, to be enjoyed by the public as they stroll through our historic neighborhood. Over 150 local artists and crafts persons will display their work at 70+ locations, in their own micro-galleries, in home studios, on porches or in yards.
This year’s Art Walk spans two days from noon - 4 p.m., on Saurday and Sunday, September 13th and 14th. To learn more about the event, see a list of artists and up-to-date site information, visit HillRag.com/art-walk-2025. The map appears on the inside back page of this Hill Rag, as well as on the Hill Rag website.
The Art Walk is a key component of the Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL), a visual arts program of Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW). Together, they extend a special invitation below.
An Invitation to the 2025 Capitol Hill Art Walk
“We are the Co-Chairs of the Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL), and we are very pleased and grateful that our Capitol Hill Art Walk has become an important annual tradition, establishing Capitol Hill as a place where art is celebrated and promoted.
The Art Walk is a result of a lot of hard work and creativity from our artists to curate a weekend devoted to art to be enjoyed by neighbors and visitors as they stroll past sidewalks, porches and parks to discover all kinds of treasures.
We hope you will visit the Art Walk this year, see great art and maybe find that special piece to bring home, all while learning more about the artists among us.
If you’d like to learn more about CHAL, please visit our website at caphillartleague.com.”
Steve Mabley and Rod Whyte, CHAL Co-chairs. u
All photos were taken by Jon Golinger at Art Walk 2024
Your Multi-Specialty Clinic for Dental Implants, Cosmetic, and Oral
“Two implants and a gum graft changed how I see dentistry forever.” –
After bouncing between fast-talking offices, one patient arrived expecting pain, pressure, and a long recovery.
“I expected weeks of discomfort and to feel like just another case. I got none of that. What I got was Dr. Noohi.”
At a time when dentistry can feel rushed or impersonal, Dr. Babak Noohi brings something different to Capitol Hill: clear communication,
I’m Dr. Babak Noohi. My practice is built around conservative, evidencebased care that respects your story, your biology, and your future. office@thecapitolhilldentistry.com
“He explained every step, never rushed, and I finally felt heard. The plan was about my health—not profits.” thoughtful care, and evidence-based treatment—always focused on your needs.
R.THOMAS DANIEL ROOFING
•FREE INSPECTION
• LEAK REPAIR
• NEW ROOFS
• ROOF COATING
• Gutter & Downspouts
• Skylights
• Chimneys
Uncover Hidden Future Costs. Warning Signs Could Mean Higher Costs If Not Corrected Today!
•Roof is over 10 years old
• Interior water stains
•Visible leaks or cracks
•Loose attic insulation
•Open joints and seams on roof
•Drains/gutters filled with debris
•Loose chimney
flashing or mortar
•Skylight cracked or leaking
Strengthening Our Regional Agriculture and Food System
Article and photos by Annette Nielsen
Coming out of the pandemic, we learned how important our local farmers and producers are to maintaining a resilient food system. With the rising cost of food coupled with impending cuts in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), we see an impact on individuals and families, as well as our local grocers and food businesses. Now, it’s even more important that our DMV farmers and producers have the important tools and resources necessary to ensure their long-term success.
Enter American University’s Health Studies department with a model that emphasizes regional collaboration to tie together food justice, environmental sustainability with a focus on community resilience.
An Innovative Pilot
Taking a leadership role on sustainability throughout the DMV, American University’s Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities
Lab launched an innovative pilot supporting local farmers and producers. The Agriculture, Infrastructure and Equipment (AIE) Grant Opportunity was designed to expand capacity of established farmers located in the Mid-Atlantic. The project was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Inc., a supporter of American University and its collaborative effort in building an equitable and resilient food system around the Washington, DC region.
Through the purchase of needed equipment and infrastructure, farmers and producers realize an increase in the production of fruits and vegetables, subsequently improving access to high quality, local food in Washington, DC and neighboring localities.
Says American University Health Studies professor Dr. Stacey Snelling, “The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab is pressing ahead in our work towards a more resilient local food system in DC. In the second year of this work, we have funded partners across production, distribution
and consumption, while currently zooming in on equipment and infrastructure investments for 12 local farmers.”
Ranging from $2500 to $4999, the awards went to farms with at least three years of operation and providing food access in Wards 7 and 8. The total investment exceeded $55,000 and each farm received an average of $4,600.
Impact for Local Farms
One grantee is in Upper Marlboro, Marland at Deep Roots Farm run by farmer Gale Livingstone. Livingstone, a former finance professional, first worked as a volunteer and leased land prior to fully investing in her own property of over 50 acres. Now, she is contributing to the food system full-time through direct marketing at farmers’ markets and her Community Supported Agriculture model, bringing her produce and other agricultural products from area farmers to market in the District each week, including the Wednesday afternoon Watkins Farmstand (1300 E St. SE) and the Saturday morn-
Farmer Gale Livingstone with her farm and market staff setting up at the Watkins School location on Capitol Hill.
Farmer Gale Livingstone with an early potato harvest from her Deep Roots Farm that she sells at various markets in DC – here on the Hill at Watkins Market on Wednesdays.
ing H Street Market (corner of 13th and H St NE).
While she raises chickens and grows a wide variety of produce, she plants and harvests a few varieties of potatoes – all by hand, a labor-intensive farm task. Through the grant, she was able to purchase a potato planter and harvester.
“We grow a lot of potatoes – two crops per season and harvesting the potatoes would take about a day-and-a-half. We knew we needed to realize more efficiency and reduce labor costs – the harvester we were able to get through the grant cuts our time down to a half-day. We are really so very thankful for this opportunity and grateful to have the support.”
In Virginia, the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture sees an impact on the regional food system through innovative programming. At Arcadia, they provide training for beginning farmers, many of whom are military veterans.
Executive Director, Pam Hess speaks to the importance of a capital grant opportunity. “A farm equipment grant is exceedingly rare and extremely valuable – it can super-charge a small operation.”
Hess says the equipment they purchased through the grant was all related to the farm’s tran-
sition toward more fields with no- and low-till practices and include pieces or addons for use on a smaller tractor. While also being able to fit in the farm’s high tunnels, the smaller tractor can protect and build soil structure, improve drainage, and support positive microbial activity.
Sean Matthews of Sean’s Veggie Garden received a grant for acquiring a paper pot transplanter and a generator for his vegetable farm and echoes the sentiment, “The grant was perfect timing for me. The turnaround time from grant application to receiving the equipment was really fast – and American University also took care of placing the equipment order and following up to make sure we received everything.”
Feeding the DMV Region
The Franciscan Monastery’s gardens have been an oasis in the District for over a century and the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild (FMGG) has been raising produce for donation since 2014. On its two-acre urban DC farm, FMGG grows and harvests about 8,000 pounds of vegetables annually – 95% of which is donated to area nonprofits like DC Central Kitchen, the Father McKenna Center and other nearby food pantries.
FMGG board member, Peter Quinn notes how impactful grants are to their work. “The grant we received through American University has made it possible for us to acquire items like heat mats for germinating seeds earlier in the season inside the greenhouse, as well as elevated beds on wheels that
help with accessibility concerns for older adults volunteering in the garden.”
These donations to area food pantries are becoming increasingly important to the DMV, as the Capital Area Food Bank’s latest report from September 2024, noted that 37% of the Washington region (nearly 1.5 million people) didn’t always know where their next meal would come from, an increase of 5 percentage points over 2023.
Continued Collaboration for Success
As we see greater need in the realm of food insecurity, these sorts of collaborative partnerships between private enterprise, academic expertise and research, local farmers and producers alongside non-profit entities are important keys to addressing hunger in the DMV.
The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities initiative has seen positive impact. From getting food in the hands of under-resourced communities or through their convening of the first DMV-focused Food Summit in October 2024 where over 50 regionally based organizations came together at American University, this important work looks at the strengths and challenges inherent in the local food system. The AIE grants support and address recommendations gleaned from the Summit as well as important conversations those engaged in the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities initiative have had in the field.
Annette Nielsen, a writer, and food and agricultural systems advisor. She has returned to Capitol Hill from New York where she served as the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center. u
At the Franciscan Monastery garden guild, American University Health Studies staff get a tour of the garden and greenhouse.
Arcadia Farm’s Mobile Market travels around the DMV making many stops in DC. Here, Brendan stops off in Kenilworth Terrace for a Wednesday market.
The Arcadia Mobile Market Team set up at Kenilworth Terrace at a Wednesday Market.
Fall Home Improvement Tips from the Pros
article and photos by Rindy O’Brien
Fall is the perfect time to refresh your home by tackling your home maintenance to-do list. To help you get started, we have consulted with some of our favorite home service companies asking them to share their expert tips.
Clean or Replace Gutters
The violent summer storms have left a lot of debris in our gutters. Broken branches, sticks, and leaves may have clogged up narrower downspouts. Add the falling leaves of autumn and it is imperative that you get gutters cleaned out. Kevin MacKay of MacKay Roofing suggests waiting until later in the fall to schedule a gutter cleanout, since in our area the leaves tend to keep falling for quite a while.
If the leaves are not removed, when the winter rains and snow come, the weight can crack the gutters. Then you could have leaks into the roof area or spills down the side of your home, causing damage to the house.
Check and Repair Roof and Skylights
Many homes, condos, and apartment buildings on Capitol Hill have flat roofs. A fall inspection of the
condition of the roof is important to spot cracks or holes.
Flat roofs are coated with liquid waterproofing, single-ply membrane or reenforced bitumen membrane. The heat and UV rays can cause the coating to blister and peel. Shingle roofs can lose shingles over time, causing a gap in the roof. Experts say a flat roof coating should last two to four years.
Flat roofs are also problematic during winter if we have a lot of snow and ice. The snow accumulates and can add weight to the roof. Of course, one solution is going up and shoveling excess snow off the roof, which can be dangerous. Another option is to use heat tape. It is applied in the fall and helps the snow melt off by running an electrical cable (tape) that melts the snow. If you have had snow accumulation issues in the past, it may be worth investing in.
And have your skylights checked to make sure they are properly sealed before the winter sets in.
Change HVAC Filters
When the temperatures start dipping, heating systems begin to fire up. Most Capitol Hill homes and apartment buildings use a combined air conditioning and heating unit (HVAC). The heating unit is usually easier to maintain and there is far less that can go wrong than with the AC side of things. There are security features that should be checked before heating systems start up. Zoe of Polar Bear Air Conditioning and Heating (polarbearairconditioning.com) says her company and many others offer a one-time maintenance pre-winter checkup or homeowners can sign up for a year-round maintenance schedule. Sila (sila.com), a 30-year HVAC and plumbing company in our area, encourages homeowners to regularly change the filter in their HVAC unit.
“It ensures you get the best indoor air quality throughout the year,” the company said. A tip they suggest is to buy two or three filters at a
time, so you always have one handy the next time you need one. Also, if you have a furry pet, changing the filter monthly is highly recommended.
Smoke Detectors
The National Fire Protection Association suggests that smoke detectors be tested and, if necessary, batteries changed every six months. Steve Wilcox of Wilcox Electric (wilcox-electric.com) reminds homeowners that if their smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarms are not the wired type with backup batteries, your system is out of date and out of code.
As we begin to shut windows and turn inward this fall, it is a matter of life and death to make sure your house is safe from carbon monoxide known as the silent killer because it is odorless, tasteless and invisible.
Outdoors Lighting and Security
As days grow shorter, think about lighting outdoors and other ways to make the home more secure. Judging by the number of social media posts capturing images of thieves stealing packages from front doors and other security issues, installing ‘Ring” and other home security systems is becoming very
Capitol Hill has many vendors that know Capitol Hill and the restrictions of the Historic District. When in doubt, call a pro. Many are listed in the annual Capitol Hill Community Guide.
Nothing says fall more than a maple tree in full red blaze.
popular on the Hill.
Wilcox Electrical can help you wire the devices properly, and yes, most require an electrical connection to work. Repairing or installing outdoor lighting is also a great way to help keep your home safe.
Paint Inside & Out
A fresh coat of paint can really lift your spirits, and after the year we all have had, painting is an inexpensive way to give your home and yourself a quick boost. Image Painting Company (imagepainting.com) cautions that “If you paint when the weather is too warm, the paint dries too quickly, leading to possible problems.” That is why fall is a great time of year to give your exterior a new look.
Maybe a complete makeover is too much right now. Just repainting your front door can be an easy way to achieve a new look. If you are doing it yourself, make sure you know the kind of wood and what paint or nish is already on the door. Experts in the paint department at Fragers Hardware (acehardware.com/store-details/16687) can help you choose the right paint base, sanding equipment, and paint. Feeling a little less ambitious? Then buying a fall wreath or pumpkins for the front of the house can also help make your home brighter.
Tech Painting company has deep ties to the Capitol Hill community, and 90% of their customers are either from repeat or word-of-mouth recommendations. If you are thinking of sprucing up your interior, the professional painters have experience dealing with many di erent wall situations found in older Capitol Hill homes. It’s wise to get on the schedule early this fall. That can ensure you will be able to get the job done in time to enjoy your new look over the holidays. (techpainting.com)
Sometimes we are ready to re-
fresh the interior of our homes, and want to make sure the new colors are going to be modern and not more of the same old look. Sam Lewis of Certa Pro Painters (certapro.com/washington-dc) says checking out colors that have won the Color of the Year award is a good place to start. This fall, Urbane Bronze, is that color. “It can be used in almost any room, or would be excellent for statement wall,” says Sam.
Shut Off the Water
Before the rst hard frost when the temperature drops below 28 degrees for a period of time, it is important to shut o your outside water. If there is water in the pipe, it can freeze and cause the pipe to burst. Also, remember your owerpots including ceramic birdbaths should be brought inside or placed near your warm house. Otherwise, extreme cold may crack the pots. Freezing weather can also damage terra cotta pots, causing the clay to fall o in sheets or chunks. While you’re at it, check to make sure there is not standing water around your foundation or walkways.
Fragers’ basement has a full array of HVAC filters from large to small.
Fertilize Your Yard and Plants
Fall can almost be as busy a time for gardeners as spring. As the last annual owers bloom, it is time to tidy up the garden and also the time to plant bulbs that will bloom in spring. This needs to happen before the rst frost, when digging through soil becomes impossible. But too early and a warmer than usual Indian summer and your bulbs can pop up prematurely.
The Friends of the National Arboretum (fona.org) will be holding a fall bulb sale on Oct. 55 providing a great opportunity to obtain both bulbs and information.
Cleaning Your Chimney and Vents
Santa is going to want you to get ahead on this one. The beginning of fall is a great time to get the chimney cleaned and inspected. Over time, there can be a soot and creosote buildup in the lining of your replace chimney that can cause carbon monoxide buildup or res. Many chimneys also engage with your heating system, so making sure the chimney is ready for the cold season is essential. Most services start around $100 and are well worth the peace of mind. Also remember to make sure your replace draft is closed so your heat isn’t going up in smoke.
