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IN THIS ISSUE
Matthew McClure
Annette Nielsen
Pattie Cinelli
To HILL with the Suburbs!
While we wait, with bated breath, for the prediction of Peruvian prognosticators to appear, and diaper Donnie to stop darkening the doorstep of our dear democracy, we’re traveling while we await the most anticipated obituary in the world. And the hope that our fellow citizens will awaken to the evil, nay, insane, steps taken by the Orange Antichrist, and his overdue comeuppance. PLUS, hopefully, the full karmic consequences of the cowardly Congress that’s been complicit as they dismantle our liberties. The economy is a slow motion train wreck, our international status is collapsing faster than his branded attempts to steal money, and tomorrow looks even worse, as he tries to deflect criticisms with fake wars, fear mongering and egotistical rants and raves.
BUT, fortune willing, and saints preserve, our country will weather this attack by fearful frauds who worry
Next Issue: February 28
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their uber-wealth, instead of sharing; or their automatic weapons, instead of making friends; of losing status, instead of just giving respect to others! When the winds change, and the awful effluvium of evil fades away, and the good take the wheel again, and the country returns to the course that made it the champion of the powerless and downtrodden, then we’ll be back to give personalized service, to assist all, rich and poor, no matter the skin shade, no matter the country of origin, no matter the religious beliefs. (You know, like our constitution says.)
C���� F�������� O������: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com
Editorial Staff
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K��� � F����� E�����:
Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Intern: Sarah Payne • sarah@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.
“Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection” at the NMWA
Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection illustrates women artists’ vital role in abstraction, showcasing work by some of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Drawn entirely from the contemporary art collection of Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, the exhibition considers historical contributions, formal and material breakthroughs, and intergenerational relationships among women artists over the last eight decades. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW, from Feb. 27 to July 26. Open daily, except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults; $13 for 65+, DC resident, student over 21 and military; free for ages 21 and under, visitors with disabilities and SNAP/EBT holders. nmwa.org.
“Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris” at the NGA
In honor of the centennial of her death in 1926, “Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris” celebrates the National Gallery’s unparalleled collection of works by this impressionist master, the only American and one of only three women artists who participated in the movement. Mary Cassatt was among the most radically innovative artists working in Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She is widely viewed through an art historical lens as a French artist—she lived in France for most of her life and was deeply immersed in the city’s culture for over four decades. Within France, however, she was and continues to be regarded unequivocally as American. This special installation includes several of Cassatt’s beloved paintings alongside groundbreaking prints and drawings that are rarely on view. West Building of the National Gallery of Art from Feb. 14 to Aug. 30, 2026. nga.gov.
“Big Things for Big Rooms” at the Hirshhorn
Big Things for Big Rooms traces the development of immersive, large-scale artworks since the late 1960s. This presentation of 10 artworks—five on view for the first time at the Museum — is drawn largely from the Hirshhorn’s own collection. Organized in two parts, the exhibition offers a multisensorial investigation of how artists create installation works that expand the boundaries of an artwork and the role of the visitor. The first part introduces the development of “Environments,” expansive installations by pioneering artists such as Dan Flavin, Sam Gilliam, Robert Irwin, Lygia Pape, and Land artist Richard Long. The second half demonstrates how contemporary artists such as Paul Chan, Olafur Eliasson, Spencer Finch, Rashid Johnson, and Mika Rottenberg are expanding upon these foundational ideas in different ways, often using everyday materials. Through July 4, 2027. hirshhorn.si.edu.
Sam Gilliam, Light Depth (1969). Gift from the Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art (Museum purchase, Gallery Fund), 2018. Courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Photo: Lee Stalsworth
Mardi Gras on H Street (free and familyfriendly)
On Sunday, Feb. 15, noon to 6 p.m., enjoy the second annual Mardi Gras on H Street. Here’s the Main Stage, 1207 H St. NE, lineup: noon, Eastern High School Blue and White Marching Machine and DC Warriors Drumline; noon to 1 p.m., Line Dancing; 12:15 p.m., Drum-off; 2 p.m., US Army Blues Band; 4:30 p.m., Capitol Hillbillies; noon to 4 p.m., moon bounce and face painting. The Atlas lineup: 1:30 p.m., Good Life Theater Puppet Show; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., Dracula (family-friendly matinee); 6 p.m., Glade Dance Collective. More music on H Street lineup: 3 to 4 p.m., Line Dancing at AVEC, 901 H St. NE; 4 to 7 p.m., Live Music at Henceforth, 1335 H St. NE; and 4 to 7 p.m., Johnny Graves & Piano at O Street Gallery, 1354 H St. NE.
Le Patin Libre: Murmuration at the KC
From Feb. 17 to 22, at 6:30 p.m.; and Feb. 21 and 22, at 8:30 p.m., experience a winter wonderland with this outdoor production. Le Patin Libre brings its unique blend of dance and skating to an ice rink installed on an outdoor Kennedy Center plaza. In Murmuration, 15 dancers demonstrate the athleticism and artistry of “glide,” taking inspiration from the mysterious phenomenon of bird flocks in undulating flight patterns to craft an exhilarating mix of speed, precision, and fluid choreography. Choreographed by Alexandre Hamel, Pascale Jodoin, and Samory Ba, this one-hour adventure is an adrenaline rush the whole family will appreciate. $35. kennedy-center.org.
Freedom and Resistance: An Exhibition
Through March 15, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, at MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, the DC Public Library presents Freedom and Resistance: An Exhibition Inspired by The 1619 Project. The exhibition features three sections, created in collaboration with the editors of The New York Times Magazine and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and educators from The Pulitzer Center. The three sections are Artworks from "The 1619 Project--A Visual Experience"; Echoes of 1619--Freedom and Resistance in Washington, DC; and Freedom and Resistance--Through the Eyes of DC Youth. dclibrary.org.
“Love Songs of the 15th Century” at the Folger
Performing the sole surviving musical setting of a ballad written by poet Christine de Pisan, author of the early feminist utopia The Book of the City of Ladies, Folger Consort’s February concerts will be an affair to remember. These concerts, Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m., include 15th-century chanson repertoire sung from a woman’s perspective and is perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend. Tickets are $20 to $50. The Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.
Photo: Rolline Laporte
FRI. FEBRUARY 6: 1960s
SAT. MARCH 7: 1970s
FRI. APRIL 10: 1980s
FRI. MAY 8: 1990s
THUR. JUNE 18: 2000s
THUR. JULY 16: 2010s
SAT. AUGUST 22: 60TH Anniversary Celebration
“Nick Cave: Mammoth” at SAAM
Nick Cave (b. 1959) is renowned internationally for his work that surreally and seductively combines sculpture, performance, and fashion. Known for the exuberant Soundsuits that he originally created in response to racialized police violence, Cave has long been interested in the intersections of history and identity. In Mammoth, Cave remakes the museum’s galleries into an immersive environment marked by the crafted hides and bones of mammoths, a video projection of the long-dead animals come to life, and hundreds of transformed found objects—from vintage tools to his grandmother’s thimble collection—presented like paleontological specimens on a massive light table. At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and G streets NW, from Feb. 13 to Jan. 3, 2027. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. americanart.si.edu.
Mardi Gras at the Wharf On Sunday, Feb. 15, Mardi Gras at the Wharf activities begin at 3 p.m. The Parade starts at 3:30 p.m., with stilt walkers, jugglers, the Mardi Gras king and queen, and fantastic floats from favorite Wharf neighborhood partners. The Parade will also feature special performances and appearances by local sports mascots, DC’s most talented bands and youth performers, and more. From 4:30 to 7 p.m., following the Parade, the celebration continues with a dance party and live music. At 6:30 p.m. the fireworks start with the band playing one final set after the fireworks. wharfdc.com/mardigras.
”Sucker for Love” at the Lincoln
“Sucker for Love” is a one-night Valentine’s show where real people share true stories about dating, heartbreak, and everything in between. Expect stories that are funny, raw, awkward, and unexpectedly moving. Whether you’re bringing a date or coming solo, this is not your typical Valentine’s night out. Presented by Story District, “Sucker for Love” is at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). $45 to $57. thelincolndc.com.
Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival 2026
(36 performances of story, movement, and sound over five weekends) From Feb. 14 through March 15, the Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, 1333 H St. NE, presents work that impacts our society, culture, and world by informing, inspiring, educating and entertaining. INTERSECTIONS is about presenting excellent art that inspires a connected community, engages artists and audiences alike, and creates a vibrant neighborhood, city, and world. With a mission to highlight cross-disciplinary collaboration and amplify the voices of artists from all walks of life, the festival continues to be a cornerstone of Washington, DC’s cultural calendar. Ticket prices are $25 to $37, plus fees. Three, four and five performance passes are also available. atlasarts.org/intersections26.
Photo: James Prinz. Image courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery.
Capitol Movement Inc: Reflections is on Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. Reflections is a moving celebration of the company’s 20-year legacy—an evocative concert that bridges the past and present through the power of dance. $35.75.
Art, Economy & Innovation in Anacostia
Art to Go-Go, Washington, DC’s official Arts & Culture District, celebrates its third anniversary this year — marking a powerful moment for creativity-driven economic growth east of the river.
To commemorate this milestone, the Arts & Economic Impact Solutions Summit and Awards will take place on May 13–14, spotlighting the artists, organizations, and leaders shaping Anacostia’s cultural and economic future.
Art to Go-Go was designated as the city’s official Arts & Culture District by Mayor Muriel Bowser in February 2023. Alongside the designation, the Anacostia Business Improvement District received a $3.7 million grant from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). The investment supports cultural institutions, diverse programming, urban beautification, and initiatives that enhance cleanliness and safety — a strong endorsement of Anacostia’s creative economy.
The designation also recognized the leadership of Kristina Noell, Executive Director of the Anacostia BID, whose advocacy and vision helped secure the district’s official status.
Designing a Template for Change
created a replicable model. New districts — including the Soul of the City BID serving Congress Heights and surrounding neighborhoods — are now following its lead.
Creativity as a Tool for Transformation
Artists have always been changemakers. Since its launch, Art to Go-Go has empowered artists and entrepreneurs to strengthen community identity through authentic, hyper-local creativity.
Partnerships such as DPW’s MuralsDC initiative, in collaboration with the Anacostia BID, have resulted in striking new murals by local and international artists — enriching the neighborhood’s visual landscape and honoring its long-standing street art culture.
Creativity also contributes to safer, cleaner neighborhoods. Clean Teams, public art installations, and cultural festivals bring people into shared spaces, fostering stewardship and dialogue. These efforts build social cohesion — a central goal of Art to Go-Go’s annual programming — while propelling local creatives onto larger stages.
during Art All Night last year. For this area, that’s significant.”
Positive trends in local sales, business activity, and weekend engagement signal that the formula is working. Events like the eight-week Jazzy Sundays summer series consistently attract new visitors, while limited-edition Art to Go-Go merchandise — now seen across the city — spreads the district’s identity well beyond Anacostia.
Sometimes, the most meaningful impact is a shift in perception.
“We’re now known for Art to Go-Go — for
Last year, spoken word artist Sir Harvey Fitz made history by producing the first-ever
artists, world-class murals, exciting businesses, and the connection between Anacostia Park and our commercial corridors,” Noell says. “There’s still more work to do.”
“The communities we serve were the catalysts for forming the Arts & Culture District,” Noell explains. “Organically, we are an Arts & Culture District already.”
Over her seven years of leadership, Noell has witnessed Anacostia evolve while remaining rooted in its identity. By using art and culture as drivers of inclusive growth, Art to Go-Go connects Anacostia’s historic legacy with its future — encouraging investment, engagement, and pride.
After more than three years of activations, programming, and steady collaboration by a small but mighty team, Art to Go-Go has
spoken word poetry album set to Go-Go music, following his success at the 2023 Spoken Word to Go-Go Championship. The Arts & Culture District continues to serve as a launchpad for bold creativity and new opportunities for artists locally and internationally.
The Recipe for Success
How do you measure success after three years?
“The increase in foot traffic is undeniable,” Noell says. “We welcomed more than 4,000 people
That work has not gone unnoticed. In January, the Anacostia BID was named Best BID by the Washington Informer in its annual Best of the DMV Awards.
Arts & Economic Impact Solutions Summit and Awards
On May 13–14, Art to Go-Go will celebrate the individuals, organizations, and partnerships fueling Anacostia’s creative ecosystem and economic vitality. Artists from the district will present awards in the following categories:
Award Categories
• Arts & Economic Impact Award
• Creative Placemaking Leader Award
• Youth Arts Champion Award
• Cultural Preservation Advocate Award
• Public-Private Partnership in the Arts Award
• Emerging Cultural Leader Award
• Innovative Arts Program Award
• Arts & Cultural Amplifier Award
• Lifetime Cultural Contribution Award
Ward 8 artist Darius Hill stands with his mural at the 11th Street bridge entrance to Anacostia. Photo credit: Jeremy Reaves
Creative Collective artist Jona Monet painting live at the 2025 SpringTime Festival. Photo credit: Jeremy Reaves
Community gathers for the 8-week “Jazzy Sundays in Anacostia” series on the green lot at 1234 Marion Barry Avenue SE. Photo credit: Jeremy Reaves
esperanza spalding, 2019.
esperanza spalding at the Birchmere esperanza spalding is trained and initiated in the North American jazz lineage and tradition. Her work interweaves various combinations of instrumental music, improvisation, singing, composition, poetry, dance, therapeutic research, sto rytelling, teaching, restorative urban land & artist-sanctuary custodianship. The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA, on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. $96. birchmere.com.
“Two Gentlemen of Killarney” at Gunston
Two Gentlemen of Killarney is a timely immigrant love-comedy with music. Adapted from Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, the story follows friends-turned-rivals from Ireland to America during the Great Famine, blending Shakespeare’s wit with traditional Irish tunes and delivering a dynamic celebration of love, immigration, and humanity. “Two Gentlemen of Killarney” presented by vant Bard Theatre at the Gunston Arts Center-Theatre 2, 2700 So. Lang St., Arlington, VA, from March 5 to 28. Tickets are $45. All previews and Saturday matinees offer pay-what-you-can tickets. Half-price tickets are available for students and active-duty military. avantbard.org/36th-season.
“Inherit the Wind” at Arena
Based on the real-life Scopes “Monkey” Trial, this electrifying courtroom drama pits two towering legal minds against each other in a small-town battle over science, religion, and the right to think freely. As the town becomes a stage for national attention, personal conviction clashes with public opinion in a trial that transcends its time. This American classic, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and a debate that shook the nation, is a searing, deeply human portrait of a country still wrestling with the cost—and courage—of progress. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Feb. 27 to April 5. Tickets start at $68. arenastage.org.