You don’t have to tackle all of this in one weekend. In fact, many of the chores we’ve outlined naturally spread out across the season. The key is making a plan, so you aren’t caught in the dark or without heat. Preparing for fall and winter can really be a pleasing fresh start and who isn’t ready for a chilly autumn day, a pumpkin latte, and a roaring re.
Keeping the Hill Iron-Clad
Maintained Ironwork Will Last for Centuries
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
The classic Capitol Hill streetscape is a row of colorful homes along tree-lined streets. But we cannot forget that vision really is iron-clad. Ironwork is visible along every street — black iron fences running along our front yards, iron staircases with elaborate newel posts form the
entry to many of our homes punctuated by cellar security grills, ornate window hoods and decorative motifs along the rooftops. Why is ironwork so prevalent on the Hill? According a study by Judith M. Capen and Patrick Lally for the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS), it’s partly because Capitol Hill experienced a burst of growth during the post-Civil war period, a time when the use of cast iron in construction also experienced rapid expansion. Towards the end of the 19th century, there were up to fifteen foundries in the District alone. That made ornate work more accessible, as patterns previously too expensive to have carved in wood or stone could now be cast in iron. Some of this ironwork is a century and a half old. But, say the experts, it can last indefinitely with proper maintenance.
A typical back iron fence provides a charming frame for these roses. Photo: M. Ashabranner
Iron was used to create the ornamental door and window hoods that crown this South Carolina Avenue home. Photo: E. O’Gorek/CCN
Ornamental iron fencing around the Hill Center was restored in 2009. Photo: E. O’Gorek/CCN
Maintaining Ironwork
Federal City Ironworks (federalcityiron.com) founder Marshall May suggests all metal be looked at or inspected by the homeowner at least once every three years. Rust is what you’re trying to spot. May says new rust is bright orange, morphing into a deep red and almost purple as it ages. Also check for cracks or chipped or missing pieces, which weaken ironwork and create entryways for water.
Where rust is found, it should be scraped with a metal brush. If a brush won’t fit, you can use a flat head screwdriver, May said. Then the area should be wiped clean with a dry rag to remove any dust or particulates from the surface. Finally, the area should be painted over with a good quality paint that is meant to adhere to metal; May suggests homeowners use Rust-Oleum.
Sandblasting is one way to remove layers of paint, but this requires protection of the home’s masonry to prevent damage. An alternative CHRS recommends is stripping ironwork with a combination of heat, metal brushes and chemical strippers. The downside to this method is that most chemical strippers are messy and have a strong smell. Stripped metal should be primed immediately to prevent rust.
Maintaining Stairs
What about the stairs? “Cast iron stairs require less maintenance when it comes to paint, as missing or damaged paint
will not hurt cast iron in the long run,” May said. It’s the joints that are at risk: the mechanical connections between risers and between railing, level and riser.
What homeowners need to look out for are bouncing or shifting on steps or landings, cracked or missing sections and falling pieces of the stairs. When you inspect the stairs, don’t forget to check underneath the riser, which may not have been painted. Also check places where pieces are bolted together, where rust tends to accumulate. That can weaken the connections and cause pieces to separate.
Cast iron stairs can be difficult to repair properly. For instance, did you know an iron stair post is generally hollow, at-
According to CHRS, most Hill homes have cast iron staircases featuring ornamental newel posts and riser patterns.
Photo: E. O’Gorek/CCN
tached to the stair by an interior post that is bolted to the riser and then capped? If that post is improperly reattached, for instance by welding, it can cause damage to the stairs.
“I would usually suggest that if you think you might have an issue with your cast iron stairs, call for a quote,” May said. He recommends basic maintenance on a cast iron stairs be done at least every ve or 10 years. That is mainly to make sure the bolts on the stairs are still in a good condition and that expansion rust isn’t putting pressure on the joints. Most people wait much longer than they should before getting their stair repaired, costing themselves more money in the long run.
If your home is in the Capitol Hill Historic District, you must preserve these elements and replacement materials must be compatible with the defining characteristics of the area. CHRS recommends that homeowners repair staircases whenever possible, seeking parts from salvage or even having them replicated. Experts such as Federal City Ironworks can often nd ways to replicate or repair pieces; in some cases, di erent materials can be used, depending on if the replacement is ornamental or structural.
It is a worthy investment. Victorian ironwork is durable, strong, fire resistant, beautiful and helps to de ne both individual homes as well as the historic neighborhood of Capitol Hill.
ROOFING & GUTTERS
FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
NEW ROOFS
EXPERTS IN PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
ROOF COATINGS AND REPAIR ALL TYPES OF ROOFING GUTTERS/DOWNSPOUTS
chrs.org. ◆
CHIMNEY REPAIRS BRICK
WATERPROOFING
BRICK TUCKPOINTING
BLOWN-IN INSULATION
d Homes Gardens
History Leaves Its Mark
by Tom Daniel
Ihave always been a student of history. I was born in Capitol Hill, (on C St., between 2nd and 3rd St. SE, behind the Hawk and Dove), and have worked here for many years. My high school was off North Capitol Street, a few blocks from the Capitol building and dates to 1821. My father was also born near Capitol Hill and told me many stories about my great grandfather who started a Capitol Hill roofing business in the 1920’s, which was housed in the basement of his home at 3rd and Independence Ave. S.E. That’s a lot of history to start this article! With this personal background, I grew up being attached to the roofing business and the
beautiful, historic, architecturally enhanced homes on the Hill. I have worked on many of the roofs of these homes over the years and have been especially drawn to the various architectural styles that developed primarily after the Projection Act of 1871, which, for the first time, allowed bay windows, corner towers or turrets and porches to “project” into public space granting builders and developers leeway to introduce popular elements of the various historic architectural styles still prevalent today. These styles included ornate Queen Anne examples and Federal style, Empire style, Italianate and others. During this time, longer rows of attached housing were also developed. These
Roofer Tom Daniel was born on Capitol Hill and comes from a long line of Washingtonians.
“row houses” enabled more affordable mass-produced architectural features appealing to middle class residents.
One outstanding feature of these new homes was the slate turret roofs. If you walk along the 200 block of 8th St. SE, near Eastern Market, you will see dozens of turret-style homes, many of which we have worked on. Or look at the dozens of these homes on the 1200 block of E St. NE, where we did a new slate turret and copper roof project for Mike and Andrea. There are many other streets with these turret roofs on the Hill and all over the city. Natural slate roo ng was chosen by the city’s architects and builders for its durability, longevity, (they can last 100 years or more) and beauty. As a natural stone, slate is an ecofriendly material and a sustainable choice. And, unlike some roo ng materials, slate does not catch re easily which adds a layer of safety to homes.
We often replace these old slate roofs with new slate tile roofs destined to last another 100 years. This is true, historic roo ng at its nest. Often we use Spanish black slate tiles on customer projects. The tiles do not fade or weather and remain true to their deep blue-black color and smooth surface. There are other origin locations and colors of quarried slate found elsewhere around the globe.
Challenges
One home we worked on, near Dupont Circle, had many challenges. Jim and Mark had lived in their beautiful, historic home for many years. Their corner residence is as large as an apartment
building and is an older structure (circa 1880’s) with many external design features. They had been challenged for years about how to deal with their porous, leaking roofs, skylights and gutters. There was extensive internal damage to the ceilings and walls. It was clear this would be a huge restoration project. They called it “The Project of a Lifetime” and I couldn’t have agreed more! The decision was made to have us do what was necessary to restore the roof and related structures to their original state using natural and historic materials such as slate and copper. Before we could begin the project, we had to obtain multiple permits and set up sca olding around the entire structure on S St. and the adjacent street. It took nearly a week just to install the sca olding. In the end, the project took nearly three months and included new slate turret and mansard roofs, several new copper roofs and a membrane roof on the main structure. The work substantially increased the value of the home and truly tested our project management skills!
I hope to continue doing our part for many years to assist Capitol Hill homeowners to restore their historic properties whenever they need our help. We know these properties and the roo ng types and materials and are always in the neighborhood.
Tom Daniel is the owner of R. Thomas Daniel Roo ng, LLC and is the third generation of the Daniel family to provide roo ng services to thousands of Capitol Hill homeowners for nearly 100 years. He can be reached at 202569-1080 or tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com. ◆
Interior
FIVE Things
Paying Attention to When Planning a
by Bruce Wentworth, AIA
Ihave been remodeling homes in the DC metro area since the 1980s. I meet with hundreds of homeowners each year to discuss their remodeling needs. Each is unique. Sometimes the homes are more interesting than the homeowners – and at other times the people are more interesting than the house.
Home Remodeling
Despite the need for customized design/ build services, each remodeling project requires resolving issues surrounding zoning, building codes, historic districts, structure, and budget.
Zoning
If you are planning to change the footprint of your house, it will require checking the zoning codes. Get a copy of your House Location Survey drawing that you paid for at settlement. It was called “survey” on your settlement sheet, and most lenders require one. Some of the House Location Surveys I have seen are quite detailed and others have very little information. It may be worth paying for a detailed survey if you are planning a home addition. The survey drawing must show the dimensions of the lot, dimensions of the house, and how the house sits on the lot. Whether planning a porch, deck, or room addition (up or out), you or your architect needs to explore the zoning code. Zoning is, at times, simple and straightforward. Other times it’s a mysterious puzzle not so easily solved.
For many Capitol Hill homes the front yard is actually public space and not privately owned. Regulations regarding public space are to be taken seriously, so don’t assume you can build on it. There are provisions for special circumstances such as outside stairs to a basement, bay windows and other on-grade issues (decks, patios, and sidewalks) for which a public space permit is required.
At times, easements have been placed on a property for access for trash, fire, or utilities. If you want to expand your home beyond the zoning limits, you can apply for a zoning variance, but be
prepared for at least a year-long process. All can inhibit what you do with your land.
Additionally, don’t assume because your neighbor’s house has an addition, deck or third floor
New family room addition to a Capitol Hill row house
1880s Victorian row house with newly remodeled kitchen in Capitol Hill.
New Master bathroom addition with roll-in shower
Master bedroom of a remodeled row house on SW waterfront
that you can do the same. It may have been done years ago, without a permit, may have been built with a zoning variance or was built before 1958 when zoning was laxer. Many of us have heard of real estate investors on Capitol Hill who have built without proper approvals and had to remove the third oor or take down a rear addition.
Building Codes
There is a reason for building codes: life, safety, and health issues. Don’t want your rowhouse to catch fire when your neighbor’s house is in ames? Thank the re walls. Don’t want your deck to collapse when you have a crowd for a party? Thank the structural code requirements. Like to be able to have natural light and ventilation or crawl out of a bedroom window during a re risk? Thank the building and re codes. Need access to your electrical panel in an emergency? Thank the code that requires three-foot clearance in front of the electrical panel. Stu happens. Be prepared.
Historic Districts
Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) that may review projects. CHRS approval often helps gain HPO approval. Homes near the Capitol complex may also require review by the Fine Arts Commission.
The process can be slow, costly, and confusing, but having experienced design professionals involved will help. The bene t is that Capitol Hill remains a desirable, visually rich neighborhood with strong property values. It is worth it.
Structural Issues
Homeowners often misjudge the complexity of alterations. Many assume, “This is a load-bearing wall, so I guess we have to live with it.” Not necessarily—a microlam or steel beam can open the wall.
Other times, homeowners want to dig out a crawl space with masonry walls to create a basement. That’s usually impossible, since crawl space walls don’t extend as deep as basement walls.
Concerns also arise about underpinning foundations. Sometimes walls are deep enough to dig down 8–12 inches for more ceiling height, but often they aren’t.
If you own a house, know whether it is in an historic district. Capitol Hill is one of the largest in the country, with over 11,000 buildings. Any signi cant exterior change (except paint) requires review.
The DC Historic Preservation O ce (HPO), part of the O ce of Planning, reviews proposed alterations and may suggest improvements, reject, or approve them. The process can take months, and approval is required before a building permit is issued. Simple changes, like window or door replacements, are often approved quickly by HPO sta .
Working alongside HPO is the
Each old house is unique and must be studied carefully. Built in another era and often altered over decades, every home has quirks that require attention.
Structural changes can be simple or complex, but in DC it’s best to involve a structural engineer. Their stamped drawings are required for permits and con rm the validity of changes. Working with both architect and engineer ensures the best solution and proper documentation. It’s a smart investment.
Budget
Budget is a complicated
tional topic for homeowners. In my experience, most estimate their remodeling project will cost only about 60% of the actual amount. Often, their scope of work is too ambitious for the budget.
Priorities must be established. Sometimes homeowners get poor budget information from an architect or contractor. Being able to visualize the finished project helps reach a more accurate budget figure.
Remodeling is more complex than it appears—like surgery. The damaged parts of a house must be removed carefully before building new, while protecting adjacent areas, often with the owners still living there.
Remodeling is a specialty. Architects/designers who focus on it bring different skills than those in new construction. A skilled remodeling carpenter is especially valuable—highly compensated and truly the surgeons of the building industry.
I like to price each project three times: first, an initial ballpark based on concept and scope; second, pricing within 10% of the final design; and third, a fixed price from complete construction drawings, ready for contract.
This process keeps everyone informed and tracks changes. Use this checklist: hire remodeling professionals, set a realistic budget and timeframe, focus on design details, and be patient. A home worth waiting for will be the result.
Bruce Wentworth, AIA, is the former president of Wentworth, Inc., a design/build firm based in Chevy Chase, Maryland and known for historic preservation of homes in the Washington, DC region. www.wentworthstudio.com u
In The Weeds
by Capitol Hill Garden Club
Fall is just around the corner. What should I do in my garden as the season shifts?
As the sun crosses the celestial equator on the fall equinox—typically around September 22—the garden begins its slow, graceful descent into dormancy. Days shorten, temperatures cool, and plants shift their energy from vibrant growth to quiet rest. This seasonal turning point o ers the perfect moment to tend to both practical tasks and the more meditative aspects of gardening. Here’s a guide to what you can do in your garden now to support a beautiful, healthy landscape through fall and into next spring.
1. Plant Cool-Season Crops
Early fall is prime time for growing a second round of vegetables. Lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, kale, and turnips all thrive in cooler weather and can be sown directly into wellprepared soil. In fact, some crops— like spinach—taste sweeter after a light frost. Keep soil evenly moist and consider using row covers if a sudden cold snap threatens tender seedlings.
2. Divide and Replant Perennials
Late September is ideal for dividing spring- and summer-blooming perennials like daylilies, irises, hostas, and cone owers. Dividing not only rejuvenates aging plants but also gives you free new plants to spread around your garden or share with neighbors. Aim to divide on a cool, cloudy day and water new divisions well.
3. Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs
Think ahead to March and April now by planting da odils, crocuses, and tulips. Bulbs should be planted about three times as deep as their height, in well-draining soil with full to partial
sun. For a natural look, scatter bulbs by hand and plant where they land.