“On Beckett” at Shakespeare Theatre Company
Tony Award-winning actor and master clown Bill Irwin has spent a lifetime captivated by Samuel Beckett. With little more than a funny hat and a podium, Irwin mines the comedy and tragedy of Beckett’s work—including Waiting for Godot, Texts for Nothing, and more—in a nonstop display of jovial verbal and physical comedy that has become Irwin’s signature. Whether you’re encountering the Nobel Prize winner’s writings for the first time or building on a body of Beckett knowledge, the pure, energizing joy of Irwin’s dynamic showcase is not to be missed.
“On Beckett” is at STC’s Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW, from Feb. 11 to March 15. Tickets start at $43. shakespearetheatre.org.
“Young, Black and Funny” at Union Stage
This show is produced by Jasmine Burton and Benny Nwokebia. A blend of west coast and east coast swagger, Jasmine is best known for her high energy, punchlines, and hilarious infusion of the law and her life experience into her comedy. Born in Washington DC, Benny Nwokebia is half Nigerian half Ethiopian but grew up overseas in Geneva, Switzerland. Most recently he took home second place in the 2023 Seattle International Comedy Competition. He was named runner up in the Magoobys 2022 Comedian of the year competition and was named Winner of the DC Improv’s Comedy Kumite competition.
“Young, Black and Funny” is at Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW, on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 and 10 p.m. General admission seated is $34. unionstagepresents.com.
Chiarina
Chamber Players at St.
Mark’s
Experience some of the most engaging artistic voices of today with Capitol Hill’s Chiarina Chamber Players—a hybrid chamber music series and performer collective noted in the Washington Post as one of the “most compelling” in town. On Sunday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m., hear Voices of Remembrance and Resilience, featuring Grammy-nominated soprano Laura Strickling, a Chiarina commission and premiere, and compelling works reflecting the darkness of wartime. On Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m., Fire and Brilliance showcases award-winning violinist Njioma Grevious in a program featuring the music of Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, and more. Chiarina’s family concert Vivaldi’s Four Seasons rounds out the season on Sunday, May 17 at 2:30 p.m. This program is for ages five and up brings to life the story of Vivaldi, his pupils, and his most famous work. Performances are at St. Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. Tickets are $30; free for ages eighteen and under. chiarina.org.
Broke Royals (album release party) at Songbyrd
Broke Royals are from Washington, DC, and are celebrated for their “sing-along, arena-ready sound” (Billboard) and “pristine pop-rock” (Washington Post). Philip Basnight (vocals, guitar), Colin Cross (drums), Taimir Gore (bass), Rebecca Basnight (keys), and Ben Wilson (guitar) continue to blend heart, melody, and energy in equal measure on their upcoming album Campr, due out this month. Broke Royals are at Songbyrd, 540 Penn St. NW, on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 8 to 11 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). admission is $21.89. songbyrddc.com.
Jontavious Willis at 9:30 Club
Jontavious Willis is resolved in his mission: to reinvigorate today’s blues with the spirit of the past. He leverages his unique sound—a synthesis of his Georgia heritage and reverence for traditional Blues—to get the world dancing again. A Grammynominated musician and songwriter, Jontavious performs original, toe-tapping tunes in the style of Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel blues. Dynamic vocals, technical prowess, and an abundance of Southern charm keep Jontavious sending jolts of vitality through the blues community. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Saturday, Feb. 28, doors at 6 p.m. General admission is $40.30. 930.com.
Yonder Mountain String Band at the Barns at Wolf Trap
Pioneering and progressive jamgrass ensemble Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music by pushing the envelope into realms of rock ’n’ roll and soulful improvisation for over 25 years. Because Yonder Mountain String Band is one of the most innovative groups on the live music scene, you’ll hear renditions from their latest selfreflective album, Nowhere Next, and much more. Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, on Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets start at $60 (including fees). wolftrap.org.
“American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union” Book Talk with Jon Meacham
In a polarized era, history can become a subject of political contention. Many see America as perfect, while others argue that the national experiment is fundamentally flawed. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., at Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW, in the anthology American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, the Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham uses primary sources that take us back to critical moments when Americans fought over the meaning and direction of our country. $25; $47.50 for admission and signed book. sixthandi.org.
Chiarina at St. Marks, 2025.
Jon Meacham
Capital City Symphony:
“Hope” at the Atlas Music, as many art forms, can express a variety of aspects constituent to our shared human experience. Emotions such as joy or sadness, societal events such as conflicts, uprisings, or celebrations, can be represented through sound in infinitely creative ways. On Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., at the Atlas Intersections Festival 2026, 1333 H St. NE, this program shares music that is oriented around human connection, the strength and power of community to overcome, and how it, along with art, can bring about healing and hope. $36.75. arlasarts.org.
Spooky Action’s “Tambo & Bones”
“You thought you was gonna sing a song about racism and change the world” –Bones. Tambo and Bones find themselves in a fix: they’re trapped in a minstrel show. And it’s damn hard to know what’s real and what’s not. The escape plan? Get famous… cash in…and get even. This time-traveling hip-hop fantasia from slam poet turned playwright Dave Harris dares to say the quiet part out loud, wrestling with America’s racist past and present and exploding its post-racial future. “Tambo & Bones” is at Spooky Action Theater, 1810 16th St. NW, from Feb. 12 to March 8. spookyaction.org.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s “Heart & Soul” at the Howard
On Saturday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m., celebrate Black History Month with GMCW’s gospel ensemble, Seasons of Love, under the direction of GMCW assistant conductor Ronté Pierce, as they present their second annual show. This year’s show is at the historic Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW, where they will be joined by their 17th Street Dance ensemble. Tickets are $54.77 to $72.28. Complimentary tickets are available for schools, LGBTQ+ student groups and youth-based nonprofits, and those with financial hardship. gmcw.org.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s Seasons of Love ensemble.
“Safety Not Guaranteed” at Signature
“WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.” After seeing this classified ad, ambitious journalist Darius sets out on an expedition to find its writer. When she agrees to go along for the ride, however, Darius finds herself in way over her head. Heartwarming and hilarious, with an electrifying score, “Safety Not Guaranteed” asks, if you could go back and change your story—would you? Signature Theater, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA, from March 3 to April 12. Tickets start at $47. sigtheatre.org.
“The World to Come” at Woolly
The residents of the SeaBreeze Hebrew Home for the Aging carry on as usual: knitting, playing Scrabble, fighting, and falling in love. As the apocalyptic outside world threatens their way of life, Fanny, Barbara, Ruth, and Hal fight to protect the community they’ve built together. Even while battling armored nurses, a wild ostrich, strange prophecies, and their ailing bodies, they find joy in each other’s company. “The World to Come”, from Feb. 3 to March 1, at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW, is a surprising new epic that reveals how powerful friendship can be as a form of resistance. Tickets start at $31, with Pay-WhatYou-Will tickets available for every performance. woollymammoth.net.
Courtesy of Signature Theatre.
Local Calendar
Washington Bach Consort Capitol Cantata Series at St. Mark’s. March 2, 12:10 p.m. Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56. This is a free concert. Tickets are not necessary and seating is general admission. Donations appreciated. St. Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. bachconsort.org.
Hablemos Espanol at NE Library. Second and fourth Mondays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Meet other Spanish language learners in the community and brush up on your skills. All levels welcome. NE Library, 330 Seventh St. NE. dclibrary.org.
Constellation Theatre Company: “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”. Through Feb. 15. Bram Stoker’s iconic vampire tale takes on an outrageous new life in “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”--a madcap, laugh-out-loud comedy full of camp, lusty encounters, and hilarious spectacle. $50.75. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
District Beer Fest @ Dock 5 Union Market. March 7, 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy some of the DMV’s top breweries, as they share with you some of the best beers, beverages, eats, and more. General admission $44.36. districtbeerfest.com.
Hill Center Galleries 2026 Regional Juried Show. Through May 2. Open to artists residing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Movies on the Big Screen at The Miracle Theatre. Feb. 1, 2 p.m., Groundhog Day; Feb. 7, 7 p.m. and Feb. 8, 2 p.m., When Harry Met Sally; Feb. 14, 4 p.m. and Feb. 15, 2 p.m., Lady and the Tramp; Feb. 20, 7 p.m. and Feb. 21, 2 p.m., The Princess Bride; Feb. 27, 7 p.m. and March 1, 2 p.m., The Way We Were. Tickets for movies before 5 p.m., $6; 5 p.m. and after, $8 for adults, $6 for ages two to twelve, seniors, students and military. 535 Eighth St. SE. themiracletheatre.com.
Death Cafes at Congressional Cemetery. Feb. 5 and March 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Death Cafe is a global movement to encourage discussion about the often-taboo subject of death. These are intimate informal gatherings where death is discussed while eating cake and drinking tea to remind us of comfort and sweetness even in difficult times. There is no agenda other than providing a space for an open-ended conversation. 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org.
Hill Center Concerts. Stone Room Concerts
@ Hill Center Featuring Traditional Musicians Newberry & Verch, Feb. 8, 5 to 7 p.m. $23. Eurovision 2024 Winner Nani Vazana in Concert, Feb. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. $23. 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Love Songs of the 15th Century at the Folger. Feb. 13 to 15. Performing the sole surviving musical setting of a ballad written by poet Christine de Pisan, author of the early feminist utopia The Book of the City of Ladies, Folger
5705 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD, NW
Consort’s February concert will be an affair to remember. $20 to $50. folger.edu.
The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case. Feb. 13, 6 and 8 p.m. You’ve been called for jury duty. Step into the heart of a highstakes trial that will challenge your beliefs about guilt, innocence, and the true meaning of justice. $61.50. The Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE. themiracletheatre.com.
Used Book Sale at NE Library. Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shop a wide range of donated titles, most $1 to $2. 330 Seventh St. NE. dclibrary.org.
The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival. Feb. 14 to March 15. The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival is a performing arts festival that presents work that impacts our society, culture, and world by informing, inspiring, educating, and entertaining. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Jackie Sink
202.352.5793
jackie.sink@compass.com
Libby Clarke
202.841.1812
libby.clarke@compass.com
Crystal Crittenden
202.246.0931
crystal.crittenden@compass.com
“Chez Joey” at Arena Stage. Through March 15. “A Bold Reimagining of Rodgers and Hart’s Pal Joey.” The year is 1940-something, and Chicago’s night scene is sizzling. Enter Joey Evans. A slicktalking, velvet-voiced songster with dreams bigger than the bandstand. Tickets start at $83. 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.
Mardi Gras at The Wharf. Feb. 15, 3 to 7 p.m. Celebrate Mardi Gras with a free community-wide extravaganza featuring a lively parade down Wharf Street, a dance party with live music and a special fireworks finale. wharfdc.com.
Mardi Gras on H Street. Feb. 15, noon to 6 p.m. Entertainment on the Main Stage, 1207 H St. NE, The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE and Avec, 901 H St. NE, Henceforth, 1335 H St. NE and O Street Gallery, 1354 H St. NE.
Sing Out Piano Bar and Open Mic with Gay Man’s Chorus. Feb. 18 and March 18, 8 to 11 p.m. Come out to sing with live piano accompa-
niment or just enjoy the music. Free admission. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Special Olympics DC Polar Plunge. Feb. 21, noon to 3 p.m., at The Wharf at Market Pier, 101 Market Square SW. $15 to participate. specialolympicsdc.org.
DC United at Audi Field. Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., vs. Philadelphia Union; Feb. 11, 7 p.m., vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC; March 13, 7 p.m., vs. Dallas Trinity FC. Audi Field, 100 Potomac Ave. SW. audifield.com.
Soul Line Dance with Sean at SW Library. Feb. 23 and March 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Move your (adult) body
while learning new steps and practicing some favorites. 900 Wesley Pl. SW. dclibrary.org.
Inherit the Wind at Arena Stage. Feb. 27 to April 5. Based on the real-life Scopes “Monkey” Trial, this courtroom drama pits two towering legal minds against each other in a small-town battle over science, religion, and the right to think freely. Tickets start at $68. 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.
“As You Like It” at the Folger. March 10 to April 12. Rosalind and her cousin Celia are forced to leave the court where they find respite and adventure in nature, inevitably succumbing to the madness of love and delightfully unpredictable circumstances. $20 to $90. folger.edu.
Henry Diltz: California Dreamin’ - Legendary Photographer Series. March 11, 8 p.m. at the Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE. In the world of music photography, Henry Diltz occupied the upper strata of legendary photographers. Behind The Lens is a one-hour plus visual feast of music photography and stories as told by one of the worlds iconic music photographers who documented those memorable times. General admission, $43. themiracletheatre.com.
Ireland at The Wharf. March 14, noon to 6 p.m. The Wharf and Kirwan’s on the Wharf are bringing the luck of the Irish to the waterfront with the free Ireland at The Wharf festival. Enjoy all the fun of a true Irish festival with Miller High Life, Jameson, Guinness and more. wharfdc.com. ◆
A curated Preview of Theater in the DMV Theater Night AR TS
by Matthew McClure
In Ellen Winner’s 1985 book “Invented Worlds. The Psychology of the Arts”, the author explores the artist’s compulsion to conjure worlds. What is it about artists, Winner asks, that motivates them to make visible their dreamscapes, whether on canvas, paper or stage? What drives the deep and ancient desire to communicate and offer catharsis through art? This month’s column looks to world-makers and the worlds they invent for us.
In the Spotlight
Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival
Atlas Performing Arts Center
February 14 – March 15
For 17 years, the Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival has gathered a sampling of the finest performing arts talent under one roof. Over five weeks from midFebruary to mid-March, you can enjoy both emerging and established performing artists in the categories of movement, sound and story. With their Festival pass packages, the more you watch, the more money you save, so book your subscription-style Festival passes now at www.atlasarts.org
These are the performances we’re especially looking forward to.
“Moore Contemporary Theatrics: Beneath the Sun”,February 21, 8 p.m.
Daniel L. Moore founded Moore Contemporary Theatrics to bridge the divide between theater and dance and celebrate Black and African American stories through movement. For the company’s debut performance, nine dancers
will reinterpret Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 play “A Raisin in the Sun” by using dance to communicate the principal themes of Hansberry’s work – housing discrimination, ingrained poverty, family dynamics and “The Dream Deferred.” “A Raisin in the Sun” chronicles the Younger family and how a $10,000 life insurance check transforms their lives forever. It was the first play by a Black
woman to be produced on a Broadway Stage with a full Black principal cast and Black Director.
“Carly Harvey: The Chrysalis – Blues at the Crossroads”, February 22, 6 p.m.
Carly Harvey is a DC born, Afro-Indigenous musical artist who believes music and dance are medicinal. She was voted “DC Queen of the Blues” in 2016 and comes from a deeply musical and multicultural family. For her performance at the INTERSECTIONS Festival, she’ll be plumbing the depths of her talent to evoke the evolution of the blues, its influence on contemporary music and how the blues can be a modality of spiritual expression and healing. Harvey’s singing will be accompanied by dancer An-
Daniel Moore and a fellow dancer.