4. Rejuvenate Your Lawn
September is the best time in the DC area to seed or overseed cool-season grasses like tall fescue. Aerate compacted soil, rake in a thin layer of compost, and sow seed evenly. Keep the area moist until germination and consider applying a balanced fertilizer to give the lawn a strong start before winter.
5. Refresh Containers with Fall Flair Container gardens don’t need to fade just because summer’s over. Replace tired annuals with ornamental kale, pansies, mums, asters, or even small pumpkins and gourds. Group pots by the front door or patio for an easy seasonal lift.
6. Support Pollinators and Wildlife Don’t be too quick to tidy. Leaving seed heads on cone owers, black-eyed Susans, and ornamental grasses pro-
A fall planter with crotons, cabbages, chrysanthemums and grasses in front of the Residences at Eastern Market. Photo: M. Ashabranner
and ornamental grasses provides food for birds throughout the fall,
vides food for birds throughout the fall. If possible, leave leaf litter in garden beds—many beneficial insects and native bees overwinter there. These small acts can have a big impact on local ecosystems.
7. Start a Compost Pile
With all the garden cleanup happening, fall is an excellent time to begin composting if you haven’t already. Mix green (grass clippings, vegetable scraps) and brown (dry leaves, shredded newspaper) materials, and keep your pile moist and turned regularly. By spring, you’ll have rich compost to feed your beds.
8. Take Stock and Reflect
Before everything disappears under a layer of leaves, take a walk through your garden with a notebook or phone. What thrived? What flopped? Where is there too much shade—or not enough? Autumn is a reflective season, and capturing your observations now can help you plan smarter for next year.
Gardening advice, information and commentary from the Capitol Hill Garden Club. Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@gmail.com. Want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants? Join the Capitol Hill Garden Club, more information on the club website at capitolhillgardenclub.org. u
Leaving seed heads on coneflowers, black-eyed Susans,
photo: Dare Wenzler
What’s Happening with the Capitol Hill Residential Sales Market?
by Don Denton
The first half of the 2025 residential sales market is in the books! Looking back five years from now, what most of us will remember will not be the real estate market but the uncertainty in so many households here on Capitol Hill, in Washington DC, in the DMV communities and in communities throughout our great nation. Our hearts
go out to those who have lost their jobs and to those who aren’t sure that they will have their job next week. None of this is meant to be a political statement, but a reflection of the current reality. All of this said, real estate markets are differing from neighborhood to neighborhood. Within all of those neighborhoods, the market may differ between price ranges, buyer ages and between single family homes vs condos and coops.
Intuitively, I can report that many first-time buyers have put their home purchase plans on hold. These, generally younger, buyers are more focused on job security than buying their first home. A lot of move-up buyers are also frozen in place with the same concerns. Once things settle down, these buyers will jump back into the market.
So, who is selling and who is buying?
First, we on Capitol Hill have seen more inventory come on the market. Not a flood of properties, but a few more listings than over the past few years (the tightest inventories that we have experienced in over 30 years). Still a seller’s market but not a time to be pushing the envelope too far.
Who Is Selling?
From my little perch, I see a significant number of estate sales—wonderful long-time neighbors who have taken their last breath here in the neighborhood they loved. Another older group of friends and neighbors have concluded that they want to spend the next chapter of their lives living near loved ones in some far away place like West Virginia! A final subset of this old-
er group have elected to sell their Hill home of 3040-50 years and move into a rental or smaller condo all on one floor and access to an elevator. Finally, those neighbors who have lived in our neighborhoods for decades who have decided this is the time to retire and to spend the next chapter of their lives where they grew up or a totally different environment or an independent or assisted living com-
plex. Add these groups together and you have a signi cant number of our sellers today.
The next part of our selling population are long-time middle-aged homeowners who probably have a signi cant amount of equity in their existing home and maybe funds from a family member and are in a position to go after their “forever” home. This group is also part of our buying population, but most likely they will sell their existing homes to unlock that equity to be used in that “forever” home.
Finally, a collage of neighbors who have accepted employment elsewhere; developers who have bought and renovated; or investors who have rented their property for decades.
All of the above add up to a very healthy and consistent ow of good properties. Not a ood, just a good ow!
What About The Buying Population!
First, a word about the huge transference of wealth currently taking place between the baby boomer generation and their children and grandchildren. Not every buyer is a bene ciary of this phenomena but there are enough that it is having a signi cant impact on our neighborhood. The impact is felt in every price range.
Second, many of our buyers are two-income families. That diversity of income may provide the comfort level to move forward with the purchase of a rst home or a moveup home.
For us, the number of our neighbors who work for the Federal government in one way or another is huge. However, our buying population is far more diversi ed than ever before. House and Senate sta s number around 15,000 +/-. The number of tech related jobs in our area is signi cant. The defense industry has a huge footprint in our region today. There are over 100,000 lawyers who are members of the DC Bar. Of course, Capitol Hill is not affordable nor desirable for all. However, many start here and stay here.
And there is the “grandparent” phenomenon. During most of my career the idea of grandparents moving to Capitol Hill was absurd. No longer! They have become a noticeable segment of our purchaser popula-
tion. They move here from everywhere to be near their children and grandchildren. They are usually coming with a lot of cash that they have taken out of the home where they have moved from.
Add to the above group, a sister group if you will, those who have lived most of their adult lives in the suburbs. They want to live the next chapter in a walkable neighborhood and be like many of our younger residents and ditch the car. Twice this year, Washington DC has been named the best place in America to retire (CNBC and Travel + Leisure). Walkability, access to world class health care, culture, travel access, etc. Who wouldn’t want to live here!
A Word About Private Exclusive Listings
Three words you will never hear from me! Yes, I understand that on rare occasions this type of listing is best for the seller. Health, nance, anonymity, or money is just not a priority! This should be the exception but not baked into the listing presentation! As your listing agent, my sole obligation is to you, my client. My objective is to get you the highest price and the best terms possible. It is not to have a quick, quiet sale where I bene t, my company benets and probably my preferred lender and my preferred title company all bene t while you, my client, potentially (most likely) leaves money on the table. Marketing your home publicly is a winning strategy. My job as your agent is to get as many potential buyers as possible to view your property online and in person. I have done my job if agents from my brokerage and all other brokerages, get their clients (buyers) into your property. Prep it, price it and spring it on the market. No advanced warning. No Coming Soon. And especially no private exclusive! Create the excitement and the competition and let the market speak. If you are even considering a private listing, call me and let me convince you otherwise!
d Homes Gardens
Changing Hands
Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.
922 8th St NE 4BR/3.5BA/PARKING
Is Federalization Keeping DC Safe?
Residents Respond to Takeover
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
About 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, a National Guard tactical vehicle rumbled through Eighth Street and North Carolina Avenue SE, part of a convoy of four others and a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) cruiser.
The Guard driver ran a red light, slamming into a silver SUV and trapping a woman inside. DC Firefighters extracted her with the jaws of life. Officials said her injuries were not life-threatening. The Guard driver was ticketed.
The 14-ton Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, designed for combat, has severe visibility issues. “It has a blind spot the size of a limo,” one veteran said. In video of the crash, the vehicle towers over the SUV.
The accident became the most visible sign of President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize DC’s police force and flood city streets with troops and agents.
Federalization
On Aug. 11, Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) declaring a crime emergency in DC, seizing control of MPD for thirty days ending Sept. 10. He also deployed the DC National Guard, which answers directly to him. It is the first such move since the 1973 Home Rule Act.
The Guard presence has no end date. Unlike past deployments for riots or protests, this one is open-ended. Six states pledged more troops. Fed-
eralization of MPD can last 30 days; extension requires Congress, on recess until Sept. 2.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi initially indicated DEA chief Terry Cole would act as commissioner, requiring MPD to seek his approval before issuing orders. But DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb successfully sued to block Trump’s attempt to replace Chief Pamela Smith.
What Emergency?
District officials note violent crime is down 27 percent from 2024 and 51 percent from 2023, its lowest in 30 years. “This is a manufactured intrusion on local authority,” the DC Council said, arguing there is no emergency and the Guard has no clear mission.
Residents largely agree. A Post poll found nearly 8 in 10 oppose the order, 7 in 10 “strongly.” At Union Station, Vice President J.D. Vance said he was “highly skeptical” DC residents didn’t want more enforcement. On CNN, Trump ally Scott Jennings said, “I don’t care what they think.”
The White House touted a homicide-free week since the EO, but DC already had several such streaks in 2025. FBI data shows one as recently as July 12–19. The administration also launched an investigation into MPD crime stats, alleging falsification.
Officials say 150 more arrests occurred since federalization than in the same period last year. Mayor Muriel Bowser said more officers naturally
mean more arrests, but it remains unclear who was arrested or by which agency. Federal agents often wear generic “POLICE” vests or masks, making
In this still taken from witness video, a delivery driver waits after being pulled over by four vehicles carrying federal and District officers.
accountability murky.
Bowser said Aug. 20 she doesn’t think the National Guard should be used for law enforcement. “I don’t think you [should] have an armed militia in the nation’s capital,” she said.
Who Is Arresting Who — And Why?
Just before noon Sunday, Aug. 17, four unmarked vehicles with New York plates stopped a scooter rider on the 900 block of H Street NE. Speaking Spanish, the man said he had asylum papers pending. Agents removed a cooler from his scooter. Some vests read “ICE,” others simply “POLICE.” A masked agent shouted at onlookers to back up.
On Aug. 14, Chief Smith issued an order allowing MPD to assist federal immigration enforcement by sharing information from stops or providing transport for detainees.
“They arrested him, took his scooter and left,” a witness said. Minutes later, officers cuffed another man. Bystanders shouted questions: “Why are you wearing masks?” “Why are you from New York?” “What agency are you with?” No one answered. The Hill Rag reached out to MPD, DHS and the Mayor’s Office. None responded before publication.
How Are Residents Responding?
On Aug. 22, over 200 people crowded into the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church (421 Seward Sq. SE) for a call-to-action meeting organized by Free
DC, Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid and Everyone Home DC. Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC which organizes DC residents to fight for DC statehood, called for the “beginning of the end of this regime” to exuberant applause.
Free DC is actively working to end the federal takeover. They hold virtual training sessions for residents to learn about the attacks DC is facing and about strategies to defeat them. By show of hands over one-third of the crowd had already participated in a Free DC orientation (freedcproject.org). Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid has a hotline (202-335-1183) where people can report arrests they have witnessed and where families of arrested people can find legal aid. Everyone Home DC works with homeless residents who are the focus of a Trump mandate to remove them from DC streets (everyonehomedc.org).
Seniors Defending Democracy is another group of Capitol Hill residents that has organized to out of concern the effects of Trump administration actions. They are engaged in supporting midterm candidates nation-wide, getting out the vote, and education on the effects of cuts to our federal infrastructure. (Email SDDcapitolhill@gmail.com for information.)
Metro and School Concerns
Both National Guard units and federal agents have been seen in Metro stations. At L’Enfant Plaza, witnesses described six to eight officers surround-
ing a young man in handcuffs. At Southwest Station, video showed officers carrying a teenage girl out by her arms and legs.
“Federal Law enforcement and National Guard troops are assisting [Metro Transit Police Department] MTPD officers,” Metro said, in a statement. “We appreciate their support and encourage customers to report suspicious behavior.”
Signs expressing dismay and resistance to the administrations actions are seen across our neighborhood.
Over 200 people crowded into the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church on August 22 to learn ways that they can help fight the federal takeover of the District.
Photo: M. Ashabranner
Free DC signs sprout all over Capitol Hill in response to the deployment of the National Guard in DC. Trump administration.
Seniors Defending Democracy are working to elect midterm candidates, protect election integrity and educate about the effects of Trump administration policies on our country.
The timing alarms parents with the school year beginning Aug. 25. Rachel, whose son rides Metro to his language-immersion middle school, fears what might happen if he or friends are accused of fare evasion. Students ride free only with a Kids Ride Free (KDF) SmartTrip card, but distribution is uneven and replacements slow.
“DCPS has never done a good job of getting metro cards to students in a way that truly works and has quick replacements should the card be lost,” said Washington Teachers Union President Laura Fuchs in a social media post. “In a time where “law enforcement” is even less likely to be trained in how to work with kids, this line of thinking is extra dangerous.”
In social media posts Wednesday before school began, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) reminded families that students must scan these cards to ride free. If they lose or forget the card, they must pay the fare, she said, discouraging students from jumping the gates, following friends through the turnstile or riding the bus without paying a fare.
“In addition to normal MetroTransit Police and security, students are likely to encounter the National Guard and other federal law enforcement in and around Metro stations,” the post states.
Rachel said that her family are American citizens. But she is worried about what will happen to her son and his friends and teachers if ICE appears on campus, supported by MPD and implicitly, she feels, the DC government. “I know logically, I should have nothing to worry about for [him],” she said, grabbing her son’s hand as she speaks. “But I don’t think logic has a part in this.” u
paC i t ol News RouN d pu-
What You Might Have Missed in August
“Sandwichman” Becomes Defiant Icon
A man was arrested Sunday, Aug. 10 and charged with a felony after he threw a wrapped Subway sandwich at federal officers standing on the corner of 14th and U Streets NW. The man, identified in multiple reports as Sean Charles Dunn, has been charged with “assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and employees of the United States.” Dunn was a Department of Justice employee who was fired after the incident. He has since been immortalized in street art, with images of a person flinging a sandwich appearing on walls throughout the city. Graphics showing three stars above double lines of hoagie have tied his act to the DC flag. Protesters have brought subway sandwiches to actions, waving them above their heads, turning the submarine sandwich into a tool of resistance.
Deal for NFL at RFK One Step Closer
On Aug. 1, the DC Council took a first vote to pass the deal to build an NFL stadium at RFK. The Commanders made concessions around the environment, agreeing to build to LEED Platinum standards. They will re-examine the location of two parking garages and wait to see if a third is needed when the stadium is complete. They also have agreed to enter into labor agreements around a hotel planned for the site. But the Council indicated changes are still imminent, particularly on deadlines for development around the stadium and potential penalties if those are not met. Many residents, including activist group No Billionaires Playground, say the process has been too rushed and comes at too huge a cost to the city. A second vote is scheduled for Sept. 17, when Council reconvenes.
RFK Campus is pictured July 21, 2025 as deconstruction continues. Photo: E.O’Gorek
Art depicting Sandwich Man near Union Market. Photo: E.O’Gorek/CCN
Construction Begins Connecting Garfield, Canal Parks
Work began in August on the Garfield Park-Canal Park Connector, a project that will improve the pathway underneath I-695 and create additional space for DPR to use along with Garfield Park. The space is closed to pedestrian access while work continues. The primary project area includes a trapezoid shaped area underneath I-695, including the existing one-block truncated section of Virginia Avenue SE north of H Street SE and south of Garfield Park. The secondary area includes the intersection of 1st and F street SE. Phase 1 is expected to conclude at the end of January 2026. Upgrades will include improvements to the existing skate park. Nonprofit Washington DC Pickleball (WDCP) https://www.washingtondcpickleball.org/ is expected to construct five new pickleball courts south of the park. Depending on the weather, the project could be completed by late 2025 or as late as March 2026. https://garfieldpark-connector-dcgis.hub.arcgis.com/
White Sworn
In As Ward 8 Councilmember
On Aug. 8, the DC Board of Elections officially certified Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. (D) as
the winner of the Ward 8 special election held July 15. White was sworn in the same day. He was elected to his third term in November, 2024, but was expelled by Council in February 2025 after a report found he had violated Council’s code of ethics. In August 2024 the FBI charged White with bribery of a public official. Council is on recess until September. It is unclear if councilmembers are prepared to expel White a second time. White is expected to face charges in federal court beginning Jan. 12, 2026; his term ends Jan. 2, 2029. Council law states that no individual can hold office if they were convicted on felony charges for a crime committed while holding public office.