Photo courtesy Atlas Performing Arts Center.
Carly Harvey. Photo courtesy Atlas Performing Arts Center.
gela Gladue performing hoop and jingle dances while adorned in richly symbolic regalia.
Upcoming Attraction
“Between Riverside and Crazy,” 1st Stage Theatre
Showing February 19 – March 8 www.1ststage.org
In Stephen Adly Guirgis’s 2014 play “Between Riverside and Crazy,” Walter ‘Pops’ Washington is the sun at the center of his own solar system, a cluttered, rent-controlled apartment on Riverside Drive in New York City that he shares with his son Junior, Junior’s girlfriend Lulu and Oswaldo, a recovering drug addict. It’s a world entirely of Pop’s own making, packed to the ceiling with the detritus of a life that’s slowly coming apart, and it’s being threatened by unwelcome outside influences.
The play, being directed for 1st Stage Theatre by José Carrasquillo, won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Through the kind of gritty, New York flavored dialogue and characters that Guirgis writes so well, “Between Riverside and Crazy” takes an unflinching look at addiction, gentrification and agoraphobia. It’s a work that Carrasquillo says pushes hyperrealism to the extreme, so finding the right actors to take it on was important. “It’s such a character driven piece. Casting the play took a long time because it had to be genuine. The world we’ve created from a scenic perspective has allowed us to bring so much magic into the play. How we’ve designed Pop’s apartment is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”
Guirgis builds his plays around his favorite actors, a coterie of acclaimed Hollywood stage and screen stars that include Ellen Burstyn, Chris Rock and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Influenced by Tennessee Williams’s probing of the human condition in all its messy complexity, “Between Riverside and Crazy” is alternately darkly comedic and savage. It’s packed with the kind of New York City idiosyncrasies that are characteristic of Guirgis’s work, much of which is set in and around the boroughs he grew up in. “I love Stephen’s work because he creates plays that represent people we don’t usually see, that we don’t know about,” says Carrasquillo. “You experience the
worlds he creates, they suck you in. They are tough worlds.”
As New York City embarks on a new chapter of history led by a mayor promising to tackle the injustices on vivid display in “Between Riverside and Crazy,” Guirgis’s play takes on new and contemporary relevance.
On Right Now
“John Doe,” The Keegan Theatre Showing January 31 – February 22 www.keegantheatre.com
For Angelle Whavers, a 29 NJ based playwright, there’s nothing she loves more than making fantasy worlds come to life. “I’m a nerd!” she laughs. “I love fantasy. I like bringing the fantastical to the stage because I like the challenge of it.” “John Doe” is a new work by Whavers and is her third play produced for the stage, selected as part of The Keegan Theatre’s Boiler Room Series initiative aimed at developing and profiling the work of emerging theatrical playwrights.
The antagonists in “John Doe” (directed by Josh Sticklin) also happen to be lost in worlds of their own making. Zia – played by Ariana Caldwell – really hates people. Her anxiety has only been exacerbated by the tragic death of her brother and to avoid socializing she fabricates a private world that isolates her from friends and family. Doe (Mitchell Alexander) happens to be dead, but his imposed state of isolation has conversely only sharpened his love for humanity. It’s sheer fate that brings these two misfits together, and with the help of a cast of colorful characters both Zia and Doe must piece the missing parts of Doe’s life together.
“It’s a story about dealing with loss, which is something that’s always relevant and important to discuss,” Whavers says. “Doe and Zia are upset about their losses. This is a story about allowing yourself to fully feel and accept those emotions. It’s a good thing to miss someone.”
There’s a beautiful message inherent in the play that perhaps it’s only once we’ve opened our private worlds to others that we can receive the guidance we so desperately need, and maybe not feel so lonely. It’s advice that many of us could use right about now. u
Capitol Cuisine AR TS
by Celeste McCall
On a blustery mid-winter day, we sought warmth at La Famosa, 1300 Fourth St. SE, in the Navy Yard area. Since we could not swing a getaway to San Juan, we settled for a delightful lunch at this casual Puerto Rican restaurant. Seated by a swinging window booth, I ordered a glass of Chispas, a pleasant Spanish white wine, recommended by our savvy server Brandon. The full bar also pours Caribbean/Latino favorites like Cuba libras (rum and Coke with a splash of lime), mojitos, pina coladas, sangria, oceans of beer.
Led by owner/chef Joancarlo Parkhurst, the kitchen creates pastelillos (fried turnovers lled with beef or veggies); mofongo (fried mashed plantains); croquetas de bacalao (salt cod fritters); arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas, a Caribbean staple); pernil casero (marinated slow roasted pork).
Sopa de Mariscos—which is more like a stew—is a mélange of plump shrimp, calamari, cod, olives and Amarillo peppers, all swimming in a fragrant coconut broth. Arising in the middle is a mound of white rice, served Louisiana style. Ensalada de Pulpo (octopus salad) is a bountiful bowl of tender tentacles and mini tomatoes in a zesty sauce, escorted by crunchy tostones (fried plantains). Among desserts are classic an, chocolate torte and passionfruit mousse.
We think La Famosa turns out the best Puerto Rican fare we’ve savored north of San Juan, or at least Miami. For hours and more information visit www.eatlafamosa.com.
La Famosa, the Navy Yard Puerto Rican charmer, offers a warm, casual décor and great food.
A La Famosa winner is Ensalada de Pulpo (octopus salad), escorted by tostones (fried plantains).
La Famosa’s talented kitchen specializes in Sopa de Mariscos, chock full of shrimp, calamari, cod, and peppers.
Coming Soon
Nearby, in the works is Canton Disco, 1025 First St. SE, in the Navy Yard. Look for it sometime this month. Created by Brian Schram, chef Timothy Yu and sommelier Brent Kroll, the Cantonese-style newcomer will function as a casual café by day, morphing into a full-service restaurant and bar come nightfall. Expect chili-spiked won tons, salt and pepper wings with hot peppers and fried shallots and garlic, fried whole branzino, speckled with Fresno peppers.
And watch this space: Scolapasta, 1201 Half St. SE, across the street from Nationals Park is due to open in the space vacated by Basebowl ramen bar. Here’s the deal: customers will select a type of pasta: spaghetti, rigatoni, tagliatelle, or something called radiatoni, short noodles with ruffled edges resembling old-fashioned radiators. Then find a sauce, choosing from Bolognese, pesto, cacio e pepe; you get the idea. For updates visit www.scolapasta.us.
Awaken Redux
Our friends Steve and Vera had been raving about Awakening Bar & Grill, the Barracks Row new-
comer at 520 Eighth St. SE. Created by Warren Banfield Jr., his son Warren Banfield III and Aaron L. Ratliff, the 50-seat restaurant is named after the iconic sculpture “arising” at National Harbor.
Husband Peter and I had visited Awakening shortly after it opened and were eager to check it out again. Just as we recalled, the décor is appealing and historic, with blue walls punctuated with vintage photos of the civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, Barack Obama and Marion Barry as well as Washington DC monuments, the long-gone Senart’s Oyster & Chop House, and the unique sculpture that inspired the restaurant’s moniker, Awakening. The bar scene is convivial; evenings bring live music, including vibes from local saxophonist Bryan Mills.
Awakening’s Southern-leaning kitchen is honchoed by Johnson & Wales grad Brittany Davis, who learned the basics from her Louisiana-bred grandmother. Among Awakening dishes we’ve sampled: shrimp and grits—a half dozen nicely cooked crustaceans with a Creole-style gravy resting on smoky grits. Another favorite is chicken and waffles. The enormous wings— nicely battered and fried—would do a turkey proud. Waffles were accompanied by a huge glob of butter and fresh fruit.
I’m partial to BLTs, and I make a mean version myself. But mine is nothing like the amazing half-pound stack of house made candied bacon, snuggled in a brioche bun or on Texas Toast. Unfortunately, the tomato slices were vapid, winter-pale. But the accompanying roasted potatoes made up for the insipid tomatoes. Crabmeat Benedict featured fluffy, tasty lump crab, nestled on Texas Toast and napped with rich, flavorful Hollandaise. The filling dish was accompanied by those divine roasted spuds.
Other dishes include half-smokes, fried green tomatoes, blackened salmon, lamb chops and bourbon bread pudding. The full bar pours assorted cocktails including a generously garnished Bloody Mary, “Diplomat’s Son” (classic margarita), “Mayor 4 Life,” a bourbon and mulberry concoction inspired by Washington’s late Mayor Barry. The list of mimosas includes the Georgetown sapphire, a heady mixture of sparkling wine, blue Curacao and orange juice.
AR TS
ABOVE: Henceforth’s sleek, shiny décor welcomes beer drinkers, wine aficionados and burger lovers as well.
Lunch for two with two drinks, came to about $65. Awakening is closed Monday. For hours, menu and other information visit www. awakeningdc.com.
Peruvian Sushi
Coming soon to the Eastern Market neighborhood: Maru San, 325 Seventh St. SE. The future culinary endeavor will showcase Nikkei cuisine— a hybrid of Japanese and Peruvian cooking, which dates to back to Peru’s 19th-century influx of Japanese immigrants. At Maru San’s 25-seat counter, Lima-born chef Carlos Delgado will showcase hand-rolled sushi and other ala carte items, plus sake, beer and other potables. Chef Delgado— who is behind Shaw’s acclaimed Tasting Room Causa--garnered last year’s James Beard Award
TOP: On H street NE, Henceforth offers hefty smashburgers and yummy fries along with award-winning brewskies.
Awakening Bar & Grill (Barracks Row), makes a BLT with a house-made candied bacon.
for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. For Maru San updates visit www. marusandc.com.
Beer Here
Speaking of award-winning hot spots, Peter and I enjoyed brunch at Henceforth, 1335 H St. NE, named one of the nation’s 26 best new breweries by VinePair. (VinePair is a digital media company.) For our midday repast, we settled in a comfy seat in the sleek, shiny dining (and sipping!) area near the numerous beer tanks. From the brief brunch menu, Peter ordered a smashburger, accompanied by plump, thrice-fried potatoes. Paired with American cheese, chipotle aioli and caramelized onions, the moist burger was tucked into a challah bun. I selected the tasty but rather skimpy bacon and egg sandwich, composed of a runny egg and a few strips of bacon. You can also nd wings and seasonal salads.
From Henceforth’s mindboggling beer list Peter chose a light, Alley cream ale, while I sipped a Spanish Sauvignon Blanc. Available by the glass or bottle, the lineup also o ers selections from Oregon, South Africa, Portugal, France. Lunch for two with a drink apiece came to about $56. Service, delivered by Megan, was excellent. For hours and more information visit www.henceforthdc.com.
Adios for Now!
As we do every winter, we’re o to the sunny (we hope!) climes of Florida. So, we’ll not be submitting a Capitol Cuisine column for March. See you in April!!!
AR TS Artonthe Hill
by Rindy O’Brien
Touched by Gold - Urban Landscapes
In the classic 1955 children’s book, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Harold, using only a purple crayon, creates his own imaginative world to find his way home.
The story is brilliant in its simplicity, an inspired act of imagination. It came to mind back in January, when I saw the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop’s (CHAW) gallery space transformed by the Surface Value: Landscapes on Cardboard exhibit by Christian Tribastone.
Tribastone is CHAW’s 2026 Resident Artist and his show was the perfect way to kick off the new gallery year for CHAW. The work covered the gallery walls with urban landscapes that let your
imagination walk through cityscapes, much like Harold’s purple crayon. The work is on recycled cardboard using pencil, ink, and a little gold paint.
The urban landscapes could be any big city skyscape making the work easily accessible to any viewer. “The skyscape is my hometown of Rochester, New York,” says Christian, “but vague enough it could be any city, and I have people tell they know exactly where the streets and buildings are, even though they name Philadelphia, Baltimore, or DC.” Christian’s drawing skills are highlighted by his unique sense of shadows, and use of very carefully painted gold highlights. He begins with pencil drawings then goes back to fill in ink and textures.
“I like the idea of the impermanence of the cardboard with its ridges and scruff marks, decals and stickers, paired with the gold that historically linked permanence and wealth,” says Tribastone.
The pieces work because of the artist’s extraordinary drawing skills. A graduate of Alfred University in upstate New York, Christopher enjoyed his college fine arts classes, especially the printmaking work. But drawing has always been his first love. “When I found the large cardboard boxes that were 15 feet
tall in such great shape,” I knew I had to create the landscapes on them. Using the gold leaf is a newer feature for me, but I think it has added not just a visual plus, but also speaks about our material world, making a statement from my work.”
In addition to being a professional artist, Tribastone has been an elementary school art teacher in the Fairfax school district since 2005. “Putting a pencil or a paintbrush into the hands of a young student and watching them explore is the best part of teaching for me,” notes Christopher. “Being an elementary teacher is the best.” He also praises how supportive the Fairfax public schools; the art commission and community have been.
He says his fellow art community is encouraging him to try his hand at some abstract work, and he is excited to see where that takes him. He also encourages artists to seek out other artists and art venues to get inspired and not be afraid to try new things. “You never know where it will take you.”
CHAW: A Capitol Hill Treasure
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is a 54-yearold non-profit art center and is located at 545 7th Street, SE. It was founded in 1972 by a group of neighbors on the Hill who felt the community needed space devoted to the arts. The original school had been built in 1904 and used as an art training center. Fast forward 50 years, and CHAW offers a variety of art-related workshops and classes for the youngest to oldest Hill residents. In a typical year, CHAW reports that they “serve 5000 people both directly and indirectly through their programs both on G Street and in schools and other community organizations.”
Each year, CHAW sponsors the gallery residency program where artists like Chrisian are
Artist Christian Tribastone uses cardboard boxes as his base surface for his incredible ink drawings of urban landscapes.
Christian Tribastone, 2026 Resident Artist for the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.
The 15-foot boxes Christian found were perfect for him to create his own landscape and then enhanced the cardboard with gold fill paint.
Upcoming Exhibits
“2026 Regional Juried Exhibition,” Hill Center Galleries, will exhibit 126 pieces of art from local artists from DC, Maryland and Virginia. Claude Elliott, independent curator, oral historian, and advocate for the arts, is this year’s juror. The opening reception, where cash prizes will be awarded, is January 21, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The exhibit runs from January 11 through May 2, 2026. Free and open to the public.
“The James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show,” The Phillips Collection, hosts the annual staff show that honors James McLaughlin a still life painter who studied under Duncan Phillips and had a deep commitment to the museum and artistic community. The show exhibits 42 of the museums staff’s creative talents, including photography, 3-D work, and paintings. The exhibit runs through February 8, 2026, and is located at 1600 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC.
“Life in the City, Capitol Hill Art League, opening reception is February 7, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm with cash winners of the annual open call announced at the reception, reception is free and open to the public. The exhibition runs through April 3rd, 2026, and is juried by Barbara Janusziewicz, is a contemporary abstract artist in the MDV. The gallery is located at CHAW, 545 7th Street, SE, Washington, DC.