Fridge Art Gallery Fundraising to Re-Open
The Fridge Art Gallery launched a go-fund me to reopen the space. The gallery, located in the alley behind Belga, opened in 2009 and launched the career of more than a thousand artists, prioritizing the support of Black, Brown, Asian and Native voices, LGBTQ and nonbinary creators, street art, hip hop, poetry “and raw self-expression.” On the gofundme page, owners cite rising property taxes and a legal battle as causes of the closure. “We won in court but still had to close,” they write, but want to reclaim the old space by New Years 2026. The goal is to raise $50,000 by Oct. 1. Funds will pay the taxes, for renovations, repairs, permits and insurance as well as artist stipends. “We’re not starting over,” write Shaymar Higgs for owner Alex Goldstein, “we’re picking up where we left off, in the same location, with the same mission, and an even bigger vision for what DC can be.” gofundme.com/f/thefridgedc
Restaurant Openings and Closings
Barracks Row and Pennsylvania Avenue
ZomTum Thai and Laos restaurant opened in August at 660 Pennsylvania Ave SE, the former site of Joselito’s retaurant. zomtumdc.com
Restauranteur Steve Salis, who owns Ted’s Bulletin, will open a Barracks Row Federalist Pig restaurant on Eighth Street in the former Barracks Row Joey’s restaurant site (527 Eighth St. SE). According to the Washington Business Journal, the restaurant will be “more of an upscale cultivar-forward roadhouse” offering fish, steaks, chops and vegetables. The goal is to open by Labor Day of 2026.
A Mediterranean bakery called House of Flatbreads is coming to 1116 Eighth St. SE, near the Capital Turnaround. The restaurant,
which serves Mediterranean pitas, flatbread and salad also has a location in Arlington, VA, hofflatbreads.com
A sushi counter is expected to open at 325 Seventh St. SE, the former site of My Cake Theory. Souk Bakery is closed. The bakery and coffee shop opened in 2015, and announced the closure on Instagram, asking followers to watch for news of a new retail location elsewhere. Owner Winnette McIntosh Ambrose was also behind Sweet Lobby across the street, which closed in 2022.
H Street NE
Filipino-Italian restaurant Filitali opened Aug. 23 at 1250 H St NE in the former Kayu space (above Double Up). Chef Wilson Ramos and team are serving twists on Filipino and Italian dishes, including handmade pastas, lechon, and pistachio-dusted cannoli.
Nanglo Indian and Nepalese restaurant opened in the former Kitchen Cray spot (1301 H St. NE) on August 25. The restaurant offers
FiIitali opened Aug. 23, serving twists on Filipino and Italian classics in the former upstairs Kayu space (1250 H St. NE). Photo: E.O’Gorek/CCN
modern cuisine, including rich curries and sizzling tandoori to crisp moms and street-style bits. nanglodc.com
Sip City Spirits and Wine opened at 1368 H St. NE; B & B Convenience is open at 1447 Maryland Ave. NE, next to Daru.
Ethio Vegan is set to open in the old Kitsuen space at 1362 H St. NE. The plantbased restaurant specializes in Ethiopean Cusine. www.ethiovegan.com
Kilam’s Kloset is open upstairs at 1417 H St. NE, offering vintage, designer and everyday finds. Souk Bakery closed July 22, 2025. Featuring flowered wallpaper along the stairs and a mini jukebox when you get upstairs, it’s great for men, women, shoes and accessories.
In July, all you can eat Sushi Restaurant Sushi Sato opened at 1245 H St. NE. Helmed by Executive Chef Mai Newman, the new establishment offers standard and premium AllYou-Can-Eat (AYCE) sushi options for $55 and $75 person respectively. The latter offers an expanded choice of rolls, nigiri and sashimi. Add an all you can drink beer option for an additional $19.
Taku Sushi and Bar applied for a license for 517 H St. NE. It is unlikely to open prior to 2026.
Temp Food Shack is slated to open at 802 13th Street, at the corner of H Street NE. Starting as a kiosk in Ashburn, VA, the restaurant will serve Nepalese Street Food such as MoMo (dumplings) and Chatpate. u
St. Coletta Celebrates 20 Years in Hill East
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Daniel Reese and I are speaking in an upstairs office at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave. SE). Outside, families stream toward the building for convocation that afternoon. Reese, who graduated in 2012, remembers it well. “Everyone’s dressed up,” he recalled, “and they’re just all pumped up,” he said, “and [thinking] ‘I made it through, all the way.’”
The St. Coletta mission is to empower children and adults with intellectual disabilities to discover their full potential. The school now serves 270 students ages 3-22 in Hill East and 220 adults at day service centers in Rockville, MD and Alexandria, VA. This year, St. Coletta turns 65, and the charter school celebrates 20 years on Capitol Hill.
Many students have one-to-one support. Reese came to the school in 2006 after his parents read about it in a newspaper. He had been enrolled at his local middle school, but neither he nor his parents were happy. There was frequent conflict and his parents felt the staff could not meet their son’s special education needs.
After touring the Alexandria facility, Reese
joined the first cohort in the brand-new Hill East charter school building. He has never truly left. Upon graduation, he became a facilities assistant. Now nearing completion of his plumbing certification, he plans to stay on.
History
Founded in 1959 in Arlington, VA, by parents of a child with Down’s Syndrome, St. Coletta relocated several times before Executive Director Sharon Raimo bought a building in Alexandria, VA, in 1996. Then in 2006, the new Hill East school opened across Independence Avenue from Stadium Armory.
Most Hill residents know the building by its bold Michael Graves design. Each of the five “houses” is distinguished by shape and color outside and delineated again by cheery colors inside. Houses group students loosely by age, from 3–6 in house one to adults 18–22 in house five. Classrooms hold 8–12 students with a lead teacher and paraprofessionals as required by each student’s individual education plan (IEP).
The 99,000-square-foot school includes a
gym, basketball court, adapted playground, sensory room, hydrotherapy pool, and kitchens in houses four and five.
Kaiheem Mason, now Chief Operating Officer (COO), joined as HR manager halfway through the school’s first year. “It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” Mason said. He recalled being in awe Raimo, the students, and the staff. “Raismo just was willing to install as much time and energy as it took in a vision to develop the school and as it relates to our staff, she just cared and she made sure everyone else cared,” he said. He remembers a part of Raimo’s philosophy: a pristine environment shows respect. It’s one of the values that still guides the school —and Reese.
Beyond the Building
The building itself is on many District “must see” lists. “But what makes it magic is not the outside of the building, it’s who’s inside,” said CEO Mike Rodrigues.
Rodrigues joined in 2021 after Raimo stepped down the year before, bringing 30 years of experience in disability services to St. Colet-
The distinctive school building was designed by famed architect Michael Graves. Photo: Courtesy St. Coletta of Greater Washington
ta which he calls his “dream organization.”
Rodrigues lives nearby. He walks to work, entering his office daily through the “village ring,” the long corridor at the center of the St. Coletta building that unites the houses. By the time he reaches his office, he said, “I’ve got, you know, five hugs and 10 high fives and seven Happy Mondays. It’s a joyous place. I feel like I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Each student’s education is tailored to their needs, he said. Of 250 enrolled last year, 132 required one-to-one support. The curriculum blends academics with life skills, arts, technical training, and vocational programs. From age 12, students begin transition training such as money management. By house five, they work at job sites in the community, learning transportation, social skills, and job readiness.
“Many of them work harder just getting ready in the morning to get here than most of the rest of us do all day long,” Rodrigues said.
Family engagement and community building is key. About 60 percent of students come from wards 7 and 8, though families attend from all over the District and beyond. That means that the school has gotten fairly good at knitting a community together despite disparate home lives and locations.
The adult programs in Alexandria and Rockville offer vocational training, supported employment, and community integration. Coletta Collections (www.colettacollections.com) sells jewelry, accessories and décor. These are made by program participants employed as artisans at both adult sites, with Rockville students handling fulfillment shipping.
Future
Raimo originally intended the school to be a private-public partnership. But, she told the Capitol Hill History Project, as opening neared offi-
cials insisted St. Coletta open as a public charter school, accessible to District residents via the school lottery. But given that many students required 1-1 attention, Raimo knew that charter school money would not be enough for the programming. The city initially covered the difference through a supplement to the school’s budget. That supplement, however, lapsed in 2017. The school estimates they have a $2.6 million deficit entering the 202526 school year. Families have told DC Council that this lapse could be addressed if the school system would implement Level 5 Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) funding for the highest need students in fiscal year 2027. That recommendation, applicable to students with disabilities who need a full-time paraprofessional, was made by a 2024 Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) working group. The organization has done everything it can to make up the difference, organizing advocacy and trying to do more with less so students get everything they deserve. Rodrigues said the goal is the highest quality service every day. Growth to St. Coletta is about finding the best way to fill the needs of the next person who comes to them in the best way possible. Current events pose another variable, the CEO said, not just in terms of what it means for revenue streams but what it means for the families in the hours they are not at school —and what the St. Coletta team can do about it when they are. St. Coletta strives to increase their quality of service, year over year, “One person at a time, one family at a time,” Rodrigues said.
Opening Doors
Part of their growth strategy is to open doors between St.
Coletta and the wider community. Mason would like to see an expansion of early childhood programs, to support more kids under 6 at St. Coletta. He has hopes that the school could become a community resource, helping to educate neighbors about disability services and prepare them to receive adults and students with support. Finally, he hopes one day the school will be in a financial position to do workplace development.
As the city works out plans for development on RFK Campus around a Commanders stadium, St. Coletta faces changes along with the neighborhood. Rodrigues said this moment, with all eyes turned to the east end of Independence Avenue, is an opportunity to inform the District about what happens at St. Coletta. The building has been the site of town halls between residents, government officials and the team. Rodrigues said the school has met with a representative of the Commanders football team to discuss opportunities for both the school and the team.
Rodrigues invites neighbors to tour the school and welcomes volunteers, businesses and job site partners. COO Mason agrees. “Once we get you in, we know we have you at that point,” Mason said. “It’s just like what I went through in 2007 once I came in. It’s just very difficult to separate from the magic that happens here.”
Learn more about how you can get involved with St. Coletta of Greater Washington at stcoletta.org. Shop the Coletta Collections at colettacollections.com u
COO Kaiheem Mason in his office at St. Coletta.
Photo: Courtesy St. Coletta of Greater Washington
CEO Mike Rodrigues.
Photo: Courtesy St. Coletta of Greater Washington
Bulletin Board
National Gallery Nights Returns this Fall
The NGA East Building comes to life in this popular after-hours program. Join them for themed evenings with music, live performances, artmaking, popup talks, and more. The season kicks off on Thursday, September 11, with “Back to School.” Embrace first-day-of-school energy with creative projects using everyday materials. “Strike a Pose” on October 9 and celebrate the exhibition Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985 with vintage-inspired fashion, photo booth moments, and rare West Building access after dark. The season ends on November 13 with “Art Under the Stars” as visitors experience the exhibition The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art with didgeridoo performances, textile weaving, and rooftop stargazing. The first lottery opens Sept. 1, at 10 a.m. Walk-up passes are also available starting at 5:30 p.m., the day of each event. nga.gov.
CHRS House Expo Set for Saturday, Nov. 1
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society is holding its free annual House Expo in Eastern Market’s North Hall, 225 Seventh St. SE, on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a perfect opportunity for homeowners to meet local contractors. The expo features a wide range of home service exhibitors and representatives of city agencies. If you have been thinking about a project for your home, you can find qualified experts at the Expo. There will also be experts in real estate, finance, insurance and property management. A list of exhibitors will be on the CHRS website in October at chrs.org.
CHRS Offers Capitol Hill Walking Tours
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) is welcoming cooler September weather with four walking tours. Each tour is $15, led by a CHRS volunteer, and reservations are required on Eventbrite.
Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. – SE Alleys Part II – Capitol Hill’s alleys have served many purposes–housing, businesses, stables, garages–and reveal much about the L’Enfant plan and zoning. This brand-new tour is distinct from SE Alleys Part I. Meet at 219 11th St., SE.
Saturday, Sept. 6, 1 p.m. – Notable People – Explore the lives of famous, infamous, and influential neighborhood residents from the 1800s to today. Meet at the park at Massachusetts Ave. and 9th St., NE.
Sunday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. – One Block Tour – Take a deep dive into the history, architecture, and former residents of a single block. Meet at 922 C St., SE (10th & C Streets).
Sunday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. – The Civil War and Before – Discover the area’s oldest history, from original inhabitants to early growth near the Navy Yard. Meet at 8th & M Streets, SE.
Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. Notable People – This tour showcases the various famous, infamous and important people who have lives in the neighborhood from the 1800s to the present. The tour starts at the park at Massachusetts Avenue and 9th St. NE.
Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. A One Block Tour of SE Capitol Hill History – Learn about historical ad architectural trends in the neighborhood through a one-block-long deepdive into the history of the buildings and former residents. Meet at 922 C St., SE, which is the corner of 10th and C Streets, SE.
Our City. Our Music. Our Writers. at Hill Center
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7 to 9 p.m., two Smithsonian Museum curators will present and discuss their recent books and the key insights derived from research, field work, and material culture studies that increase our understanding of this quintessential American music and its global influence. Dwandalyn R. Reece will present Musical Crossroads: Stories Behind the Objects of African American Music, highlighting research on the vast array of musical styles and performance traditions that developed the comprehensive collections and
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource
Resource in the District.
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors
homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages.You are not required to be a first-time homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.
DC4ME
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District governmentbased instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower’s employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
DC4ME VA Loan Product
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
The DC4ME VA Loan Product is a VA mortgage product offered by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA).
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
COVID-19
COVID-19
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
COVID-19
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
In addition to the traditional VA benefits, like no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance, this product includes 3% assistance, funded by DCHFA, that can be used toward eligible closing costs or prepaid items. This makes the DC4ME VA Loan Product one of the most affordable and accessible loan options for qualified military-connected borrowers.
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
www.DCHFA.org
WELCOME
**The next meeting is 2nd Thursday, September 11, 7:00 p.m.**
Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting
3rd Monday, September 22, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Economic Development & Zoning Committee meeting
3rd Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Community Outreach Committee meeting
4th Monday, September 29, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Virtual Meeting via Zoom ALL ARE
A Literary Feast
Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Licensing Committee meeting 4th Tuesday, September 23, 7:00 p.m.