“Inside out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing,” DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Eye Street Gallery, a photographic exhibit curated by Karen Ruckman showing work from women photographers from DC Jail and photographs produced from men in the Lorton Prison in Va. The exhibit runs through March 5, 2026, and the gallery located at 200 I Street SE, Washington, DC, is open to the public, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
chosen to create a new body of work or expand on their existing work. Artists must be working at the professional level in their eld and be available to work in the CHAW gallery during their residency. Past recipients include Carolina Mayorga, Lenora Yerkes, MK Bailey, Billy Friebele, Selena Jackson, Paula Manns, and Ywanda Kotun Davis. The residency is sponsored by Edward (Ted) Coltman in memory of J. Wade Carey.
All through the year, CHAW’s rst oor space features Hill artists and students. The gallery is home to the Capitol Hill Art League, a consortium of emerging and professional artists who showcase and sell members’ work. On Feb 7th, a CHAL exhibition entitled, Life in the City, will open with a reception from 5:30 to 7:00 pm open to the public.
To follow Christopher’s art, www.instagram.com/3bastone and information on CHAW’s gallery through Liz Brown, Gallery Manager, lizbrown@chaw.org
Rindy O’Brien writes about Capitol Hill’s art and cultural scene and can be contacted at rindyobrien@gmail.com ◆
CHAW is located at 545 7th Street, SE welcoming artists, performers, and students.
FROM: 11AM-2AM M-Th 10AM-2AM Sat & Sun
Second Floor Added to Rumsey Designs
Asecond floor has been added back to the design of Rumsey Aquatic Center after community outcry. About 150 people attended a community meeting in the North Hall of Eastern Market on Jan. 14. DPR and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) showed them
CAPITOL STREETS
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
NEWS ROUND-UP
cilities such as a tech lounge or indoor fitness center could be included. Originally, the pool was expected to close in 2027, but given the extended design period that is likely to be pushed back. A date for the closure and demolition of the pool have not yet been set.
It is the third community meeting on the project and the first held since March 13, 2025. At the March meeting, the project team told the community that costs for the project limited construction to a single floor. The announcement surprised the assembled, including the Office of Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6-D), who had successfully pushed to add an additional $15 million to the project budget to include the second story.
the latest concept design for the Rumsey Pool.
The design has already been submitted to both the District’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and the Federal Commission on Fine Arts (CFA). Both bodies must approve the design before construction.
The biggest project by budget currently underway under the DPR portfolio, the $37 million renovation of Rumsey Pool kicked off last winter and has been through two community meetings as it enters the design phase. DPR Project Manager Brent Sisco said the survey they conducted on community needs received one of the biggest responses DPR has ever seen, with over 1100 responses. “It was incredible,” he said.
The pool will be demolished and a new building including a senior center and other fa-
Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) submitted a letter and petition to DPR requesting the team draft a design that incorporates a second floor. In December, the project team submitted plans to the District’s Historic Preservation Office (HPO).
Plans
The first floor plans as submitted include an eight-lane pool and a kiddie pool with adjacent office space; a multipurpose room, men’s and women’s locker rooms. Bathrooms are indicated off the lobby near the kiddie pool.
On the second floor there is a large multipurpose room, a small fitness room, a “collabor-
ative” room, a senior center and washrooms in addition to utility and storage spaces. An overlook spaces gives views onto North Carolina Avenue.
Community Response
Asked by Commissioner Sam Pastore (6B05) at the Jan. 13 meeting how much wiggle room there was in the current designs, Kimberly Kennedy from the Office of Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) said that “he [Allen] is always trying to make it better, but I do believe he’s getting to where he may have most of what we asked for.”
However, Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) Chair Chuck Burger said adjustments were not only still possible, but needed. Capitol Hill has a lack of community space, he said, and Rumsey will be the largest multi-use facility in the neighborhood, meaning it is important to get it right.
Burger pointed in particular to the exterior of the building. The design and lighting of the plaza in front of the building needs to be worked out, he said. The alley between the pool and the market building can be designed to facilitate uses by the market. There can be additional street-level activation along the C Street SE side of the lot, he added, as well as on the largely flat roof. And finally, he
Second floor plans for Rumsey Pool as submitted by DPR/DGS to DC HPO Dec. 19, 2025.
C Street SE view with Eastern Market to the right. Image: Hess/WKM, DC DPR/DGS via HPO
said, the RFP calls for an incubator space which he said has not been directly addressed in the final design.
At the meeting, residents called for more water, whether that be combining the two pools or simply enlarging the lap lanes. They also questioned the distinction between the community and incubator rooms, arguing that an enlarged fitness center would be a more in-demand use of the space. The DPR/DGS team countered that meeting and collaborative spaces were highly in demand throughout their portfolio. In regard to water space, they said the two different temperature needs of a lap pool versus a fitness or kiddie pool made separate bodies necessary.
At least two more meetings are expected. See the presentation and get updates at www.dgs.dc.gov/ page/rumsey-aquatic-center u
Harris Teeter Terminates Lease
After four years of sitting dark, the 48,000 square foot space on the ground level of
the Jenkins Row Condominium building (1350 Potomac Ave. SE) could be ready to lease in the foreseeable future.
That’s because Harris Teeter, which has held the space since 2008, finally negotiated a termination of the lease with landlord EDENS.
In an email shared with the Hill Rag, a Harris Teeter spokesperson wrote that there was now a fully executed termination agreement for the location, but that negotiations for an appropriate resolution had taken time to conclude.
EDENS confirmed the lease would be terminated but did not comment on the terms of either the lease or the agreement.
The Harris Teeter store closed in January 2022, citing strategic considerations. But the storefront remained vacant, despite complaints from the board of the condominium and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B, which represents the area where the store is located.
Mike Bradshaw lives at 13th and K Streets SE. Describing himself as “extremely annoyed” at the
Harris Teeter in Jenkins Row as pictured Dec. 6, 2021, the day the company announced that the store would close “for strategic reasons.” Photo: File. E.O’Gorek/CCN
prolonged vacancy, he contacted both EDENS and Kroger. He was one of the first to be informed of the lease termination.
Bradshaw said he’s pleased the store could finally have a new tenant, but frustrated that it seems to have happened because the company lost interest rather than any enforcement mechanism from the city. “They essentially had this space hostage,” Bradshaw said.
Some city officials tried what they could. In November 2023, as the Districts Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) considered the application to continue selling liquor at three Harris Teeter locations, including one at 401 M St. SE and 1201 First St. NE, the ANC wrote to urge ABCA to deny license renewal for those locations to Harris Teeter until the company vacated the property and allowed it to be rented to someone else. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) also wrote a letter for information to ABCA at the same time, saying that the company had apparently refused to show the site to potential tenants out of an apparent concern with protecting its current and prospective locations from competition, rather than what community needs. “In short, they are bad neighbors,” Allen wrote.
However, the ANC acknowledged that they were not legally qualified to formally protest the application at the time. The licenses were eventually renewed.
Whatever initiated the lease termination, Bradshaw says he’s happy. He’s not sure what he’d like to see next, but he’s sure of one thing. “I’m glad it’s over and someone can go in there.” u
Mehmet Yalҫin
The Man
Behind Woven History & Silk Road
article
and photos by Andrew Lightman
Visitors to my home always comment on the three colorful carpets adorning its parquet floors. These Tibetan rugs give my mid-century modern apartment a warm, inviting ambiance. Where did you find these wonderful rugs? they often inquire. At Woven History & Silk Road on Capitol Hill, I reply.
Woven History & Silk Road at 315 Seventh St. SE welcomed me to Capitol Hill in the early 1990s. Walking over to the Market on a Saturday, one could not miss the colorful carpets draped over the store’s wrought iron front fence and arrayed on its brick patio. Wandering in, I met the establishment’s gregarious proprietor, Mehmet Yalҫin, seated at an antique wooden desk, four rows of vertically stacked rolled carpets flanking his smiling presence.
For the next two hours, Yalҫin unrolled
rug after rug, patiently explaining the provenance of each, conducting a seminar in the fiber arts. After careful consideration, I purchased my first Tibetan carpet. Over the years, I returned to buy two others as well as several Turkish kilims. Periodically, I returned them to Yalҫin for repair and cleaning. These rugs have survived three Shiba Inus, two chihuahuas and several wine-spilling guests.
Mehmet Yalҫin passed away on the first of this year at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife Yasemin and four daughters.
Coming to America
Yalҫin grew up in the province of Osmaniye in the Anatolia region of southern Turkey. Sitting at the end of one of the ancient “Silk Roads,” the region links the Mediterranean littoral and the Taurus Mountains. Settled by the Greeks, governed by the Byzan-
tines and later conquered by the Turks, it is a melting pot of cultural influences.
Yalҫin attended high school in the Turkish capitol of Ankara. There, he befriended a Peace Corps volunteer, who arranged for him to travel to the United States as an exchange student. He finished high school in Olyphant, PA. He then studied international relations at the University of Scranton. Graduating in 1975, he moved to Washington.
Mehmet Yalҫin displays a carpet.
Mehmet Yalҫin, the gregarious proprietor of Woven History and Silk Road.
In 1977 Yal ҫ in began a master’s program in International Development at American University. Upon graduation, he accepted a position at the World Bank in international communications. In the midst of his studies, he befriended a Turkish rug importer. He soon began to assist his friend’s venture, taking payment in rugs. Soon, colleagues from the World Bank were making regular pilgrimages to Yalҫin’s apartment to purchase carpets. What began as a side hustle evolved into a passion.
“Rugs are like my kids,” Yalҫin would often later say, holding up yet another gorgeous carpet in his store. “Each one is unique. And, I love them all.”
In 1986, Yal ҫ in organized the rst Annual Turkish Nomadic and Folk Art Show at the Eastern Market. In 1987, he also joined the doctoral program in Inner Asian and Altaic Studies at Harvard. Every two or three weeks, Yalҫin returned to DC to sell his carpets at the Flea Market. Finishing his doctorate in 1995, Yalҫin settled in Washington,
opening Woven History & Silk Road down the street from Eastern Market.
Woven History & Silk Road
Woven History houses around 5,000 rugs of every size, from kilims to knotted pile. Silk Road carries over 200 gift items gathered along the historic routes from Turkey winding through 18 countries and ending in China. There are tiles, plates and bowls decorated with the traditional pomegranate designs. Hats decorate the walls. Jewelry cases display hanging earrings with semi-precious stones. Yalҫin regularly traveled the global to develop and maintain direct relationships with weavers. Working with Hazara and Turkmen refugees, he founded looms in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Nepal Yal ҫ in employed Tibetan artisans. He also maintained Turkish looms. The store purchases the remainder of its stock from weavers located in 20 other countries.
Rolled up rugs sit in large piles in every corner of the store. After assessing a customer’s tastes, Yal ҫ in would pull apart a pile. He never started with the one on the top, when the perfect rug for the client’s needs lay three feet lower. All the while, he would regale the visitor with tales of hiking in the Himalayas or details of life at his Lovettsville farm.
Woven History & Silk Road recently celebrated its 30th year in business. Yal ҫ in’s daughter Rabia, who joined Woven History a couple of years ago, plans to continue her father’s rich legacy.
The crafts of the Silk Road.
Special Elections to Fill Vacancies
ANC 6A REPORT
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
A(TPS): Patrick Bloomstine (chair), Sean Lynch, Caitlin Gait, Je Fletcher and Mark Sussman.
• Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis (ABC): Je Giertz (chair), Eric Lockett, plus added members Monica Martinez, Steve Beam and Aaron Blumenthal.
ber District (SMD) 6A01 seat—Lorena Gil and Scott Burg-
tinue to serve as Chair of the ANC 6A Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Committee. The petition period for his SMD has not been announced.
dvisory Neighborhood Commission 6A has scheduled a Special Election for Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1300 H St. NE (formerly Ephemeral Tattoo). The two candidates seeking the vacant Single Member District (SMD) 6A01 seat—Lorena Gil and Scott Burger—appeared at the Jan. 15 to describe their background and priorities.
Gil, a resident since 2020, said she became engaged through the Ninth Street NE neighborhood group and described “trash” as a consistent concern tied to heavy foot tra c, bus stops and public green space. She said she has helped organize cleanups and wants “additional public trashcans and stronger support to help keep our streets clean,” while also citing interest in transportation planning and the changing H Street corridor.
Burger, a DC native and aerospace engineer, said he has lived in the SMD for much of the past decade and became active through the “People’s Front of H Street” block group, which organizes trash pickups and neighborhood gatherings. He pointed to major upcoming planning decisions—transit and street changes, the future of the streetcar, and a new land-use study for H Street—and said he wants H Street treated as “a neighborhood” rather than a corridor for commuters to “speed through.”
Three additional o ces will be vacant by the end of the February meeting. Those include 6A02, vacated by the resignation of Mike Velasquez. During the meeting, commissioners noted that Kimberly Butler had announced in the chat that she is a candidate for 6A02, though commissioners explained candidates for 6A02 were not yet certi ed at the time of the meeting. The nomination period closed Jan. 26. If there is more than one candidate for ANC 6A02, the special election will be held Feb. 7, the same time and place as for 6A01.
Second, Wethington o cially resigned as commissioner for 6A05 as of the end of the January meeting, citing his family’s return to the Chicago area. The petition period to represent that SMD is from Feb. 9 through March 2. Finally, Je Giertz (6A06) will also be stepping down from his role at the end of the February meeting. He is moving a few blocks away and out of his own SMD. DC Code requires a commissioner to live in his SMD. Giertz said he would con-
A special election is triggered by more than one eligible candidate successfully submitting nominating petitions. There was no vote on the matter.
Anyone interested in running to represent 6A02, 6A05 or 6A06 and seeking more information should contact ANC6A@yahoo.com or visit https://dcboe.org/ candidates/anc-advisory-neighborhood-commissioners
New Officers Elected, Bylaws
Reaffirmed Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the commission’s rules and bylaws, then unanimously elected a new slate of o cers. Commissioner Amber Gove (6A04) was elected chair; Commissioner Steve Kolb (6A07) Vice Chair; Commissioner Je Gertz (6A06) Secretary/Parliamentarian; and Commissioner Roberta Shapiro (6A02) treasurer.
The commission then appointed members to its four standing committees:
• Transportation & Public Space
• Economic Development & Zoning (EDZ): Rachel Loper and Mike Cushman (co-chairs), Aisha Lockett, Becca Boothe, Russ Green eld and Scott Kilbourne.
• Community Outreach: Ashley Blake (chair) and Lorena Gil.
On consent, commissioners accepted three ABC committee items:
• No action on a Class C tavern license application for The Haymaker (1015 H St. NE).
• No action on a Class B beerand-wine application at 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE.
• Protest the application for Africa Kitchen (822 H St. NE), subject to reaching a settlement agreement (SA), authorizing negotiations by ANC leadership and/ or the ABC Committee Chair.
ABC Committee: Dirty Water Expansion Protest Approved
ABC Chair Jeff Giertz presented an application from Dirty Water LLC (816 H St. NE) for a substantial change to its Class C Tavern License to expand hours of operation and alcohol service.
Shapiro said she obtained enforcement records showing eight ABCA investigative cases since February 2024, including allegations such as sale to a minor, operating on an expired license, and other violations—some referred to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Commissioners said the proprietor had characterized prior issues as a minor oversight to the committee but added that they viewed the record as a broader compliance problem that made them uncomfortable supporting expanded operations.
The commission voted unanimously to protest the substantialchange application.
Commissioners also heard an update from Kolb on the long-running protest involving Proper Exotic, a proposed cannabis dispensary at 313 H St. NE. Kolb said the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) had denied the ANC’s appeal of its protest and that the permitting process would move forward, adding that ANC members may want to testify at ABCA oversight later this spring.
ANC 6A held its meeting online Jan. 15. On the dais were Commissioners Roberta Shapiro (6A02, Treasurer), Amber Gove (6A04, Chair),
Dave Wethington (6A05), Jeff Giertz (6A06, Secretary/Parliamentarian) and Stephen Kolb (6A07, Vice Chair).
ANC 6A is scheduled to meet via Zoom at 7 p.m. Feb. 12, 2026. Get details on how to join the meeting and upcoming committee sessions at anc6a.org u
Concerns About Interim MPD Chief
ANC 6B REPORT
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
At the Jan. 13 meeting, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B Secretary David Sobelsohn (6B03) proposed drafting, with commissioner input, a letter expressing concerns about the appointment of Interim MPD Chief Jeffrey Carroll.
Sobelsohn referenced information circulated by advocacy group FREE DC that tied Carroll to controversial policing incidents in 2020, including the kettling of protesters on Swann Street NW. He also cited allegations that Carroll was filmed standing near apparent Proud Boys members in the same year, and noted that Carroll is named in a discrimination lawsuit in which former female Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) members allege he ignored concerns about disparate treatment even as a human rights complaint moved through official processes.
Several commissioners said they were unfamiliar with the allegations but expressed concern if the claims were substantiated. Vice Chair Karen Hughes (6B09) encouraged the commission to frame the letter less around a single individual and more around the qualities and leadership traits the
Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/82241 895770?pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuXw1vbrC1 rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d
Brian Alcorn, Chairperson 7D08 – Capitol Hill 7d08@anc.dc.gov
Dom Pacheco, Secretary 7D06 – Rosedale 7d06@anc.dc.gov
Artilie Wright 7D03 – Parkside 7d03@anc.dc.gov
Katie
the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, and H Street communities
Scott Burger (top) and Lorena Gil will run in the special election to represent ANC 6A01. Image: Screenshot, Zoom/ANC 6A
District should prioritize in its police chief.
The commission unanimously voted in support of Sobelsohn drafting a letter for discussion at the February meeting.
Executive Elected
In an election presided over by Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) Chair Chuck Berger, commissioners elected their new executive officers by acclamation, effective at the end of the meeting.
Samuel Pastore (6B05) was elected Chair, with Edward Ryder (6B08) elected Vice Chair. Anna Krebs (6B06) was re-elected Treasurer, David Sobelsohn (6B03) was re-elected Secretary and Tyler Wolanin (6B01) was re-elected Parliamentarian.
Rumsey Pool Update Raises Questions About Community Input
Commissioners discussed next steps for the redevelopment of Rumsey Pool (655 North Carolina Ave. SE), one of Ward 6’s largest recreation facilities, amid ongoing community concerns about design and programming. Asked by Chair Pastore how much flexibility remained for public comment on current plans, Kimberly Kennedy from the Office of Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) said the project had already incorporated many of the community’s recommendations.
“He is always trying to make it better, but I do believe he’s getting to where he may have most of what we asked for,” Kennedy said. “I’m not sure how much more… what else could be asked for that hasn’t already been discussed.”
Commissioners and residents noted that while the overall footprint and interior programming appear largely set, discussion continues around the building exterior and the use of outdoor space, including the plaza area and possible roof uses. Commissioner Gerald “Jerry” Sroufe (6B02), who chairs the ANC Parks and Recreation Committee sent questions to DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) officials, including inquiries about the appearance of the alley and potential uses for the roof.
MPD Reports Crime Decline, Warns of Rising Vehicle Theft Tactics
MPD First District Captain Adam Crist told commissioners that crime continues to decline in the
ANC 6B area, with a reported 44 percent drop, alongside a 19 percent decline across the First District overall. However, officials said stolen vehicles have increased slightly over the prior 30 days.
Crist warned residents that criminals are using new technology to clone key fobs, allowing thieves to create a working key by plugging a device into a vehicle’s on board diagnostics (OBD) port. MPD encouraged residents to use steering wheel immobilization devices such as “the Club” and to take other precautions to deter theft.
The Captain also announced a temporary leadership shift in the First District: Commander Coin Hall will be out of the District for approximately two-and-a-half months to attend the FBI Academy in Quantico, a training opportunity Crist described as “a very prestigious” assignment. Commander Christopher Dorsey will serve as acting First District commander during Hall’s absence.
Vertical Agriculture Proposal Targets Youth Engagement, Vacant Space
The commission heard an early presentation from Fahim Muhammad, who said he is partnering with Potomac Gardens to grow fresh produce in open areas while engaging youth through aeroponic towers and other soilless growing systems. Muhammad said his Agricultural Initiative Program (www.dcaip.org) hopes to work with ANC 6B to identify underutilized spaces where towers could be installed.
Muhammad said the long-term goal is to partner with residents, developers, community stakeholders to expand fresh food access and create new uses for urban space across the District over the next decade. He said the proposal will return on a future agenda for more detailed discussion. There was no vote on the matter.
In Other Business
The ANC protested an application to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) for a Retail Class C Tavern license from Civic on Eighth (501 Eighth St. SE) in pursuit of a settlement agreement (SA). There was particular concern about the request for an outdoor entertainment endorsement until 11:30 p.m. Commissioners supported a stipulated license in the interim. Civic plans to operate as a coffee bar dur-
ing the day, with pastries from Souk, transitioning to a cocktail bar with small bites beginning around 4 p.m.
The commission reinstated all task forces as they existed at the end of 2025.
The ANC supported an application to the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC) Technical Assistance Fund for reimbursement funding for a second OWL camera device, which costs approximately $1,099. Commissioners said a second OWL would allow the ANC to run two virtual meetings at the same time, such as on Monday, Jan. 26, when both the Public Safety Committee and the Southeast Library Task Force are scheduled to meet.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B held its first full meeting of 2026 in a hybrid format Tues., Jan. 13 at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE and via Zoom. Present were Tyler Wolanin (6B01, Parliamentarian); Gerald “Jerry” Sroufe (6B02); David Sobelsohn (6B03, Secretary); Brian Gorman (6B04); Samuel Pastore (6B05, Chair); Anna Krebs (6B06, Treasurer); Vince Mareino (6B07); Edward Ryder (6B08, Vice Chair); and Karen Hughes (6B09).
ANC 6B generally meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in person and online via Zoom. The next regular meeting will be held on Feb. 10, 2026. Details are available at anc6b.org. u
New Officers Elected
AANC 6C REPORT by Elizabeth
O’Gorek
t their Jan. 14 meeting, Former Commissioner Christy Kwan oversaw the election as Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C unanimously selected officers and committee chairs.
Executive committee members include: Karen Wirt (6C02), Chair; Mark Eckenwiler (6C04), Vice Chair; Jay Adelstein (6C03), Treasurer; Andrew Hayes (6C06), Secretary.
ANC Committee Chairs were also elected and members confirmed unanimously:
Alcohol and Cannabis Licensing (ACL): Tom Ulan, Lidice Rivas, James Hecht, Emily Beline, Annette Lee, Drew Courtney, At Large: Michael Upright. Chair is rotating.
Grants: Victoria Lord (Chair), Ivey Wohlfeld, Leslie Merkle, Kristen Seals, Norah Rabiah. At Large: Dan Griggs, Jason Starr.
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development (PZE): Mark Eckenwiler (Chair), Michael Parker, Donna McLean, Dru Tallant, Beth O’Connor, Kateri Spear. At Large: Lauren McHale, Mary Albert.
Transportation and Public Space (TPS): Joe McCann, Andrew Turner, Christy Kwan, Benjamin Ray, Garrett Hennigan. At Large: Michael Upright (Chair), David Abernethy, Mark Kazmericzak.
The ANC Voted to Support On Consent:
• A Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application for exception from lot occupancy requirements and rear addition restrictions at 218 F St. NE to construct a two-story rear addition and cellar principal dwelling unit. Member of the ANC PZE Committee attempted to engage with a potentially-impacted neighbor and did not identify any adverse impacts, Eckenwiler said.
• A BZA application for area variances from front setback requirements and rules of measurement for front setback requirements at 507-509 L St. NE to construct four attached three-story and cellar residences. The committee recommended support for the variance because the applicant had already received approval for the project with the proposed setback to address a protected heritage tree.
February 11 I 7pm
• A letter to the District Department of Transportation in support of the DDOT Strategic Bikeways Plan.
In Other Business
Goodman (6C07) reported that Washington Improv Theatre will lease 1222 Third St. NE, across from the Cielo. Plans include a 110-seat performance space, classrooms and a community café/bar with indoor and outdoor seating. The commission said it was an exciting development for the area and that he was glad to see the space used for retail rather than parking.
Neighbors reached out with concerns regarding an inaccessible sidewalk during a paused construction project at 201 K St. NE. Hayes contacted the developer who said funding issues had paused construction but that it was expected to resume in January and be complete in April. Eckenwiler said that the developer had previously submitted a public space application to use curb space; he recommended Hayes speak to the ANC TPS Committee Chair for additional information. There was no vote on the matter.
ANC 6C met 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14. On the dais: Jeremiah Foxwell (6C01); Karen Wirt (6C02); Jay Adelstein (6C03); Mark Eckenwiler (6C04); Andrew Hayes (6C06); Tony Goodman (6C07).
The ANC will next meet via Webex 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11. See agendas, minutes and how to join future meetings at anc6c.org. u
DDOT Plans for Stadium Traffic Control
ANC 6D REPORT
by Andrew Lightman
DDOT Communications Manager Kelly Jeong-Olson presented the agency’s 2026 Traffic Operations and Parking Plan (TOPP, topp.ddot.dc.gov).
DDOT has conducted a separate assessment of the situation at The Wharf, she said. The agency decided to exclude it from the TOPP and create a separate plan for that area. The agency has scheduled a walk through to examine conditions
with commissioners, said Jeong-Olson.
More specifically, DDOT wishes to address the parking enforcement, illegal standing and standing on Maine Avenue SW, said Jeong-Olson. It may be addressed with a pilot of automated curbside parking enforcement.
DDOT was not aware that MPD was closing Fourth Street SW southbound to address traffic issues during Audi Field events, said Jeong-Olson. MPD has agreed to minimize such closures and permit resident access.
For 2026, DDOT is providing one Residential Access Placard (RAP) to allow residents near the stadiums to access their homes, said Jeong-Olson. This is not a parking pass. DDOT is still working out the distribution method. The agency cannot mail the placards. The agency will distribute them by the end of February at the latest. RAP will available to all buildings west of Fourth Street SW, whose residents access their garages from Fourth Street.
Treasurer Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer commended the new plan generally. The agency should revisit the issues surrounding residential curbside parking on Buzzard Point, she said. The Wharf should be part of the TOPP.
What about households with multiple cars? asked Kramer. We will only distribute one per household, stated Jeong-Olson. “It should not be DDOT’s concern how many placards are distributed,” Kramer retorted. Some families require two cars.
What about the signal changes at the South Capitol Oval? asked Commissioner Gail Fast. DDOT makes signal changes to accommodate pedestrians, Jeong-Olson replied, promising to email her the information. Fast also objected to the curtailment of bus service to Buzzard Point during Audi events.
Parking tickets are less expensive than the parking at The Wharf lots, Fast pointed out. Make the area a performance parking zone, she suggested. There are challenges to doing so, said Jeong-Olson, since it involves dynamic pricing. The commission took no action on the matter.
Global Citizens PCS
Global Citizens Public Charter School, a bilingual school (Mandarin Chinese and Spanish), plans a new campus at 1900 Half St. SW. The school will be co-located in the Watermark, a residential building. The new facility will open in 2027, said Dr. Natalie Smith, its founder and CEO. The new campus will have sufficient parking for staff. They plan to have a kiss and ride drop-off and pickup area. The school also has a carpool system for their families, said Smith. The school plans to escort students from the Waterfront and Navy Yard metros.
The Southwest Farmers Market to Close
Transwestern Development has pur -
Courtesy DDOT
chased 375 and 425 M Streets SW. The developer has decided to allow the existing Planned Unit Development at the site to lapse. The company has also terminated the lease of the Southwest Farmers Market for the 425 M St. SW. The developer has no plan for immediate development, but may start demolition, stated Commissioner Andrea Pawley.
The commission voted to write to Transwestern in protest over their decision to end the market. Community members and commissioners are holding a public townhall about the market on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., reported Fast.
Other Matters
The ANC 6A Alcohol and Cannabis Committee, recommended the commission protest the renewal of The Fish Shop at 601 Water St. SW on the basis of peace, order and quiet, stated the committee’s Vice Chair Laura DiAngelo. The establishment is seeking a new endorsement for live entertainment inside. Commission voted to protest.
Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) First District Lt. Elias Danho briefed the commission on public safety. In the last 30 days, three robberies, one assault with a weapon and two domestic assaults. MPD closed three assaults with arrests. The robberies are still under investigation. Seven stolen cars. No car break-ins or burglaries.
The Task Force on Pedestrian Safety has not yet provided additional clari cations on their recommendations, reported Chair Simon and Vice Chair Levine.
The commission resolved to write to the DC National Guard Director Marshal Hunt to protest the presence of National Guard on the
OUR SERVICES
• Flat Roof Repair & Coating
• New Roofs & Maintenance
• Gutters & Downspouts
• Brick & Masonry Waterproofing
• Chimney Repairs & Tuckpointing
• Blown-In Insulation
Jefferson Academy campus.
The commission approved its FY26 Quarterly Report and reelected its existing officers unanimously.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Jan 20 via Zoom. Commissioners Gottlieb Simon (6D02, chair), Gail Fast (6D03), Andrea Pawley (6D04), Chearie Phelps-El (6D05), Bruce Levine (6D06, vice chair) Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, treasurer) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08, secretary) were in attendance. Marquell Washington (6DO1) was absent.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is Feb. 16 via Zoom. For more information visit www.anc6d.org. u
Transportation Options for RFK Campus
ANC 7D REPORT
by Sarah Payne
District resident and YouTube train vlogger Thom de Boo briefed commissioners on possible solutions to the accessibility challenges facing residents and visitors at the new RFK campus. According to the Commanders, stadium construction is expected to conclude in 2030, but the transportation infrastructure necessary to accommodate the influx of people in the area, de Boo said, has not yet been accounted for. Discussion centered on the District’s streetcar which is scheduled to cease operations later this spring.