We seek community-minded 6A residents interested in joining ANC 6A committees. Visit anc6a.org or email 6A06@anc.dc.gov for more information.
for accessing the meeting via Zoom have been posted under Hot Topics at anc6a.org. Call in information will be posted under Community Calendar at anc6a.org 24 hours prior to the meeting. You will be able to enter the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes prior to its scheduled start time.
The Literary Feast is a series of dinner parties held at homes across Capitol Hill, all on one evening. Each dinner features food and fun related to a specific book. The dinners are held on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and then guests are invited to the Hill Center for dessert, drinks, and live music. The Literary Feast is brought to you by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. The Foundation is a 100% volunteer-driven community organization that supports activities, projects, and groups that enrich and support Capitol Hill schools and community organizations. You choose your charitable donation level from $100 to $500 per ticket. The entire payment, less $20 per ticket, is taxdeductible. Read more and purchase tickets at aliteraryfeast.org. Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, and H Street communities
Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale neighborhoods and the RFK Stadium Complex.
ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, virtually on Zoom. Join us for our Next Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday,
9, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Virtual Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/ 82241895770?pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuX w1vbrC1rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d
Brian Alcorn, Chairperson
Vacant
Brett Astmann, Treasurer
Dev Myers, Secretary
Artilie Wright
Ebony Payne
Marc Friend
Ashley Schapitl
Josh Taborn
7D08 – Capitol Hill 7d08@anc.dc.gov
7D04 – River Terrace 7d04@anc.dc.gov
7D07 – Rosedale 7d07@anc.dc.gov
7D10 – Hill East 7d10@anc.dc.gov
7D03 – Parkside 7d03@anc.dc.gov
7D05 – Kingman Park 7d05@anc.dc.gov
7D06 – Rosedale 7d06@anc.dc.gov
7D09 – Hill East 7d09@anc.dc.gov
7D01 7d01@anc.dc.gov
Vacant 7D02 7d02@anc.dc.gov
exhibits of The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History. John Troutman will present his work on Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey: editing the unpublished manuscript of folklorist Robert Mack McCormick, co-curating an exhibit on McCormick’s legendary archive; and co-producing a Grammynominated, Smithsonian Folkways box set from McCormick’s field recordings. $10. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
SW Waterfront Community Health, Wellness & Resource Fair
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., all are invited to the Twelfth Annual SW Waterfront Community Health, Wellness and Resource Fair at River Park Mutual Homes, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. The Fair provides AARP resources and services, DACL resources and services and the Office of the Attorney General Legal Counsel for the elderly. Also available are hearing screenings, blood pressure testing. Come ready to do group fitness exercises with William Yates. A complimentary box lunch will be provided. For further information contact Betty Jean Tolbert Jones, 202-554-0901 or jonesbettyjeantolbert@gmail.com.
General Macomb Reinterment Ceremony at Congressional Cemetery
On Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE, for a military ceremony honoring the life and service of Major General Alexander Macomb, Commanding General of the United States Army from 1828 to 1841 on the occasion of the reinterment of his remains. Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for service during the War of 1812, he patriotically served the United States for decades. A light reception in the Chapel will follow the ceremony. congressionalcemetery.org.
CHRS September Preservation Café Set for Sept. 25
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society will host its virtual September Preservation Café on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. with speakers from the L’Enfant Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to histor-
THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD FOR MODIFICATION OF DCHA’S ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is providing notice of the Public Hearing and Comment Period to solicit comments on its proposed Administrative Plan (Admin Plan).
To download a copy of the proposed Admin Plan, please visit the DCHA website at https://www.dchousing.org/plans-and-reports. To request a copy of the proposed Admin Plan, send an email to PublicationComments@dchousing.org or call 771-240-4377.
The virtual Public Hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025.
To speak during the Virtual Public Hearing, register online at https://bit.ly/RegisterAdminPlanPublicHearing
To join the live event, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025, please visit https://bit.ly/AdminPlanPublicHearing. This event will also be live streamed on the DCHA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dchousing/ Comments
Written comments regarding the proposed Admin Plan will be accepted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 26, 2025. Email your comments to PublicationComments@dchousing.org
Alternatively, you can mail comments to: District of Columbia Housing Authority Office of the General Counsel Attn: General Counsel 300 7th Street, SW 10th Floor Washington, DC 20024
Requesting Reasonable Accommodation
DCHA strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. It is the policy of DCHA that all agency-sponsored public meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities. DCHA is committed to providing equal access to events for all participants & residents with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, or assistance in participating in a meeting or event due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact our ADA/504 Program Office at 202-535-1000 or at ADA504@dchousing.org with your complete request. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.
If you need a sign language interpreter or foreign language interpretation or translation, please contact our Office of Customer Engagement at 202-535-1000 or go to www.dchousing.org/language. Please allow at least 3 business days to make the necessary arrangements.
ic preservation in Washington. They will explain preservation easements— how they work, what makes a property eligible, and owner responsibilities—as well as highlight the Trust’s Historic Properties Redevelopment Program in Historic Anacostia, which has transformed vacant historic buildings into affordable homes since 2013. Free. Register on Eventbrite for the Zoom link, and learn more about CHRS at www.chrs.org
Fusion Festival at Anacostia Arts Center
The second annual Fusion Festival returns to the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Marion Barry Ave. SE, on Saturday, Sept. 27, noon to 6:30 pm., for a full-day experience at the intersection of innovation, culture, and transformation. Hosted in the heart of Anacostia, Fusion Festival brings together the artists, innovators, small business owners, and visionaries who are building what’s next across the region. See and be in engaging panels, hands-on workshops, and dynamic networking spaces. General admission tickets are $81.88. anacostiaartscenter.com/ events.
Community Forklift’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
On Saturday, Oct. 18, noon to 3 p.m., celebrate Community Forklift’s 20th anniversary at their free public celebration featuring food for sale, free anniversary cake (while supply lasts), art activities, a preservation workshop, a Goodwill clothing drop-off, and more. Community Forklift is at 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD. communityforklift.org.
Do you have a notice for the Bulletin Board? The Hill Rag Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. Send your notice to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u
ARTS& DINING
Theater Night
A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV
by Matthew McClure
There’s not enough space, no page large enough to hold all the names synonymous with Black excellence and the outsize role it’s played in US history. Baldwin, Basquiat, Angelou. Hurston, Hughes and Dubois. They’ve all made an indelible mark on the lives we live right now. As political factions take a scythe to the records of our nation’s Black history, the responsibility falls on us to memorialize Black Modernism, the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and Berry Gordy’s Motown. We must honor Pulitzer Prize winners August Wilson and Toni Morrison, while lauding the powerful vision of Afrofuturism presented to us by Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther and meditating on Coogler’s Sinners and its message of musical ancestral connection. In this month’s column, you’ll find stage tributes to Black luminaries like Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Black theatre talent such as Lili-Anne Brown, Sheldon Epps and Chess Jakobs. Read on for our curated selection and never forget.
In the Spotlight Play On! Signature Theatre
Showing August 12 – October 5 www.sigtheatre.org
dent fans of Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington and actor, director and TV writer Sheldon Epps. This version is directed by Lili-Anne Brown in her directorial debut at Signature Theatre and swaps out Shakespeare’s Illyria for NYC’s Harlem and the infamous Cotton Club where Vy, a lyricist from Mississippi hoping to take a bite out of the Big Apple, must don the clothing and mannerisms of men to get her foot in the door.
This month, take the A train uptown and head back in time to the swinging, steamy Harlem of the 1940s for Sheldon Epps’s Play On!, a riff on William Shakespeare’s comedic romp Twelfth Night that’s set to a toe-tapping, sultry soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits.
First opening to audiences in 1996, Play On! ran for 61 performances on Broadway in 1997 and has developed a cult following amongst ar-
Shakespeare lovers beware: Epps’s musical is more of a nudge and wink in the direction of the bard’s original work rather than a faithful reproduction. Epps is much more interested in plunging the audience directly into New York’s intoxicating, contradictory and dazzling swing era, where Big Band Jazz and Blues ruled the dancefloors of the day, and the Lindy-Hop, Collegiate Shag, Balboa and Charleston brought African American artistic expression from the fringes into the limelight. Greg Watkins plays Duke with suave sophistication, accompanied by a cast that’s guaranteed to elicit rapturous applause after every
number. Awa Sal Secka plays Lady Liv, a Bluesy version of Shakespeare’s Olivia and Duke’s muse/ unrequited love. I’d go so far as to suggest that Sal Secka’s Lady Liv is a paean to Adelaide Hall and her Cotton Club Parade tour of 1934. Hall was a queen of the Harlem Renaissance and a prolific performer with a stage presence that bewitched and beguiled in equal measure. Jalisa Williams plays Vy (or ‘Vy-Man’ when attired in high waisted, pegged trousers and suspenders), Wesley J. Barnes is Jester, Chuckie Benson plays Rev, Alana S. Thomas is CC and Kanysha Williams is Miss Mary. In gorgeous costumes by Samantha C. Jones, they collectively shine against the backdrop of scenic designer Dan Conway’s version of the Cotton Club. Conway’s glittering Art Deco detailing, dreamy pink ostrich feather chandeliers and cozy club seating belie the ugly truth that the Cotton Club historically refused entry to African American audiences in one of the many racialized paradoxes of the era. If you live for Duke Ellington at the peak of his talent, then this one’s for you. The music is as much a character as the actors on stage and Ellington’s famous Cotton Club house band is paid fitting tribute by Luther Henderson’s original Tony
Wesley J. Barnes as Jester and cast members of Play On!
Photo: Daniel Rader.
Awa Sal Secka as Lady Liv in Play On! Photo: Christopher Mueller.
Greg Watkins as Duke in Play On! Photo: Christopher Mueller.
Poetic Hill
Keith David Parsons
by Sandra Beasley
Keith David Parsons lives in Lanier Heights, NW, works by the Waterfront Metro, and routinely commutes between the two places on foot. These trips are primetime for poetry inspiration and composition, as is the rest of his life in the District.
He is a founding member of the D.C. Poetry Collective, a group that was active for several years and published two anthologies: iNK BLOTS Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, both of which feature some of his work. His full-length book of poetry, Appalachian Sea Tales, is forthcoming, and examines death, religion, identity, and memory through his life and childhood in West Virginia.
The Child With the Ruby Slippers Lincoln’s Cottage, Washington, D.C.
It was the bourbon and bluegrass festival; nothing more American than consumption, comfortable, on a miracle May day, by where military veterans go, mild, into the lawnset.
He ran, this towheaded Tommy with apple cheeks and apple socks in those sequined slippers, red and ribald like a tiny Joey Garland; finding his grade school groove.
All around, the adults stared and stood, posed poised and posturing, in spring straw hats, Hawaiian shirts, half smiles and side glances, looking out for who they knew.
But who knew, more, really—as his mom called to come back to the gingham—than him, scuffing a sequin, whispering there’s no place like home in your own skin.
Sandra Beasley is the curator of “Poetic Hill,” a resident of Southwest, and the author of four poetry collections. If you live in D.C. and you’re interested in being featured, you can reach her at sandrabeasley@earthlink.net for questions and submissions (1-5 poems). u
Award nominated orchestrations and six live musicians on piano, trombone, trumpet, drums and bass. That Ellington was born, raised and earned the moniker of ‘Duke’ in our very own DC (some argue even found his signature sound amongst the city’s Ragtime piano players) makes watching Play On! in the DMV even more special.
On Right Now
The American Five, Ford’s Theatre Showing Sep. 19 – Oct. 12 www.fords.org
In Warren Leffler’s grainy black and white photo taken on August 28, 1963, the Washington Monument is reflected flawlessly in the pool that stretches eastwards from the base of the stairs leading to the Lincoln Memorial. Only the peaks of the elms lining the water are visible, because every inch of space has been occupied by the 300,000 people that have flocked to the nation’s capital for one reason: The advancement of equal rights under the law for all African Americans.
Ford’s Theatre opens its new season with a debut play by playwright and poet Chess Jakobs that takes the audience behind the scenes of this pivotal moment in US history. Sponsored as part of the Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions and directed by Aaron Posner, The American Five explores the planning of the 1963 March on Washington through the eyes of its five formulators: The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Coretta Scott King, Stanley Levison, Clarence B. Jones and Bayard Rustin. Even after the abolition of chattel slavery in 1864, African Americans labored
against prejudice. Jim Crow laws prevented Black citizens from casting votes and using public facilities not designated for them, amongst many other demeaning, dehumanizing and nonsensical regulations. The March on Washington, planned to coincide with the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation 100 years previously, was a line being drawn in the sand, a steadfast step towards equality by brave men and women who stood to lose it all with no guarantee of success.
The cast of The American Five is new to Ford’s stage. Ro Boddie steps into the daunting shoes of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alongside Renea S. Brown as his wife Coretta Scott King. Aaron Bliden plays Stanley Levison, Yao Dogbe is Clarence B. Jones and Stephen Conrad Moore is the notably nonviolent Bayard Rustin (frequently the object of personal attacks due to his open homosexuality). Jakobs and Posner thrust us back in time to 1963 when the stakes were high and ordinary people were being asked to do extraordinary things. Only a few months before the march, Medgar Evers was gunned down in his driveway. Little did the Kings, Levison, Jones and Rustin know that before the year ended, President J.F Kennedy would lie slumped in the arms of Jacqueline Kennedy after an assassin’s bullet stole his life. The danger was real, and it lurked around every corner.