The RFK redevelopment proj-
ect is expected to bring 5,000 to 6,000 housing units, a Sportsplex and a 65,000 capacity stadium to the northeast quadrant of the city. Many people will be traveling to and from this area, especially during events, de Boo emphasized. He discussed several options laid out by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) including the creation of a new metro station at Oklahoma Avenue and the addition of more entrances and exits to the existing Stadium Armory station.
In December, the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment hosted a public roundtable with WMATA CEO Randy Clarke. Clarke discussed the possibility of adding a rapid bus transit route from Union Station to the new stadium site. He noted that the route would be a “critical” addition for transporting residents and visitors to the campus. The “ill-fated DC streetcar,” de Boo says, “literally runs on 95% of the [same] route” in Clarke’s proposed rapid bus transit system.
Use of the streetcar for stadium access, however, seems unlikely. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has “no plans” to continue streetcar operations beyond its scheduled closure on March 31, 2026, Ward 7 Community Engagement Specialist Kisha Anderson said. She reported that the project was extremely costly for the city, particularly due to the contracts the streetcar had for maintenance. “It cost millions to maintain the streetcar, and we continuously had a streetcar breakdown on us,” she added.
A partnership with the Commanders, de Boo proposed, could mitigate costs to the city and keep the streetcar alive. He shared his vision of changing the streetcar color
from red to maroon, covering cars with large stickers of the team and having players record announcements for the vehicles. “We have to think really fast, and we have to think responsibly,” de Boo said of a practical solution.
Commissioner Payne expressed her agreement in wishing that the city could reconsider discontinuing the streetcar. “It definitely feels like we’re losing a public service or a public transportation option,” she said. Yet, when Commissioner Pacheco personally tried to utilize the streetcar, there were significant service issues and delays resulting from parked cars along the route. Pacheco also shared his observation that the streetcar often runs “relatively empty” and the buses running along the same route are typically “quite full.”
The River Terrace community had been “really excited” about the expansion of the street car, Commissioner Murphy noted. However, in its current state, Murphy reported that the stops and change overs required made it an impractical transportation option for many residents east of the river when buses offer a more direct route.
Looking forward, the community is hopeful for something of “equal or better caliber” to take the place of the streetcar and fill in transportation gaps it leaves, particularly in relation to the RFK redevelopment, Commissioner Alcorn said. “We as a community have a lot of decisions ahead of us, but also a lot of engagement that you know we need to approach, both with facts, understanding perspectives and some creativity,” he added.
The commission took no action on this matter.
Other Matters
Representatives from the Metropol-
itan Police Department (MPD) First and Fifth Districts briefed commissioners and community members on crime statistics and public safety. MPD reported that the District as a whole saw decreases in crime in a year-to-year comparison with 2024 in homicides, robberies, assault with a dangerous weapon and theft. While parts of 7D saw spikes in the number of homicides and assaults with a dangerous weapon, the community also saw decreases in the number of robberies, burglaries, motor vehicle theft and general theft.
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Community Engagement Manager Christopher Dyer provided updates on 2026 summer camps and requested community feedback on plans for the new River Terrace Community Center. Visit www.dpr.dc.gov to learn more.
The Commission voted to:
• support the Boar d of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application for a special exception to construct a one-story deck and basement rear addition, to an existing two-story principal dwelling unit at 1529 A St. NE;
• support DPR’s DDOT permit application for the temporary demolition of existing sidewalk and steps for stabilized construction for the Rosedale Pool project. DPR plans to replace the sidewalk and stairs following construction. The construction will extend the retaining wall and fence to accommodate the widened pool.
• elect Brian Alcorn to serve as the Commission chair, Joshua Taborn to serve as the vice chair, Dominic Pacheco to serve as the secretary and Brett Astmann to serve as the treasurer for 2026.
Commissioners Joshua Taborn (7D01, vice chair), Artilie Wright (7D03), Katie Murphy (7D04), Commissioners Ebony Payne (7D05), Dominic Pacheco (7D06, secretary), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair) and Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10) were in attendance at the ANC 7D commission meeting on Jan. 13. Single Member District (SMD) 7D02 remains vacant.
ANC 7D will meet next on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at www.7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1. u
Stadium Parking and Traffic Update
ANC 6/8F REPORT
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
DDOT Shares TOPP Plans
District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Communications Manager Kelly Jeong-Olson presented an update on the Traffic Operations and Parking Plan (TOPP) for Nationals Park and Audi Field, describing it as an annual plan to manage traffic, parking and pedestrian safety during major events. Jeong-Olson said DDOT had not heard major complaints from residents about last year’s plan and expected to keep operations “basically” similar in 2026, while continuing to document postgame closures at the Frederick Douglass Bridge, which she said can have a major neighborhood impact even when brief.
Jeong-Olson also reviewed the “residential access placard” used by residents who live on streets closed by MPD during game days. DDOT will update maps to ensure new buildings are included. DDOT is coordinating with the Department of Public Works (DPW) on parking enforcement issues, and highlighted “daylighting” as one safety tool—striping and flex posts near crosswalks to discourage illegal parking and improve visibility.
Keith Jones Jr., DDOT’s Ward 6 and Ward 8 community engagement specialist, also provided updates on several issues raised by ANC 6/8F in December. Jones said DDOT received the Residential Parking Permit (RPP) petition and that it
is being processed by the curbside team. He said the request related to curbside signage changes for Toddlers on the Hill Montessori School at 929 Potomac Ave. SE is also being processed by DDOT’s Safe Routes to School team. Jones added that DDOT staff are working across teams on the commission’s request for a corridor study of I Street SE.
MPD Captain Adam Crist reported that overall crime trends in ANC 6/8F improved in 2025, including a drop in property crime and motor vehicle theft. Crist said motor vehicle theft finished the year down 36% compared to 2024, after being “up 20%” mid-year.
For the last 30 days, Crist reported one violent crime—an assault with a dangerous weapon connected to a domestic violence dispute in the 800 block of New Jersey Avenue SE, in which MPD made an arrest on scene.
Crist said MPD has seen fewer “hop-ins” in the Navy Yard area and a shift in stolen autos toward Capitol Hill’s residential neighborhoods. He also warned residents about high-end jacket robberies and advised against leaving vehicles running unattended in cold weather. He recommended steering-wheel immobilization devices as a deterrent and suggested AirTags can help with recoveries if a car is stolen.
Commissioners also used the public safety portion of the meeting to raise broader concerns about federal law enforcement activity in the District, including how MPD interacts with federal agencies during joint task force operations. Crist said MPD “is not conducting immigration enforcement” and “not patrolling with ICE,” but explained that other federal agencies on joint task forces may conduct enforcement actions while MPD provides support in certain circumstances.
Board of Elections Previews Ranked Choice Voting Rollout
The commission heard an in-person presentation from DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) Executive Director Monica Evans and Manager of Voter Education and Outreach LaDawn White on ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV will be implemented beginning with the June 2026 primary election in el-
igible races with three or more candidates. White advised residents that voters will be able to rank candidates by preference, but warned against errors such as giving multiple candidates the same ranking, ranking a candidate more than once, or making “sequential skips” that can invalidate that contest.
Board officials said they are expanding voter education outreach across the city and emphasized efforts to reach voters who may feel alienated from the process. They highlighted community presentations at senior facilities, schools and other locations, and said residents can also visit a ranked choice voting lab at the Board of Elections for hands-on practice with equipment. The 30-day public comment window is open on draft regulations, with final rules expected to be published in the DC Register around mid-March.
Commissioners asked questions about when election night results will be available under the new tabulation system. Board staff said preliminary results are always released on the night of election day, but that DC BOE is now determining a best process to release results. If voters overwhelmingly rank one candidate first, it will be easier to declare a winner, White noted.
White and Evans also addressed questions about mail ballot deadlines, explaining that ballots can be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received up to 10 days later, but urged residents not to wait until the last day to mail ballots. They recommended voters use ballot drop boxes if they have concerns about postal timing.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6/8F met in person and online for its January business meeting on Jan. 20. On the dais were Commissioners Nic Wilson (6/8F01), Vice Chair Markita Bryant (6/8F02), Chair Brian Strege (6/8F03), Secretary Edward Daniels (6/8F04) and Dan Reynolds (6/8F05).
The next business meeting of ANC 6/8F takes place over Zoom and in person at DDOT Headquarters (250 M St. SE) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Residents can find details on how to join and learn more about the commission at anc8f.org. u
Bulletin Board
A Century of Black History Commemorations
Through February at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building (Great Gall-second floor), 10 First St. SE, this display celebrates one hundred years of Black history commemorations. Historian Carter G. Woodson initiated the annual observance of “Negro History Week” in February 1926. His modest idea blossomed into a monumental educational and cultural movement. In 1976, Negro History Week was extended to a month-long celebration to coincide with the nation’s bicentennial. This display traces the evolution of Negro History Week over decades. loc.gov.
Sing Out: A Piano Bar and Open Mic with Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
On Wednesdays, Feb. 18, March 18, April 22 and May 20, (7 to 8 p.m., happy hour, 8 to 11 p.m., piano bar),
come to the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, to sing with live piano accompaniment or just enjoy the music. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC for “Sing Out: GMCW Open Mic Night.” Broadway show tunes, jazz standards, pop arrangements, whatever you like to sing. Just bring sheet music for their accompanist, sign up with the host, and have a great time. (A few boxes of sheet music will be available for anyone to use as well.) Free admission; drinks are extra. atlasarts.org.
Capitol Hill Art League’s Open Call Art Show Thru Apr. 3
The annual Capitol Hill Art League’s Open Call Art Show, featuring artists from around the region, is at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE, from Feb. 2 to April 3. The opening reception is on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. All are welcome. caphillartleague.org.
Cupid’s Undie Run 2026 (ditch the pants)
In 2010, a group of do-gooders, led by co-founders Brendan Hanrahan, Chad Leathers and Bobby Gill, dropped their pants and ran through the cold in Washington DC to raise money for research to help end NF, a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. To help raise awareness about NF, they decided to strip down in solidarity and run in their undies. Every February, thousands of undie runners in cities across the US come together, whether it be in-person or virtually, to support those affected by NF. On Saturday, Feb. 21 noon to 4 p.m. Cupid’s Undie Run kicks off at Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW, and with drinking and dancing, then runners jog it out with a mile(ish) run and end it all with an epic dance party. Runners must be 21+. Individual registration is $40. cupids.org.
DC’s Chinese Lunar New Year Parade
The 2026 Annual Chinese Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., is hosted and organized by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Washington, DC in partnership with the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. In the lunar calendar, it will be the year 4724. The streets of DC’s Chinatown will be filled with revelers and spectators as they celebrate the Year of the Horse. The horse is the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. Individuals born in the Year of the Horse are often considered energetic, independent, optimistic, social, and charming. dcparade.com.
Benning Dorothy I. Height Library
FEB. 5, 2026
3935 Benning Rd. NE Washington, DC 20019 (202) 715-7707
Bellevue / William O. Lockridge Library
FEB. 12, 2026 115 Atlantic St. SW Washington, DC 20032 (202) 698-1956
Mt. Pleasant Library
FEB. 19, 2026 3160 16th St. NW Washington, DC 20010 (202) 527-4027
Lamond-Riggs Library
MARCH 5, 2026 5401 South Dakota Ave. NE Washington, DC 20011 (202) 304-9521
Anacostia Neighborhood Library
MARCH 19, 2026 1800 Marion Barry Ave. SE Washington, DC 20020 (202) 698-1956
Capitol Hill Village Gala: We’re Taking a Road Trip
Get Your Kicks on Route 66 and support Capitol Hill Village. Take the road to St. Mark’s Church, 301 A St. SE, on March 21, for a night of fun and fellowship at the annual Capitol Hill Village Gala which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the iconic road remembered in song and film. For over 15 years, CHV has been a critical lifeline for older adults, and the Gala is an important source of funding for programs and services that enrich lives and strengthen our community. Gala Tickets are $195; sponsorships start at $600, which includes two tickets. Begin your road trip at one.bidpal.net/chvgala/ticketing.
Frontlines: Infant and Child CPR at Hill Center
On Sundays, Feb. 22; March 22, April 19, May 17; June 21; Aug. 16; Sept. 13; Oct. 18; and Dec. 20; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Frontlines CPR teaches the skills required to save a life. During class, there is hands-on practice along with instruction on the following topics: Child CPR; Child Choking Relief; AED overview; Infant CPR; and Infant Choking Relief. All classes are adultsonly and are taught by current medical professionals with experience ranging from the emergency room, pediatrics, school nursing, health education, and public health. For more information, email Rharry1@ frontlinescpr.com or visit frontlinecpr.com/schedule-and-registration to sign up for a class. Space is limited and classes often sell out weeks in advance. $80. hillcenterdc.org.
Orchid Care (On-site Drop-in Programs)
at
the Botanic Garden
Want to know more about orchid care and maintenance? On Thursday, Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon, drop by the Conservatory’s Garden Court to talk with orchid expert George Guenther. On Thursday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to noon, George shows you how to re-pot orchids. Bring your questions and connect with USBG plant science professionals in these “Expert Is In” programs. Intended audience, all levels. usbg.gov.
The 2026 CHRS Photo Contest
Do you have an outstanding photo of our neighborhood? If you do, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society invites you to enter it in their annual photo contest which is now open for entries. They are looking for your best shots of historic Capitol Hill—from its antique homes to great parks and everything in between. There will also be a student section. The submission deadline is Sunday, March 1. Find the submission form is at chrs.org/photo-contest-2. No more than two entries per person. Only the first two submissions will be considered. The winning photographs will be displayed at the Coldwell Banker Realty, 350 Seventh St. SE and in the Hill Rag. All young person entries will be displayed. The first-place winner will receive free tickets to the May 2026 House and Garden Tour.
Southwest Waterfront’s Monthly Meeting is on Wednesday, Feb. 18, noon to 2 p.m., at River Park Mutual Homes, Charles Goodman Common Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. Guest speaker is Hana Sharif, Artistic Director at Arena Stage. Lunch is $5; a vegetarian lunch is also available. The meeting is open to the Washington, DC senior community, their families, friends, and neighbors. For further information, contact Betty Jean Tolbert Jones, 202-554-0901 or jonesbettyjeantolbert@gmail.com.
Gallery Talk at the Folger: Mandy Cano Villalobos
Join the Folger, 201 E. Capitol St. SE,
on Friday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m., for a gallery talk with Mandy Cano Villalobos as part of “Contemporary Art at the Folger”, a rotating series that showcases the work of Folger Artist Fellows. Mandy Cano Villalobos harnesses the leftover materials of home, belonging, and cultural identity to draw attention to the lasting legacies of injustice and environmental damage that are a consequence of early modern colonization. During the gallery talk, Cano Villalobos will discuss her mixed-media textiles, which take inspiration from the luxurious designs of embroidered bindings in the Folger collection and re-create them with the relics of modern capitalist excess. Free, registration requested. Walk-up attendees will be accommodated day-of, subject to availability. folger.edu.
Photo: Jim Nix
Photo: Elisa Walker
Winter-Spring Chamber Music Sessions at CHAW
There are adult amateur sessions exploring chamber music on alternate Thursdays at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE on Capitol Hill near Eastern Market Metro. Remaining sessions are Feb. 5 and 19, March 5 and 19. Call 929-3214702 with questions.
Weekly Bird Watching Walks at Kenilworth Park
Every week on Tuesday, until Dec. 28, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., join National Park Service rangers for their weekly bird walks at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Anyone interested in walking the gardens and identifying birds is welcome, including advanced birders and people with no birding experience. Bring water, sunscreen and binoculars if you have them. Meet in front of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens visitor center at 8:30 a.m. nps.gov/keaq.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
On Feb. 13 to 18, spend time in your favorite places watching birds—then tell GBBC about them. In as little as 15 minutes, notice the birds around you. Identify them, count, and submit your counts to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world. This global task is fun and free, no matter your level of bird-interest. birdcount.org.
DC CAH Public Arts Work Plan 2026
In support of a growing and evolving District creative community,
Friends of the National Arboretum Flowering 5k
On Sunday, March 22, enjoy spring at the US National Arboretum during FONA’s Flowering 5k. This run or walk will take you past garden collections brightly colored with spring flowers, over tree-lined rolling hills, and along streams winding their way to the Anacostia River. Enjoy cherry blossoms, magnolias, and so much more. All roads are closed to cars during this race so you can safely enjoy running or walking through this 451acre urban green space. Strollers and dogs are welcome, but dogs must stay on a 6’ non-retractable leash. From 7 to 8 a.m., pick up packet; race starts at 8:30 a.m. First 150 entries are $40, then the price goes up incrementally to $55. Kids under 13 are free. runsignup.com.
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) has produced a FY2026 Public Arts Work Plan. Both practical and tactical, this plan functions as a strategic roadmap for the CAH Public Arts Team. The plan emphasizes public participation as an essential component of equitable, accessible public art in a thriving creative economy. This plan lays the foundation for the future of CAH’s art collection. Targeted grants outreach and support for applicants are designed to ensure a robust sampling of work as varied and vibrant as the people of Washington, DC. Read the plan at dcarts.dc.gov/publication/publicarts-work-plan-2026.
Cowork. Co-learn. Co-survive the Job Market.
On Thursdays, Feb. 12 and 18, 1 to 5 p.m., join MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, for Thursday afternoon coworking, designed with jobseekers, career pivoters and upskillers in mind. Whether you’re job hunting, career pivoting, or just trying to remember what day it is, you don’t have to do it alone. Bring your laptop, your to do list, and your “I swear I’m going to update my résumé today” energy. They’ll be right there with you. It’s your choice to either network with others or just plug in and mind your business. dclibrary.org.
STC’s Annual Mock Trial: “IF THE HANDKERCHIEF COULD TALK”
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m., the Shakespeare Theatre Company presents their 37th annual Mock Trial, Estate of Emilia v. Estate of Desdemona, at Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. This in-person event, often presided over by current or retired members of the US Supreme Court, features an esteemed bench deliberating over a fictional case inspired by a play in STC’s season. This year’s case is centered on Simon Godwin’s upcoming production of Othello, featuring Wendell Pierce, and the advocates will argue on the pivotal role of the handkerchief and Emilia’s hand in procuring the item that led to so much tragedy. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Jan. 23. Ticket price range is $95 to $250. A streaming ticket is $25. shakepearetheatre.org.
MLK Library Bargain Basement Books & Shop
On Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., browse used books and library merch at MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. Library merch will also be available for purchase. Cash, credit, and Venmo accepted. All proceeds go directly to the MLK Library Friends. Have books you want to donate? The Friends are accepting up to two bags of books per person--no textbooks, law books, books with missing dust jackets, or books with writing or damage. dclibrary. org.
Solas Nua’s Capital Irish Film Festival
From Feb. 26 to March 1, Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre & Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, presents one of the largest programs of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films, and animation releas-
es by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers. An all-access pass is $175. Individual films are $14; $11 for seniors and military; $8 for kids 12 and under; $10 matinee tickets, weekdays before 5 p.m and Saturdays and Sundays before noon. silver.afi.com/capitalirish-film-festival.
Earth Day Cleanup 2026 (save the date)
Save the Date for the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Annual Earth Day Cleanup. This year their Earth Day Cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 25. AWS is seeking site leaders. Earth Day Site Leaders oversee cleanup sites throughout the Anacostia Watershed. Anyone can sign up to be a site leader. If you are interested, visit anacostiaws.org/what-we-do/river-restorationprojects/earth-day. Site leader registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 27.
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
Old Town’s George Washington Birthday Parade
The 2026 parade is on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2 to 4 p.m., in Old Town Alexandria. This year’s theme is “George Washington: Virginia’s Son, America’s Founding Father” in honor of George Washington’s leading role in the founding of our country during its 250th Anniversary Year. Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade features over a thousand participants from a wide variety of organizations who are known for their dedication and high spirits, rain or shine. washingtonbirthday.com/parade-route.
TGARDENS
Hill Gardener
Everything’s Coming Up Orchids
by Annette Nielsen
he first few months of the year are prime time for seeing some of the most beautiful and exotic plants in a curated botanical exhibit – and you might add one to your own home plant collection.
We can trace orchids back to the Cretaceous Period, most likely over 100 million years ago when dinosaurs still roamed the earth. The Aztecs valued them as symbols of strength and the Chinese prized them for medicine. However it was in the Victorian Era when they were collected and displayed as a sign of wealth. Into the 1970s, modern techniques around propagation made them more affordable and orchids were commonly found as houseplants.
Orchidaceae are some of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants with nearly 30,000 species (and over 150,000 hybrid varieties), native to every continent across the globe except Antarctica.
Starting Out
An orchid specialist, Barbara Schmidt’s orchid journey started with a fail. “My children gave me an orchid for Mother’s Day, and I overwatered it, killing it. They gave me another for my birthday in September. I knew I needed to learn more about caring for them – I couldn’t kill the second one!”
Living in Pennsylvania, she went to the famed Longwood Gardens outside of Philadelphia to find out about orchid care and learned they’re fairly easy to grow.
“I became infatuated with these plants,” says Schmidt and noted an epiphany moment. Schmidt says her first “a-
ha” was when she realized she didn’t kill it, and the second when she was able to get her plant to re-bloom. “It feels really amazing and you get very brave and then you want to enter your plant in an orchid show.”
When she entered her orchid at the Philadelphia Orchid Show, a plant with 55 blooms on it, she won first place. “I was thrilled and absolutely hooked.”
Schmidt notes that she also joined the American Orchid Society (she serves as the Senior Vice President now) and says that people who are into orchids are a lot of fun – she counts friends in all 50 states and around the world. She conducts workshops for youth and adults, and has even written a book, Orchid Care: For the Beginner.
Her pro-tip, “Start with a Phalaenopsis orchid – (known as the moth orchid) – a very easy orchid to grow. It needs a low to medium light level with an east or west facing window. Make certain to let plants dry
Barbara Schmidt, SVP of the American Orchid Society at Longwood Garden’s Orchid House with a Disa uniflora orchid, a unique orchid from South Africa. Photo courtesy of Barbara Schmidt.
Orchids with waterdrops.
Photo courtesy of US Botanic Garden.
Zygopetalum maculatum close up, native to Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Photo courtesy of US Botanic Garden.
George Guenthner, an orchid expert at the US Botanic Garden with a favorite orchid variety, the Neofinetia Falcata orchid. Photo courtesy of USBG.
out between watering. Take a wooden skewer and gently push the skewer into the pot – if it comes out wet, the orchid is not ready to be watered. If it comes out dry it’s ok. So don’t give too much sun, and don’t overwater the plants.”
See on the Hill and Beyond
For locals, the US Botanic Garden (USBG) is one of the places we can go for some respite, hang out with the beautiful and lush foliage and visit the popular orchid collection – especially welcome on a cold or damp winter day.
At the USBG George Guenthner is an ad-
vanced gardener and the Orchid Collection horticulturist. Check out the schedule and find him a couple of times each month in the Conservatory’s Garden Court. He says, “Visitors can bring their questions or learn how to re-pot their orchids,” and take in the exhibits throughout the space.
Guenthner was first drawn to orchids because of his grandmother who always had them growing in the kitchen. “I took a job in Minnesota at a nursery where I started learning about the incredible diversity in orchids, the forms and pollination mechanisms. Personally, I’m most interested in the orchids’ foliage (over the flowers) and the form of the plant, bringing creativity into the growing space.” He says his favorite remains the Neofinetia Falcata orchid.
He now works among the vast 3,000 orchids in the 205 year-old USBG orchid collection where he says, “people come in for ‘floral power’ and an escape, and the themes, color combinations and materials used accentuate and highlight the beauty of the plants.”
This year, look for the 30th annual joint orchid exhibition featuring orchid collections from Smithsonian Gardens and the USBG on view at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (running through April 26), exploring the many ways orchids bring together individuals, communities and nature. Also, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the USBG will show the official flowers of each US state and territory –including native orchids and more – a representation of America’s floral beauty.
Further afield, you can visit the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show running Feb. 28 through March 8, where you can also find an orchid workshop for beginners that Barbara Schmidt is presenting on March 4, 2:30 p.m.-3:30.p.m. (phsonline.org).
Edible Opportunities
Orchids are a feast beyond the eyes. Many orchid flowers are edible and used for culinary decoration, teas, and even in traditional medicine. The flowers add color and flavor to salads, desserts and cocktails (before use, ensure the flowers are food-grade
and not sprayed with pesticides). Vanilla flavoring comes from the Vanilla planifolia, a species native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Brazil. The vanilla orchids are epiphytic (grow on trees) but can also be terrestrial. u
National Museum of African American History and Culture (through April 26): “More than a Flower: the Connective Power of Orchids”, a joint exhibition Smithsonian Gardens and US Botanic Garden), nmaahc.si.edu
Orchid Care: For the Beginner, by Barbara Schmidt (find book at basorchidcare.com)
US Botanic Garden, USBG.gov/Programs (check out programs for orchids here in February and beyond including drop-in opportunities)
Orchids provide artistic subjects; here at the US Botanic Garden, visitors photograph these beautiful flowers. Photos courtesy of USBG.
Alexander Williams at Ginkgos on Capitol Hill, purchasing orchids for his wife, an orchid enthusiast.
Photo: Annette Nielsen
Spathoglottis plicata orchid, native to India, SE Asia to Philippines. Photo courtesy of US Botanic Garden
In the Weeds Jumpstart Your Garden
by the Capitol Hill Garden Club
How do I decide what to plant in my yard?
There are three considerations: total hours of full sunlight, the plant’s purpose or function, and plant variety. Narrow your search to plants whose sunlight requirements match those in your location. If you want a full-season “planted screen” or green fence along an exposed perimeter, narrow it further to include only fullsun evergreen plants that retain their foliage year-round and provide the desired privacy. However, if your yard is already lined with one type of plant, like Thuja occidentalis (emerald green arborvitae shrub), exclude that and plant an alternative to add variety, enhancing the aesthetic, ecological resilience, and seasonal appeal. In this example, Ilex glabra (inkberry), Ilex verticillata (winterberry), or Rhododendron periclymenoides (wild azalea) are great native options.
When is the best time to plant perennials and annuals DC?
It’s best to plant perennials in early spring after the last threat of frost, and before the arrival of summer, so new roots can establish. Washington’s last spring frost falls in March/April. This year’s should be March 30, after which planting perennials is optimal.
Annuals follow a similar schedule, depending on plant type. Hardy cool-season annuals like Viola tricolor (pansies) can be planted as early as March. However, tender annuals like Helianthus annuus (sun owers) are best planted in May or whenever soil temperatures consistently reach 60F.
Measure soil temperature with a probe thermometer for cooking if you don’t have a soil thermometer. Before planting, conduct a soil test–available to DC residents for free through the University of the District of Columbia (UDC)–to determine pH and nutrient availability. A pH range between 5.5 and 7 is ideal for nutrient absorption. Some plants prefer more acidic soil (lower pH) while others prefer more alkaline soil (higher pH).
For vegetables and herbs, when is the best time to plant?
For vegetables and herbs, the best time to plant depends on the type of plant and whether it’s a starter plant from the nursery or sown from seed. There are two main types of crops: cool-season crops–Pisum sativum (sugar snap peas), Raphanus sativus (radishes), or Daucus carota (carrots)–and warm-season crops–Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Capsicum annuum (pepper), and Cucurbita pepo (squash).
For starter plants, cool-season
Raised garden bed with vegetable and herb starter plants.
Photo: M. Boyer
Indoor seed germination tray.
Photo: M. Boyer
crops can be planted earlier, starting in March or April, while warm-season crops should be planted starting in mid-April or when the soil temperature is consistently 60F.
Seed-grown crops can extend the growing season. Some crops can be sown indoors as early as February and transplanted outdoors after the last frost, while others are best sown directly outdoors. Exact seedstarting timelines vary by crop and are noted on their respective packets.
When growing crops from seed indoors, use a seed-starting heat mat, a grow light or bulb, and a clear dome or cover to ensure faster early germination and stronger plants. Be sure to transplant into nutrient-rich soil and add organic vegetable fertilizer.
How can I prepare my garden beds for spring?
In DC, USDA hardiness zones 7b and 8a, the spring season typically runs from March through May. To prepare existing beds, remove any dead or undesirable plant material and add it to the compost pile. Likewise, prune “new growth” blooming shrubs such as Hydrangea paniculata (pinacle, limelight or peegee hydrangea). Use garden rakes lightly aerate the soil without disrupting essential biology. In contrast, tilling garden beds generally does more damage than good. Then, apply a 2-inch layer of compost to the surface of your garden beds. For new gardens, sheet mulching the area with cardboard and wood chips, or adding layers of organic matter, can suppress weeds and build soil structure.