The American Five asks us a question that’s as pertinent now as it was during the March on Washington 63 years ago: Would you be willing to step forward and change history? u
COOKING CLASSES & TASTINGS
The Ultimate Crêpes Showdown
Thursday, September 4, 6:00pm
Sake 101 / Intro to Sake
Friday, September 5, 6:00pm
Antipasti Heaven - Great Italian Bites
Thursday, September 11, 6:00pm
The Kitchen Cabinet Gazette Series With Annette Nielsen - Canning (Preserving the Harvest)
Sunday, September 14, 2:00pm
Back to BasicsEssential Kitchen Techniques Weekly Series begins Monday, September 15, 6:00pm
Kitchen 101: Knife Skills w/ Chef Wendi James Wednesday, September 17, 6:00pm
Master Chef Featuring The Duck & The Peach Executive Chef Katarina Petonito: Flavorful & Fresh Italian
Sunday, September 21, 11:00am
French Cuisine Basics: Getting Saucy! The Foundational Sauces Weekly Series begins Tuesday, September 23, 6:00pm Carnival in Every BiteBest Brazilian Snacks! Thursday, September 25, 6:00pm CONCERTS
Foghorn Stringband: American Stringband Concert Wednesday, September 3, 7:00pm Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Award-Winning Indie Folk Singer/Songwriter Kipyn Martin
Friday, September 5, 7:00pm
Contemporary Watercolors Workshop
Saturday, September 20, 12:00pm
Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop
Saturday, September 20, 2:30pm
The Paper Architect Hack 007 Sunday, September 21, 12:00pm
LECTURES & CONVERSATIONS
At Issue: The Erasure of Black History Featuring Pulitzer Prizewinning Historian Marcia Chatelain and New York Times White House Correspondent Erica L. Green
Wednesday, September 10, 7:00pm
Joseph Sassoon Discusses his book
The SASSOONS: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire in Conversation with New York Times Writer Binyamin Appelbaum Friday, September 12, 7:00pm
The Life of a Poet Featuring Marie Howe, Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in Conversation with Poet/ Editor Kyle Dargan
Thursday, September 25, 7:00pm
Talk of the Hill with Bill Press: Featuring Best Selling Author Lynne Olson
Monday, September 29, 7:00pm
Our City. Our Music. Our Writers. Tuesday, September 30, 7:00pm Programmatic support provided by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
American Roots Concert Series: The Pine Leaf Boys Sunday, September 14, 4:30pm Global Sounds on The Hill Featuring Colombian Pacific Sensation Latin Grammynominated Nidia Góngora Monday, September 22, 7:00pm
STUDIO ARTS
Introduction to Block Printmaking Course Weekly Series begins Monday, September 8, 6:30pm
Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing From an Image Weekly Series begins Tuesday, September 9, 6:30pm
Beginner Knitting Weekly Series begins Monday, September 15, 5:00pm Knitting Course: Intermediate Weekly Series begins Tuesday, September 16, 5:00pm
Capitol Cuisine
by Celeste McCall
It’s been a busy summer for restaurants, especially around Capitol Hill. Near Eastern Market, ZomTum Laos-Thai Bistro has arrived at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, site of the departed Joselito’s. ZomTum is the creation of Charles Kia, who also operates Haad Thai downtown. At an early visit to ZomTum, we savored crispy calamari escorted by sweet-and-sour sauce; spring rolls with that same dip; green coconut curry; Laotian herbal curry Gang Ohm with pork and Asian greens. The evening’s winner: drunken noodles, scented with garlic and basil and tossed with
plump, perfectly cooked shrimp. Among other options: the familiar Pad Thai; chicken satay with peanut sauce; pineapple fried rice; crispy whole sh. Our dinner for two with a drink apiece (full bar) came to $110, including the 20 percent service charge. Service was excellent; we plan to return soon. For hours and more information visit www. zomtumdc.com.
New on H…
It wasn’t “Breakfast at Ti any’s,” but we savored a delightful brunch at Ti any’s Bistro & Bar, 709 H St. NE. Owned by Turkish-born executive chef Mehmet Sukutli and his wife Malti Chaudhari, the Mediterranean charmer is not named after the famous jewelry store; the moniker comes from the “Greek manifestation of God.”
Designed by Chaudhari, who hails from India, Ti any’s soaring interior is stunning. The entrance is framed by faux but realistic oral arrangements. Unfortunately, it was too hot to sit in the similarly decorated patio.
Seated indoors, we perused the menu. I wanted to try the za’atar grilled calamari, but the squid does not appear until the “all day menu” which starts at 2 p.m. Instead, I indulged in merguez sausage shakshuka. Presented in a piping hot cast iron skillet, the spicy mélange contained crumbled lamb sausage, smoked paprika tomato sauce, piquillo peppers, all crowned with a poached egg. It was so delicious I mopped it up with the accompanying bread.
Peter chose a lighter option: beet and labneh salad, enhanced with arugula, pickled onions and drizzled with orange sumac vinaigrette. Divinely decadent Dubai chocolate cheesecake was layered with pistachio cream, toasted vermicelli, mascarpone, cream and lots of dark chocolate. The sinful dessert was worth the $16 price tag. Visit www.ti anysbistrobar.com.
And…
Across the street, we’ve visited Tapori, 600 H St. NE. Tapori, “vagabond” in Hindi, showcases “Indian street food.” When we dined there
with a food-savvy couple, we found the ambience formal, elegant (and dark!). A long communal table bisects the dining room’s center. Similar to mezze or tapas, many menu selections were small plates, enabling us to sample several items.
We started with pani puri, crisp globes formed with potato and black chickpeas and lled with mango. Cauli ower morsels were scented with garlic and curry, fried and dipped in chili mayo. Lotus root was coated with gram our, fried and topped with sweet yogurt. Cucumber salad provided a refreshing touch.
Our dinner highlight was roast duck kulcha,
ZomTum Laos-Thai Bistro has arrived on Pennsylvania Ave. SE, where Joselito (used to be.
Presented with a sweet-and-sour dip, crispy calamari is a favorite appetizer at ZomTum.
On H Street NE, Tiffany’s Bistro & Bar owner Chef Mehmet Sukutli works his culinary magic.
The stunning décor at Tiffany’s features a soaring ceiling with handsome furnishings.
tender poultry breast nestled between chaat masala, fennel and topped with trout caviar. Our “entrée” was boti kebab, succulent lamb escorted by garlic, cashews and cardamom. Tasty but pricy at $38. We ended our repast with Rasmalai cheesecake, with seasonal berries and Nankhatai (shortbead) crust. Tapori is a special occasion place; dinner for two with three drinks came to $131 before tip. Service was excellent. Visit www.taporidc.com.
Nearby, chef Tim Ma has unveiled Sushi Sato, 1245 H St. NE. The all-you-can eat high quality sushi includes “endless” nigiri, rolls, and izakaya (casual pub fare). Prices range from $55 to $75 with a two-hour time limit. The namesake Sato roll is made with softshell crab, eel and scallops. Sassy cocktails complement the fishy feasts. Visit www. sushisatodc.com.
And, Open Crumb has opened at 822 H St. NE. Entrance is around the corner on 9th Street. . The mainly carryout hole-in-the wall eatery offers “made-from scratch” West African “comfort food” including ginger curry salmon, joloff rice, goat stew, goat peanut soup and roasted corn salad. Lots of seating, indoors and picnic tables outside. Closed Monday. Visit www.opencrumbdc.com.
Scotland at the Wharf
Speaking of seafood, things are deliciously fishy at District Wharf. Peter and I savored a wonderful lunch at Fish Shop, 610 Water St. SW. The sustainable Scottish import opened last spring. After admiring the handsomely appointed interior, we settled on the patio. The spacious area overlooks boats bobbing in the water. Serenity, our knowledgeable server, explained the midday menu. She also inquired about food allergies.
Most lunch dishes hover in the $20’s, and I was curious about the golden-brown sugar toads (a northern puffer fish) with tamarind sauce. But the $18 prefix menu is a much better deal.
We launched our three-course repast with crispy fried squash blossoms. The delicate blooms were coated with gossamer-light tempura batter, stuffed with ricotta and drizzled with honey. Peter chose the other prix fixe option--heirloom tomatoes dappled with confit tuna belly and herbs.
My entrée was Sicilian style paccheri (large tubular) pasta tossed with tiny clams, bass, olives and capers. It was delicious. Peter’s entrée was crumbled catfish with sauce gribiche (a cold egg-based
mixture) served with fries. I usually eschew fries but I couldn’t stop eating these! Ketchup and tartar sauce were homemade. The $25 three-course prix fixe includes dessert: house-made ice cream or sorbet.
Also emerging from innovative chef Ria Montes’ kitchen are dishes created with nearby bounty: “dressed” crabs; Maryland lobster; New Jersey squid; Maryland bass; Olive Farms pork chops.
An impressive cocktail, wine and beer list complements the food. Wines by the glass are pricy, but my Albarino was worth $17. Lunch for two came to $67. Visit www.fishshopdc.com.
Korean Find
We’ve discovered a nifty Korean eatery, Manna Korean BBQ & Dosirak, 409 15th St. NE. (A dosirak is a boxed meal, similar to the Japanese bento box.) Operated by James Cho, Manna is a small, barebones place, with a narrow counter and a few stools; most business is carryout. We ordered a bulgogi “box” with rice, kimchi, shredded radish and zesty chicken bibimpap, mixed with veggies and crowned with the usual fried egg. You can also find pork belly, fried squid, mandu (dumplings) and tofu. Closed Sunday. Visit www.mannadosirak.com.
Taco Flight
On Barracks Row, The Flying Mexican opened this summer at 514 Eighth St. SE. Highlights are
ceviche, grilled salmon, burritos, quesadillas and myriad tacos. Plus wings!
Complementing the spicy lineup are cocktails including the red hibiscus margarita. Naturally, I had to try one. We sat on the front patio (there’s also a roof deck), sipping our margaritas; Peter chose frozen mango. We began with sea bass ceviche with orange citrus sauce, Fresno peppers and cilantro, beautifully presented but a tad too vinegary. A fun side dish was yuca. The starchy fried spears were fried and dusted with parmesan cheese. We dipped them into chipotle mayo. Another side—guacamole—was chunky and laced with tomatoes and peppers.
Star of the show was smoked lamb barbacoa quesadilla: fork tender, shredded lamb nestled inside tortillas. “My own recipe,” owner Mike Rosenbaum told us, adding that his slow-cooked dish included an entire orange—rind and all.
Dinner for two with a drink apiece came to about $57. Service was excellent. Visit www.theflyingmexican.com.
Hill RAMMY Winners
Last month, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), unveiled winners at its annual black-tie gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Hill winners are: Best Beer Program, Atlas Brew Works (Navy Yard); Best Pastry Chef/Baker, Alicia Wang (Albi, Navy Yard); Rising Culinary Star, Suresh Sundas (Daru, off H St. NE); Best Bar, Tune Inn (Pennsylvania Ave. SE).
Yet More…
Later this fall, look for Dos Toros (“Two Bulls”) Taqueria, coming to 217 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Stay tuned.
Gone
At the District Wharf, Little Chicken, 11 Pearl St. SW, known for spicy wings and boozy cocktails, folded this summer… Beuchert’s Saloon, 623 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, called it quits after a 13 year-run. Fight Club, next door at 633, is also shuttered. u
On H Street NE, Tapori’s dark, handsome interior is bisected by a long communal table.
Exciting New Art Spaces At The Hill Center
by Rindy O’Brien
The Hill Center is our community’s cultural treasure. So it’s exciting to share that this fall we will all get to enjoy a new gathering terrace and outdoor sculpture space at the Center. The John Franzén Gathering Terrace will formally open with the official dedication set for Wednesday, October 1st.
It has been a special dream of the Hill Center board and staff to create this welcoming space as a gift to the Capitol Hill community. Now, in addition to all the Center’s great offerings, there is now a wonderful place to gather with friends or sit and enjoy as you wait for your children to finish their classes. Small
performances and programming are also planned in the future.
Landscaping the Hill Center
The Gathering Terrace is a great example of the adage that when one door closes, another one opens. Unfortunately, the legacy ash tree that once graced the area outside the Hill Center building had to be cut down when it became diseased by the Emerald Ash Borer. That left a giant space and a window of opportunity to rethink how the outdoor space could be designed and utilized.
With the help of the highly acclaimed landscape firm, Oehme, Van Sweden (OvS), the board happily agreed to the idea of building a
gathering terrace in the now vacant space. The new amphitheater-style space will easily accommodate 75 people along its two tiers of seating.
October 1st is a significant day for the historic building which was originally a civil war hospital that admitted its first patients on October 1, 1866. Fast forward 145 years and on October 1, 2011 the renovated Hill Center opened for business. Now, on the same October 1 date this year, the public is welcome to come to the Center for the dedication of the John Franzén Gathering Terrace. The two-hour event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and include a military honor guard presenting colors.
The intersection of military service and community service lives on in the space. Diana Ingram, executive director of the Hill Center, says, “[the Terrace] integrates joy into the neighborhood while honoring the past.”
Honoring John Franzén
It was also easy for the Board to agree that the space should be dedicated to Franzén, one of its founding members. Nicky Cymrot and
Diana Ingram, both longtime associates of Franzén’s, agree that the Hill Center would never have gotten off the ground without his amazing commitment and hard work. His strategy and communication skills, developed as a political media consultant who ran over 300 winning campaigns, helped garner the support from the DC City Council and define the mission for the Center and Foundation. Franzén, who passed away in 2020, served in many different roles with the Hill Center, including as Chair in its early years. He also served on the board of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation for many years. His family members will be in attendance for the dedication.
New Sculpture Space
In addition to the gathering terrace, the Hill Center is opening its first outdoor sculpture garden that night. Six new sculptures chosen in a juried competition will be unveiled with the winner of the “best in show” awarded a $1,000 art prize. The sculptures will remain in the outdoor spaces around the building for six months. The show was juried by Mary Ear-
Soon the tarps will be down at the Hill Center, and the long-awaited John Franzén Terrace and Gathering space will be opened, October 1st.
The site of the John Franzen Gathering Terrace. The flagpole flagpole and Civil War anchor, popular climbing spots for children, will be part of the redesign.
you can reproduce the Frederick Douglass Bridge, or other iconic architecture sites from around the world.
ly. A well-known sculptor with work in collections in Panama, Kimpton Hotels, and DC art bank spaces, Early is also a board member of the Washington Sculptors Group.
Early says the sculpting community is delighted with the new space. “In a city full of art in public places, there are limited spaces for temporary or experimental works by lesser-known or emerging artists.” Submissions from 36 artists were reviewed and Mary notes that the artists whose work was selected “met the scale of the site with a combination of whimsy, respect for nature, and a range of expressive uses of durable materials such as steel, forged iron and wood.”
The six sculptors chosen are Kirk Seese, Breon Gilleran, Mimi Frank, Dayla Luttwak, Nicholas Femia, Todd Smith and Luc Feidler.
The Paper Architect Hack Workshops at the Hill Center
Over the summer months as construction was in full swing outside the Hill Center, another kind of construction
has been going on inside and it didn’t involve any mud or tarps. Mandira Sareen, an artist and architect, has been leading Hill residents in building memorials and bridges during her Paper Architect Hack workshops. The 3D paper structures are eloquent and beautiful.
Sareen is an architect and artist who has formed a design company that embraces creating harmonious, sustainable spaces for the well-being of the individual. Her company’s name, Vivastu, incorporates her Indian background and her commitment to bringing her world experiences of living in Asia, Africa and America to the projects she undertakes. In the past year, she has developed or found templates to use to recreate the Golden Gate Bridge, Lincoln Memorial, Frederick Douglass Bridge, and other iconic places. Her workshop is called a paper ar-
September Art Openings
“Capitol Hill Art Walk,” Capitol Hill Art League, is two-days of art and crafts displays, September 13, 2025, and September 14, 2025, from noon to 4:00 in 75 locations around the hill. Over 150 artists will be participating. Map and listing of artists is at https://www.hillrag. com/2025/07/15/art-walk-2025/.
“Photography 2025”, Hill Center Galleries, show opens September 11, 2025, and runs through January 9, 2026. Over 125 photographs from photographers in the DMV area were selected by Philip Kennicott, Art and Architecture Critic of the Washington Post. Exhibition is free.
“Women Artists of the DMV,” in 17 multi-art spaces. museums and event spaces around the DMV, curated by F. Lennox Campello, and sponsored through AU Museum at the Katz Arts Center and Alper Institute. The largest ever-curated ne arts multivenue show in the U.S. Over 3,000 submissions with 300 female artists selected for the show. Openings begin September 13, 2025, and the show runs through November 2, 2025. See website for the schedule, https://dcartnews.blogspot.com/2025/01/women-artists-of-dmv-all-that-you-need.html
“My Kind of Protest: Vivian Browne,” at the Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009, June 28, 2025, through September 28, 2025. Panel discussion, September 18, 2025, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Free. Browne was a pioneer in advancing activism in black women’s art, ghting for black representation. Her artwork is known for its color and form.
chitect hack and as she explains “it is a hack as it reimagines architecture through storytelling and hands-on making where anyone can explore form, structure, and meaning with nothing more than paper and presence.” Participants used folding and cutting to build famous buildings and structures. “I like to think I am showing how big ideas don’t need big budgets,” says Mandira whose calm nature comes through in the delicate work.
Mandira provides the materials; an 8.5 inch by 11-inch sheet of paper, glue, and exacto knife. Sometimes participants must try more than once to get the knack of the cutting, but Mandira says everyone always produces a beautiful 3D model at the end of the class. She limits her class size and you must be 14 years or older because of the sharpness of the tools being used. “Besides the nished art piece, the workshop helps develop an inner focus and mental change from the hustle of DC life,” says Mandira.
If you want to give this unique art experience a go, the next workshops are scheduled for Sunday, September 21 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. For more information go to www.vivasthu.com. There are more workshops scheduled at the Hill Center and National Cathedral.
Rindy O’Brien writes about Capitol Hill’s art and cultural scene, and can be contacted at rindyobrien@gmail.com ◆
Maderia Sareen is leading a workshop that shows you how use folding and cutting paper to create a small 3-D sculpture of places like local bridges and memorials.
Have you ever dreamed of building a memorial or bridge? In just two hours,
Grief Karaoke Performed at Historic Congressional Cemetery
by Pattie Cinelli
The steps to the altar in the chapel were lit with fluorescent glow lights that radiated bright pink along the border. A local karaoke DJ spun hand-picked tunes reflecting the emotion of the participants. A young woman sang a song with a strong, clear beautiful voice. Others harmonized together. Some had wonderful voices. Others sang a bit off-key. All expressed in song from their hearts and shared deep emotions through their voices.
It was the inaugural installation of artist Leigh Davis’s Grief Karaoke at Historic Congressional Cemetery to a crowd of about 100 last month. This new series is an open invitation to commune and release the burden of carrying grief alone, instead offering a joyful connection through song to help
release some of the isolation that grief can often carry.
Davis’s artistic practice explores elements of mourning and the spaces we embody in bereavement. With Grief Karaoke, the artist brings a spirit of connectedness to themes of loss. Davis is an interdisciplinary artist whose projects explore themes of grief, memory and storytelling, delving into how these shared human experiences shape our understanding of identity.
“I wanted to do this karaoke project so people can express what they are feeling,” said Davis. “Music is a universal language. Because of what’s happening in our country I want to premier this in our nation’s capital, then take it to other cities.” Congressional Cemetery was where Davis chose to hold the first installation and where she said she will return to hold the final installation.
“This project invites everyone to gather in the cemetery to sing, listen, dance or make an emotional mess together, shattering cultural expectations that grief should be kept silent,” said Davis. “Karaoke is more than just the singing of a song. It’s an outlet for emotions to break from everyday life. It allows our grief to spill out through vibrations that echo into the hereand-now and celebrate our simultaneous existence. The communal aspect was so powerful.”
Davis, who lives on Capitol Hill, said she always wanted her first project to happen at Congressional’s chapel. “Grief Karaoke is a socially engaged public artwork,” she said. “People are the co-collaborators—they are the project. Each city will be so different because audiences experience different grief.”
She said she has been making work around
Grief Karaoke in the chapel at Congressional Cemetery
Artist Leigh Davis
Charlotte Genderson
In Memory of 1927 to 2025
Charlotte Genderson of Chevy Chase, loving and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, passed away on August 10, at the age of 98. A life-long Washingtonian, Charlotte was married to the love of her life, Abe Genderson, shortly after he returned from Europe at the end of World War II. They were married for 76 years until Abe passed away in 2022. They retired to Florida, where Abe and Charlotte spent many wonderful years playing tennis and socializing with their many, many friends and relatives. She led a full, beautiful life and treated everyone she knew with love and kindness. Charlotte is predeceased by her son Jonathan, her sister and brother-in-laws Cecil and Joe Brenner and Irv Warshaw, her brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, Sylvia and Les Rosenzweig, Milton Genderson, and Molly and Eric Marx.
She is survived by her sons Bruce (Donna) and Richard (Staci), her daughter-in-law Lori, eight grandchildren (Margo, Alana, Jamie, Josh, Kara, Max, Elyse and Rachel) and their spouses, thirteen great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Family meant everything to Charlotte, and she adored her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, who gave her so much pleasure.
Her life was truly a blessing to her family and everyone who knew her.
grief and loss for more than a decade, but “at this very dark time, I wanted to create a project that is about bringing people together right now.” As an artist, Davis said everything she cares about is at stake. For her, being together with other people is a way to find some solidarity. “I can sit, cry, or yell through the grief, and I know that I find joy in connection and in music. It’s a channel for us to release all, even for a few hours.”
Davis gave a dedication at the beginning of the three-hour event. She set the stage for people to grieve any way they want. She said not all expressed grief was surrounding death. Participants grieved about the mistreatment of the transgender population, she said, as well as people who were locked up by ICE. She said some found comfort in expressing feelings in a group. “A lot of people were crying, and a lot of vulnerability was revealed,” said Davis. “People were singing for others who were too emotional to sing.” People requested songs ahead of time and both the DJ and Davis brought tunes that reflected the emotions surrounding grief.
Laura Lyster-Mensh, Congressional Cemetery’s death doula, who was in attendance, was thrilled by the joy and energy of the crowd. “I met someone I know coming out of the chapel after having sung her heart out to an Elton John song in memory of her recently deceased mom. She was glowing.” Lyster-Mensh said another friend told her he wasn’t sure what to expect. He was happily surprised, and she agreed. “Congressional Cemetery chapel is able to hold space for many ways of thinking about death.”
Ashley Molese, the cemetery’s curator in residence since January, helped organize the event. Molese, who lives in the Navy Yard, also at-
tended the program.
“It was an incredible growing experience for me as a curator. I got to test ideas and get answers to questions I had about this work and see how people responded together. It was overwhelming.” Molese’s new position is to create meaningful engagements with conceptual artwork, so people feel more comfortable entering the cemetery.
The unique pairing of karaoke, meant to be uplifting and fun, with grief which instills sadness and loss was an intentionally different approach to the process of grieving.
“I had some emotions, and I shed some tears,” said Molese. “We came together in crying and laughing. I also had an overwhelming feeling of joy. It seems bizarre when you are at a cemetery singing karaoke.”
Molese was thrilled by the way the community showed up to be a part of this unusual event. About 100 of the more than 240 people who registered attended. Molese pointed out that the artwork is not the pink LED light installation or the songs performed but mostly defined by participation by the community. That’s what makes art real.
“What kinds of grief do each of us carry?” Molese asked. “When we realize that everyone grieves, that realization changes your perspective on how you meet people where they are.”
For more information: www.karaokeinthecemetery.com. The next Grief Karaoke installation is Sept. 26 in Philadelphia.
Pattie Cinelli is a journalist who has been writing her column for more than 25 years. Please email her questions, comments or column ideas at: fitmiss44@aol. com. u
The District Vet West Nile Virus
by Dan Teich, DVM
During the summer of 2000, I had a moderately strange job: trapping birds and drawing small blood samples. The Ohio Department of Health was looking for West Nile Virus, as it was newly identified in the country and thought to be spreading westward. Migratory birds follow a significant pathway along the Great Lakes, and can possibly transport West Nile long distances over short periods of time.
The virus is spread from bird do bird by mosquitoes, and hence, humans if the mosquito bites an infected bird, then an unlucky person. A small team of us set up 100-foot-long mist nets, which resemble an almost invisible huge volleyball net, next to everyones’ favorite spot in county fairgrounds: the horse manure pile. Our permit allowed only for the capture of non-native birds, such as English sparrows, who apparently have a taste for grains in horse excrement. After setting up the net and waiting patiently, we would pop up and a flock of sparrows would fly into our net. The net is so fine that they would look as if they were frozen in mid-air! From there we gently removed them and drew a small blood sample to be submitted to the state lab. Our feathered friends were released with a tale to tell their mates.
During that summer no birds in Ohio tested positive, but that did not last long. West Nile Virus spread rapidly across a number of states, infecting
humans and notably, horses. Infections in dogs are known, but rare, with dogs appearing to have few, if any clinical effects from West Nile. Humans are a different story, though.
Seeing that there are few privately-owned horses in the city and the disease isn’t of concern in dogs, let’s talk people. Yes, a veterinarian is talking about human healthcare. This is part of the One Health concept: where animals and humans have interconnected healthcare concerns, This disease relies upon birds as the host species, with mosquitoes as the vector of delivery.
The city recently posted a bulletin to healthcare providers indicating four positive birds were found in July. So far, no humans have tested positive, but it is important to note that the virus is circulating within the avian population. The last positive case was in two birds in 2021. Several cases in humans have occurred over the past five years, but none this year.
Around 80% of people infected with West Nile virus will be asymptomatic - not showing any signs of illness. Clinical signs of the disease may mimic other illness: fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and rash. Rarely it can cause severe neurologic disease. People over the age of 50 and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of developing severe illness. At pres-
ent there is no vaccine against West Nile for people (although there is for horses), and prevention of mosquito bites is the best proactive measure one can take against the virus.
Preventing mosquito bites also helps your dog: mosquitoes are the vector to transmit canine heartworm disease! If you have a garden, patio, or house, be sure there is no standing water in pots, gutters tires, furniture, etc. Mosquitoes need water to reproduce, therefore eliminating breeding areas will greatly reduce their presence. Wear long sleeves when outside and use an approved bug repellant, too. Check all window screens and install screen doors on patio doors or main entrance doors if they are left open for ventilation. The virus cannot be spread from touching a wild or dead bird or objects; it must be transmitted by a mosquito bite.
With changing weather patterns, possibly milder winters, and increased large rainstorms, mosquitoes may be on the rise. While not common at this time, West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses may become more prevalent in the near future. Prevention is worth the effort.
Dr. Teich is the medical director for District Veterinary Hospitals in Navy Yard, Eastern Market and Brookland. Visit www.districtvet.com for more information. u
Kids & Family
Dead Man’s Run Kid’s Race
Dead Man’s Run, Congressional Cemetery’s annual fall 5k fundraiser, is on Sunday, Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m. The race starts inside the cemetery and continues onto the Anacostia Trail for a ghostly evening run full of spooky music and other fun. The race fee is $40. There is also a children’s race prior to the start of the 5k. Participation in the children’s run is free for any child who has a parent, guardian, or friend registered for the 5k. Children may still participate, if no runners are registered, for a $5 fee. Registration for the children’s race is in the chapel the day of the race and a parent or guardian must sign a waiver. Registration and packet pickup opens at 3:30 p.m. Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org.
The
Democracy Lab at the Capitol Daily, except Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., learn about the work of Congress in this hands-on education gallery. The activities are designed for children between the ages of eight and fourteen, however, visitors of all ages are welcome. Visitors under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by an adult always. Staff are available to assist and answer questions, but not to supervise children. They welcome individual and family visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of 15 or more children must make a reservation in advance of their visit. Photography is permitted. Democracy Lab reservations do not include a tour of the Capitol. visitthecapitol.gov.
Homecoming Family Day at President Lincoln’s Cottage
Each year, President Lincoln’s Cottage, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, invites families to enjoy the grounds as the Lincolns once did with a day of fun activities. This year’s Homecoming nurtures the whole child, encouraging self-expression, curiosity, brave ideas, connection, and belonging. Families can enjoy arts and crafts, story time, pony rides, petting zoo, live music, and cottage tours. Homecoming Family Day is Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Admission is free; cottage tours require paid tickets. Bring a picnic or enjoy a meal from food trucks. lincolncottage.org
John Trumbull’s painting, Declaration of Independence, depicts committee which drafted the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Congress.
Little Beasts at the NGA Sculpture Garden
On Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., pack a picnic for activities in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Educators from the National Museum of Natural History will be in the garden in celebration of the National Gallery of Art’s monthly family program, First Saturdays (held concurrently in the East Building Atrium of the National Gallery of Art from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Come explore artful connections with the flora and fauna around you, paint your own little beast, and more. In case of rain, this event will be relocated to the National Gallery of Art’s East Building Atrium. This exhibit features specimens from the National Museum of Natural History’s collection and artworks from the National Gallery of Art. naturalhistory.si.edu.
Family-Friendly Late Skates at Anacostia Park
On the last Saturday of the month, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 (Halloween Late Skate); skate until 10 p.m. and enjoy the featured DJ or band. Events last throughout the day and include Double Dutch, lawn games, job fairs, boat trips and more. You can also skate anytime at Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion—the one and only rollerskating rink in the National Park Service. nps.gov/anac.
DC Wards 7 and 8 Days at National Children’s Museum
The National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, has introduced DC Ward Days—Ward 7 on Sept. 28 and Ward 8 on Sept. 20—when respective residents are invited to the Museum for a free day of play. To reserve DC Ward Day tickets, enter your zip code as a promo code on the Discounts page during checkout at nationalchildrensmuseum.org. Remember, your zip code will only work on
your specific DC Ward Day, and day-of proof of address will be required when checking in to the Museum. nationalchildrensmuseum.org.
Kingman Island Friends and Family Day Ride
Hill Family Biking is partnering with the DC Department of Energy & Environment for the sixth annual Kingman Island Friends & Family Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here’s the schedule: 10:15 to 10:30 a.m., bike maintenance help; 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., community bike ride; 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kingman Island Friends and Family Day. The ride begins at Stanton Park for a classic Hill Family Biking group ride to Kingman Island to kickoff the event with live music. Food for lunch and Maracas Ice Pops will be available for purchase and or bring your own picnic. Activities like nature crafting, fishing, boating, yoga and more will be available on the island until 3 p.m. Free. hillfamilybiking.org.
Observe the Sun at Air and Space
On Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting, become an astronomer and observe the sun safely with a filtered telescope. Join Air and Space outside the Museum at the corner of Seventh Street and Independence Avenue, near the
Fotos y Recuerdos Festival
On Saturday, Sept. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., join the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and G streets NW, for a festival in the Kogod Courtyard. Their friends from Lil’ Libros are returning with more books, activities and fun at this bilingual event for all ages. Learn about figures and artists from both museums and celebrate art, history and culture with a day of art making, dancing, museum tours, story times, book signings and more. Free but registration encouraged. npg.si.edu.
Jan van Kessel the Elder, Insects [bottom right corner], 1658, oil on copper. Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, VA.
silver Delta Solar sculpture, to view a variety of features on the Sun. Knowledgeable staff will be there to answer questions and guide observing. No reservations are necessary to participate. The programming area is accessible step-free via the public sidewalk and the Museum’s terrace. Written and touchable explanatory materials are available for learners of all types. airandspace.si.edu.
Hill Center Family Day
Family Day at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, is on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2 to 6 p.m. It is a day of face painting, music by King Bullfrog, balloon animals, magic and more. Admission is free. hillcenterdc.org.
Books from Birth (delivered to your door)
HÉCTOR, EL NIÑO ELÉCTRICO: Héctor, The Electric Kid at GALA
In this thrilling bilingual musical, Hector, a shy 10-year-old boy, meets a wizard in the auto shop where his mother works. After this mysterious encounter, Hector finds he has a special power: Now Hector is electric. Can Hector manage his new power? Héctor, The Electric Kid is at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, from Oct. 18 to Nov. 1. The performances are Mondays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for kids. GALA has parking in the adjacent lot (over the Giant) for a $4 fee. galatheatre.org.
The Books from Birth program is open to all children under the age of five who live in Washington, DC. All enrolled children receive a free book in the mail each month from birth until they turn five. All books will be delivered to the address you provided at registration by the US Postal Service. When you sign up for Books from Birth, you can select 100% Bilingual English/Spanish books from when the child enters the program until they graduate at age five. In addition, those families selecting this option can also select which language they would prefer communication from the Imagination Library to arrive in. Read more and register your under-five kid at dclibrary.org/using-the-library/books-birth.
Welcome to a Native Place
On Wednesdays through Sept. 24, 1 to 1:30 p.m., enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa, Isanti Dakota and Ohkay Owing-
Illustration by Ariel Gómez. Courtesy of GALA Theatre.
eh Pueblo) in the American Indian Museum’s Potomac Atrium. At the end of his 30-minute presentation, visitors from around the world are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture in the past and present. americanindian.si.edu.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Imagination Stage
From Sept. 17 to Oct. 15, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is at Imagination stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. Experience more than 70 beautiful, larger-than-life puppets and original music as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “The Very Lonely Fire y,” “10 Little Rubber Ducks,” and, of course, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” come to life on stage. This special event returns by popular demand, following a sold-out run in 2023. Imaginationstage.org.
Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park (last chances this season)
Kids ages four to ¬twelve can run the bases after every Sunday day game throughout the season. This year’s remaining dates are Sept. 14 and 28. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. An adult must accompany runners to the eld. Once the game has ended, it takes the grounds crew approximately 20 minutes to prepare the eld. Kids and parents/guardians can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning, however fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the
Our Distinctive
Offerings:
• Small Classes for Individualized Attention
• Curated International Montessori Curriculum
• Mandarin & Spanish Immersion
• Daily Etiquette Lessons with celebrated Ball events
• Robust Outdoor Program with Harvard University
• Intentional Lessons for Developing Executive Functioning Skills
Troupe Vertigo: Cirque España! at the KC
Enjoy Symphonic, cirque-tastic fun for the entire family. On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20, 8 p.m., in the Concert Hall, feast your eyes on Troupe Vertigo’s world-class aerial artists, contortionists, and dancers performing extraordinary feats of acrobatics, classical ballet, and contemporary theater backed by the NSO. Highly stylized choreography, lighting, and music create imaginative visual landscapes set to works by Bizet, Lecuona, Albéniz, and more, reimagined by the awe-inspiring ensemble. $44 to $114. kennedy-center.org.
ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First St. washington.nationals.mlb.com.
Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair
The Black Student Fund & Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair is on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2 to 5 p.m., at UDC. The Black Student Fund’s commitment to bringing independent schools and Black families together led to the creation of the annual Fair in 1972. The BSF/LSF School Fair has provided a networking opportunity for thousands of families to meet with representatives from more than seventy independent schools. Parents and prospective students get first-hand knowledge about each school’s programs, community, admissions requirements and financial aid process. In addition, the fair features interactive seminars focused on the admissions pro-
cess, the financial aid process and personal/family financial management. Read more and register at blackstudentfund.org.
The Curiosity Runway at Reagan National Airport
Reagan National Airport has teamed up with the National Children’s Museum to bring a fun and exciting play experience for their youngest customers. Sponsored by The Boeing Company, this exhibit sparks curiosity through science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). Curiosity Runway gives children a dedicated and comfortable space where they can safely play and explore the wonders of aviation. Located in National Hall, near the north security checkpoint exit, children can enjoy exciting Interactive Game Displays, a Jetsetter Slide, and a Cloud Crawler that encourages motor skills. Parents can enjoy seating and charging stations lo-
cated on the perimeter of the Curiosity Runway. Adult supervision is always required. flyreagan. com/travel-information/services-amenities/kidsplay-space.
Black Student Fund & Race For Every Child and Kids Dash Registration Open
The Race For Every Child on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Freedom Plaza, is a fun event with a serious purpose—to promote children’s health and wellness and raise much-needed funds that help Children’s National ensure every child can benefit from world-class medical care. Pre-race activities start at 7 a.m.; 5k at 8:45 a.m.; and Kids’ Dash at 10 a.m. The Kids Dash is a 100-yard run on Pennsylvania Avenue NW for children ages three to ten. Kids lineup by age in between 12th Street and 13th Street NW. The Kids Dash start line is on 12th Street and the finish line is on 13th Street. Look for entrance signs. The Kids Dash course has a designated parents’ lane, so parents may follow along while their child participates. Children between the ages of three and ten are eligible to participate in the Kids Dash. Registration is free through Oct. 12. childrensnational.org.
TIME for Kids (authentic journalism for kids)
TIME for Kids engages students with authentic journalism, inspires them to join the national discourse on current topics, and provides teachers with valuable resources for the classroom. TFK was founded in 1995 and has been a trusted source of news ever since. Currently, the magazine reaches more than two million students in elementary school classrooms across the United States. They offer four grade-specific editions. The magazines build informational-reading skills, helping students to better understand our complex world and become informed and active citizens. TIME for Kids is available in bulk subscription only--perfect for schools and libraries. timeforkids.com. u
CROSSWORD
“What’s in a name”
by Myles Mellor
Across:
1. Police alert
4. Latino rock group
8. “Don’t bet ___!”
12. Jungle reptile
17. Submarine equipment
20. Decorator’s advice
21. Gave work
22. Big name in corporate data
24. “Lost” star, first name
25. Chop ___
26. Harley action
28. Little hoppers
29. “Peanuts” boy
34. Prudential competitor
38. The Beatles’ ‘’___ Love You’’
40. David and others
44. H.S. class
45. Feelings of dread
49. ___ Bon Jovi
50. Former ‘’American Idol’’ judge
51. “Now We Are Six” author
53. “Mission Impossible” star’s first name
54. Military rank, abbr.
55. Apes
57. Knickknack holder
59. Rapper prefix
61. Orch. section
62. Dictionary abbr.
64. Inner layer of the skin
65. “It’s ___ against time”
67. Applaud
71. Not e’en once
72. First pope’s name
73. New Testament book
75. Spelling on TV
77. Aria, e.g.
78. Cat type
80. Latin for that is
81. Beach, in Barcelona
83. Civil War inits.
84. Sci-fi figures
87. Refusals
88. Girl in a Police hit
90. Oscar winner for “Amadeus”
93. “The Greatest”
96. Mature gracefully
97. Slippery
100. Brown beverages
102. Pinch
103. Autocrat
105. Invalidate
106. Tops
108. D.J.’s stack
109. ___ tube
111. Clan emblem
112. Language of Pakistan
115. Tolstoy title word
117. “One more night” singer
121. Big name in cider
127. Big name in Formula 1 racing
132. Longed
133. Paint
134. Noon and 6pm
135. Sound asleep?
136. Go for a dip
137. Cry of eagerness
138. Superlative ending
Down:
1. Police dept. alerts
2. Cuzco’s country
3. Steep slope in Scotland
4. Work for eds.
5. Shakespeare division
6. Fjord country, briefly
7. “Tarzan” extra
8. ___ tanker
9. Home of Pyramid Lake, abbr.
10. Actress Lupino
11. Won’s partner
12. Compadre of Fidel
13. Off shore drill
14. Vivacity
15. Sparks neighbor
16. Sidewalk stand offerings
18. Happy scene
19. One engaged in, suffix
23. Drink that can be hot or iced
27. Herbivore
30. Introduction, in a way
31. Snackers
32. Stamp of approval
33. Ticket ends
35. Ceylon and green, e.g.
36. Nancy, in Nancy
37. French friend
38. Breathe hard
39. Three-time Masters winner
40. Bedwear, informally
41. Get wet
42. Bug in a colony
43. Coin opening
46. Sound equipments
47. Agony
48. Attack ad, maybe
52. Manufacturer Strauss
56. Pontificate
58. Types
59. One of the Jacksons
60. Dessert
62. Honey Brown
63. Black bird
65. Sorry statement
66. Salon treatment
68. Price abbr.
69. Attractive leader
70. Sail holder
73. Bell and Kettle
74. Org. with an influential journal
76. Bustling activity
77. Jack who ate no fat
79. NATO member, abbr.
82. Put ___ to (finish)
85. Taqueria fare
86. Holler
89. Clears after taxes
90. Allied
91. Moisten
92. Tina Turner, e.g.
93. Advice columnist, Landers
94. Misquote
95. Internet addresses
98. Year in Nero’s reign
99. Play by Euripides
101. That vessel
104. Sharper
107. Louvre pyramid architect
110. With 4, a Toyota
112. Rules on plays
113. Shower
114. Bond opponent
116. Confines
118. Philosopher David
119. “A Little Bitty Tear” singer, 1962
120. “___ we forget”
122. Suffix with sulf-
123. People at People, for short 124. Regulation
125. French pronoun
126. Watson makers
128. Roarer
129. ___-di-dah
130. 70s rock group, abbr.
131. Highest
ZONE ONE
1Frey Hackbarth1526 Potomac Ave SE
Kevin Ruston
Lyanne Maldonado
Kira Belostotska
2Melissa Halsey347 Kentucky Ave SE
3Katie Brooks 314 13th St SE
2025ARTWALK
September 13 & 14
Noon–4 PM
4Daniel Haas 1243 CSt SE (inside,adjacent Cluss Ct)
TingWang
5Amanda Meyers1236Walter St SE
6Tucker Mandigo1233 Independence Ave SE
7Monica Lefton114 12th St SE
8Renata Nedab142 13th St SE
9MarcellaVerchio257 15th St SE
10Cate 1527 Independence Ave SE 11 1517 Massachusetts Ave SE NguyetVuong
12Michael Migliori1533 Massachusetts Ave SE
13Sonia & Leah 1722 Massachusetts Ave SE
14Fei Li 24 16th St SE
15Andrew Faust1352 East Capitol St NE
16Celia Herdic 1340 East Capitol St NE
Chuby Okafor
17ErinThompson110Tennessee Ave NE
18D’AngelaWilliams1326 North Carolina Ave NE
19Derrick Morgan1330 North Carolina Ave NE
20Ugne Buivydaite1410 A St NE
21Mike Newman 1523 Constitution Ave NE (rear)
Terrence & Frances Barton
Sarah Price
22Chase Mullins1427 C St NE
23Sydney Hunter241 12th Pl NE
24Carole Lang 440 12th St NE
25Adam Godet 1301 E St NE (inside, enter on 13th St)
26Holly Noelle Holt1105 Maryland Ave NE
CherieWeimert-Kidwell
StepanieWacker
DebiWacker
Annie Osburn
ZONETWO
27Scott Cooke 403 9th St NE
Lauren Kahn
Claire Avery-Page
Naomi Plasky
Rachel Miller-Seltzer
28Dara Rosen 915 F St NE
29Ida Mitchell 702 8th St NE (inside)
CharlesV. Pearson
30Amy Nevel 630 5th St NE (rear)
Megan King
Susan Sherman
31Marilyn Saks-McMillion223 F St NE
32Rachel Freedman225 F St NE
33Mary Fran Miklitsch635 E St NE (rear)
ObsidianWolf
34Erin Fleck 411½ 5th St NE
Erik Lang
35Ted Lockie 407 5th St NE
36Charlotte Asdal409 D St NE
Marcia Asdal
37RagnarThoresen636 Constitution Ave NE
38LarisaWarhol717 Massachusetts Ave NE (inside)
Erin Frey
39MarianWiseman213 8th St NE
Anne Shields
Lynne Schlimm
40Heather Duncan908 Massachusetts Ave NE
AnneW.Thomas
41Tara Hamilton113 10th St NE (back yard)
Karen Zens
Kimberly King
ZONETHREE
42Sabrina Mora 1023 Massachusetts Ave NE (inside)
43Rindy O’Brien1020 East Capitol St NE
Nan Raphael
Jan Zastrow
44Allison Stettler1018 East Capitol St NE
45Steve Mabley1023 East Capitol St SE
Lisa Bernstein
MariaVictoria Checa
Deborah Hurtt
Check the website — hillrag.com/ar t-walk-2025/ — or scan the QR code below for updates and to identify which artists are open one day.
ZONETHREE (Continued)
46Tanu McCabe123 11th St SE
Ashley McCabe
47Donna Breslin1000 North Carolina Ave SE
48Michelle Honey932 North Carolina Ave SE
Hadley Moldenhauer
49Brandi Couvillion924 North Carolina Ave SE
50Memory Studio Artists (CHV) 236 9th St SE
51Stephen Gorman813 North Carolina Ave SE
52Ann Geracimos821 Independence Ave SE (inside)
Lisa Gusty
53Charles Farmer642 Independence Ave SE
54Katherine Rainone25 8th St SE
55 11 7th St SE
56Rachel Levine21 8th St NE
57Ellen Murphy913 East Capitol St SE
58Evelyn McKay630 A St NE
59David Ivey 627 A St NE
60Leah Ceresko-Cook717 East Capitol St SE
Therese Cook
61Paul Beckett 632 East Capitol St NE
Oz Glucksman
62EdWilczynski612 East Capitol St NE
63Sarah Rouse 107-117 5th St NE
Ingrid M. Ortiz
JoAnn Lamicella Laboy
Valerie Makepeace
LeAnneTang
Julie Byrne
64Krista Adams410 A St NE
65Lawranne Stewart513 A St SE
66Martin Karcher
ZONE FOUR
67St. Mark’s ArtistsSt. Mark’s 301 A St SE
68Robert Hordan318 Independence Ave SE (rear)
69Dylan Moriarty301 4th St SE
70Junko Sugimoto412 3rd St SE (inside)
71Lynne Holland637 D St SE
Will Melnick
Laura Dailey
72Carolyn Rondthaler
Donna Bogatin 629 NavyPl SE (inside, was Ellen Wilson Pl)