Want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants? For more information, go to the Capitol Hill Garden Club website at capitolhillgardenclub.org. Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@gmail.com. ◆
Changing Hands
Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRICE BR FEE SIMPLE
ADAMS MORGAN 1850 Ontario Pl NW $825,000 3
ANACOSTIA
1416 S St SE $582,000 4 2003 Fairlawn Ave SE $285,000 3
BARRY FARMS 1439 Bangor St SE $273,000 2
BLOOMINGDALE
121 V St NW
5 1828 North Capitol St NW $990,000 5
CAPITOL HILL
3
3
3
2
2
2
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
NOMA
studio in classic Stanton Manor—just one short block to Stanton Park and easy stroll to Union Station, SCOTUS, and the Capitol buildings—featuring galley kitchen w/ gas stove, copious cabinetry. Enjoy walk-in closet plus tiled full bath in this handsome, secure building w/ bike storage, laundry, and rooftop deck with tremendous views! Ideal Capitol Hill pied-à-terre or investment. AVAILABLE NOW!
MANNER STANDOUT
257 15th
Nearly 3,000 SF w/ seamless oak + marble kitchen, open living/dining, double balconies, 850 SF south-facing patio/garden, and oversized garage. Custom design, state-of-the-art build—steps to Lincoln Park.
+ Roofdeck/LL Apt
FAMILY LIFE
HYROX A Test of Grit
by Pattie Cinelli
Razonte Dunn, fitness trainer at OneLife Fitness, found himself competing in New York City next to Lance Armstrong and Darren Waller, tight end for the Miami Dolphins last year. Dunn and his teammate Doug Litvack were testing their strength, endurance and cardiovascular abilities in what is called the world’s fastest growing fitness trend – HYROX.
HYROX is a global indoor fitness race that combines running with functional workouts. It’s designed to be challenging but accessible and blends endurance and strength into a standardized format. “It’s for fitness lovers who want a clear goal to train towards without needing elitelevel skills,” said Dunn. He has competed in several HYROX events around the country.
Dunn teaches classes at OneLife Fitness for men and women who want to train for the competition. “There are different categories for different levels of fitness,” Dunn said. “It’s a great program if you want to see where your fitness level is. HYROX tests your mental as well as your physical capacity.”
“It’s rewarding and very challenging,” said Doug Litvack, 40, who has been doing HYROX for about three years. “Having something to train for is my motivation. It requires dedication, commitment and adherence to a program for a long period of time and requires discipline at a bunch of different dimensions.” Litvack used to run half marathons and marathons but said, HYROX is much better because it is multi-dimensional. “I don’t think I’ll ever like running,” said Litvack. “HYROX combines running with strength exercises which keeps it interesting.” Litvack and Dunn have partnered to compete in three HYROX events in DC (held at the convention center), NYC and Chicago.
Part endurance race, part strength challenge, HYROX is attracting
athletes who value consistency over complexity. It’s neither a marathon nor CrossFit. HYROX demands sustained effort and mental toughness.
How It Works
Every competitor must perform 8-by-1 kilometer runs interspersed with eight functional workout stations. Each station has universally required exercises such as a ski erg, a sled that is pushed or pulled, burpee broad jumps, rowing, farmer’s carries, lunges or wall balls. The order and structure are the same worldwide, so results are comparable across cities and countries.
“There’s a set amount of exercises and run to perform,” said Dunn. “Eight runs are interspersed between a functional workout station. Participants have an ankle chip on that keeps our time.”
Sound intense and maybe too challenging? You would be correct about the intensity. It is often described as the “marathon of fitness” because it’s a test of stamina, strength and mental grit without the technical barriers of other competitions. But don’t let that lofty description scare you away.
Who It’s For
HYROX has been touted as a sport for everybody rather than an elite-only competition. It has no strict qualifying standards. This makes it appealing to gym-goers who want a goal beyond weight loss or personal bests, runners seeking new challenges and overall fitness and athletes from other sports looking for a measurable, repeatable test.
“Anyone can do it,” said Litvack. “The competition draws a ton of different people – some just want to finish, some want to beat their own time and others want to win.”
Razonte Dunn training Doug Litvak (in grey) and Angelo Cua (in blue) at OneLife Fitness. Both have participated together in HYROX events.
HYROX is designed for everyday fitness enthusiasts. It is divided into race categories so athletes can compete against others with similar experience, strength and training background. While the race format stays the same (8x1 km runs, each followed by a workout), the weights and standards change by category. The divisions include, open, pro, doubles, relay or age group-specific categories. There’s also a category for athletes with physical or intellectual impairments which uses modified workouts and standards.
History
HYROX was created in 2017 by a three-time Olympic medalist Moritz Furste and Christian Toetzke, an experienced event organizer in endurance sports in Hamburg, Germany. The name HYROX reportedly comes from combining words ‘hybrid’ and ‘rockstar,’ reflecting a hybrid challenge designed to test multiple facts of fitness and make the competition exciting and performative.
The first HYROX race was held in Hamburg in 2018 and attracted about 650 participants. Thousands of athletes now compete annually in cities like London, Berlin, New York, Washington, DC, Chicago and Tokyo.
HYROX is not more dangerous than other competitive sports, but it is differently demanding. Injuries can come from running under load-induced fatigue, strength work without full recovery or from performing repetitive transitions between movement styles.
“It’s for everyone to try at least once,” said Dunn. “It’s going to help build both your anerobic and aerobic energy system. Your metabolism will work better, and you will have more energy throughout the day. HYROX training can create better VO2MAX which contributes to weight loss.” Dunn said it can also help with your ability for cognitive function.
Who doesn’t want less brain fog, more energy without drugs and natural weight loss? It’s also a good way to shake up a workout you’ve been doing the same way for a long time. All good reasons to give HYROX a try this winter.
For more information about HYROX : razonte.dunn@onelifefitness.com.
Pattie Cinelli is a writer and holistic fitness pro who specializes in health and fitness. Email her with questions or column ideas: fitmiss44@aol.com. u
Razonte Dunn and Lance Armstrong at the HYROX competition in NYC
Lifted, Glowing, and Still Me My Experience
with Fotona4D®
by Maria Carolina López
At 51, I’m not trying to turn back time — I want to feel vibrant and comfortable in the skin I’ve worked hard to care for. Confidence, for me, isn’t about looking younger; it’s about feeling like myself and recognizing that reflection in the mirror.
Aging well means feeling alive, confident, and at ease in the skin I’ve earned. Over the years, I’ve found balance in a thoughtful routine — regular facials with Christina Hoang at Skin Obsession Studio (660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), and the occasional touch of Botox or Jeuveau next door with Chelsea Samo-Lipman at Custom Beauty Med Studio — small things that help me feel refreshed without changing who I am.
When I started noticing fine lines around my mouth, though, Botox wasn’t quite right for what I wanted. That’s when Chelsea suggested something new: Fotona4D®. She introduced me to Olivia De Jong, the studio’s laser specialist — and that’s where my glow-up story began.
So, What Is Fotona4D®?
Fotona4D® is a non-surgical laser facelift that rejuvenates the skin and stimulates collagen pro-
duction. It uses two wavelengths — Er:YAG and Nd:YAG — in four different modes to reach multiple layers of the skin at once. Translation: it works from the inside out.
Each session lasts about an hour and is spaced roughly a month apart. The final step — nicknamed the “cool peel” — can be adjusted to be lighter or deeper, depending on how much downtime you’re comfortable with.
I did four one-hour sessions, starting in April and wrapping up in late September. It was as if my skin was learning and becoming healthier with every round.
The First Session
I won’t lie — the first treatment was fascinating and a little strange. The first step, called SmoothLiftin™, involves placing the laser inside your mouth to stimulate collagen. I remember thinking, “I can’t believe this is happening inside my cheeks right now.”
Olivia walked me through every step, and her calm, matter-of-fact explanations made me feel completely at ease. She used numbing cream beforehand, so while it felt warm and tingly at times, it was never painful.
Left: Olivia De Jong, NP, and Laser Specialist at Custom Beauty Med Studio. Right: Chelsea Samo-Lipman, PA-C, injector and owner of Custom Beauty Med Studio
BELOW: Before and After Maria Carolina Lopez. Fotona 4D delivered subtle yet powerful results: a softer under-eye area, a natural cheek lift, improved chin definition, softened nasolabial folds, and more radiant skin.
Afterward, my skin looked pink, like a mild sunburn, and peeled gently over the next few days. What I loved was how my skin seemed to get stronger with each treatment — by my second and third sessions, the redness faded faster, and recovery time was shorter.
By the end of the rst week, I could already see it: my skin looked brighter, smoother, and had a subtle “something’s di erent” glow.
By my third session, the results were undeniable:
• The lines around my mouth softened.
• My cheeks felt naturally fuller — just lifted enough to look rested.
• My skin tone looked more even, and the little sunspots I’d collected over the years were fading.
• I had that healthy, post-vacation glow without ever leaving home.
After my last treatment in late September, my skin just kept improving. Friends didn’t ask what I’d done — they asked if I’d just come back from a trip.
That’s what I loved most: it wasn’t an overnight change. The results built gradually as my skin produced more collagen. Every few weeks, I’d notice something new — a smoother cheek here, a tighter jawline there.
How It Felt to Commit to Something New
Trying a new treatment in your fties feels di erent from trying one in your thirties. You’ve lived in your skin longer. You know what you like — and what feels like too much.
I wanted something that would refresh me without changing me, and Fotona4D® t that perfectly. I could still laugh, smile, and make every expression I always have — just with skin that looked a little more alive.
The experience reminded me
how good it feels to take time for myself. Each session became a small act of self-care — an hour set aside to invest in con dence, not perfection.
Why It Worked for Me
A big part of why it worked so well was the people guiding me. Chelsea has known my skin for years and always gives honest, realistic advice. She’s the opposite of pushy – she’ll tell you when you don’t need something.
And Olivia has the kind of calm precision that makes you instantly trust her. She has a Doctorate in Nursing and still works part-time at the National Institutes of Health, but what sets her apart is her warmth. She once told me, “I want my patients to feel like they’re visiting a friend they trust.” And that’s exactly how it feels.
My Takeaway
Fotona4D® didn’t change my face. It restored it. The results were subtle yet transformative — a natural lift, a brighter tone, and that elusive, healthy glow that can’t be faked.
More than anything, I felt renewed con dence every time I caught my re ection. Aging gracefully, I’ve realized, is really about embracing the care that helps you feel your best. At 51, I don’t want to erase time — I want to wear it well. After this series of treatments, I feel like my skin nally matches the energy I feel inside — lively, healthy, and still me.
Every time I look in the mirror now, I see a face that tells my story — just a little brighter.
To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit custombeautymedstudio. com or call (202) 410-1199.
Maria Carolina López is the CFO and Associate Editor at Capital Community News and a Capitol Hill resident who enjoys exploring new ways to feel good at every age.
Carol Mills Harris’ mother moved her family to Washington, DC in 1931
was in search of opportunity—-for herself and her children. The family settled on Capitol Hill at 3rd and G Streets, SE and considered the Mall and Capitol grounds to be their playground and classroom. They visited museums, climbed the Washington Monument, skated on the Capitol grounds, and attended DC’s then-segregated schools. Carol went on to work at the Department of War and at the Library of Congress. Read about Carol at CapitolHillHistory.org. Help preserve Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.
AN INITIATIVE OF THE CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
When
she
Photo by Gayle Krughoff
S chool N otes
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
DC Prep Colors Their World
The Winter Arts Festivals filled DC Prep campuses with color, music, and creativity. Preppies proudly shared their artwork, performed festive songs and brought characters from The Wizard of Oz to life in a joyful fashion show. Families joined in as hallways transformed into winter wonderlands celebrating creativity and learning. Want your child in a joyful learning environment? Apply today at myschooldc.org and rank DC Prep #1.
DC Prep, 2330 Pomeroy Rd SE, dcprep.org
Maury Goes Bananas
So that’s where bananas come from?! Ms. Conant introduced Maury students to the wonders of the really enormous - and very heavy - flower responsible for producing this favorite tropical fruit. Think Tank kids were able inspect it up close, examining the complicated structure and the cluster of bananas just starting to form.
FCS 6th graders have been exploring chemistry. Working in groups, students conducted multiple experiments designed to demonstrate foundational chemistry concepts. Across both experiments, 6th graders practiced carefully documenting observations and analyzing results from multiple trials. Each group then led an experiment demonstration, explaining each step and showcasing their understanding of key chemistry ideas.
Friends Community School, 5901 Westchester Park Dr, College Park, MD; friendscommunityschool.org
NE Stars Runs the Numbers
Northeast Stars students recently continued to work with numbers by incorporating fun activities. They did four jumping jacks, twirled in a circle four times and were creative in finding ways to add two numbers to equal four while using their fingers. They also practiced counting to 20. When teachers introduced Roman numerals 1 to 10, the younger friends were able to recognize numerals 1-3. Older friends were able to memorize more, but Roman numbers 4 and 6 were a little tricky.
Marcella (Kindergarten) was named December’s Student of the Month for the virtue of Respect. Her
teacher says she is “one of the most respectful students that she has ever taught.” Marcella is a great listener the first time that she is given a direction and she is always respectful towards her teachers. She leads by example and is a great role model for the other students in class.
St. Peter School Capitol Hill, 422 Third St. SE, stpeterschooldc.org
Mundo Verde Hosts Walker-Davis
Mundo Verde was honored to host DC PCSB Executive Director Dr. Walker-Davis in December. During her visit, she connected with the leadership team and observed students as they embraced the journey of becoming bilingual in English and Spanish.
J.F. Cook Campus, 30 P St. NW; Calle Ocho Campus, 4401 Eighth St. NE, www.mundoverdepcs.org
Templeton Academy Advances to the Library
History of Port Cities, an 11th and 12th grade Advanced Course, went to the Library of Congress to learn more about the library and to conduct their own research for their National History Day projects, focusing on “Reaction, Revolution, and Reform.”
Templeton Academy, 406 Seventh St. SE, templetonacademy.org/dc
Waterfront Academy Community Shows Up for Volunteer Day
On Saturday, Jan.10, Waterfront Academy held a school-wide Volunteer Day. Volunteers tackled several major projects throughout the day, including painting classrooms, deep cleaning shared spaces, and moving furniture to better support classroom flow and learning. Families worked alongside teachers and staff, modeling service and care for the school environment. Students joined in where they could, gaining a firsthand lesson in responsibility and community stewardship. The presence of former students added a special dimension to the day, highlighting the lasting connections formed at Waterfront Academy. The school is deeply grateful for the time, energy, generosity shown, as well as for a community that shows up—rain or shine.
Waterfront Academy, waterfrontacademy.org
School Notes are contributed by one member of the school community monthly. Don’t see your Hill-serving school, but want it to be featured in School Notes? Email Liz@HillRag.com u
Templeton Academy
Mundo Verde
Waterfront Academy
St. Peter School
Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday at Mount Vernon
On Monday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., celebrate the rst president of the United States at his beloved home. Admission is free for Presidents’ Day. At 10:30 a.m., witness the o cial observance ceremony of George Washington’s birthday on the bowling green, followed by a special military demonstration. On Sunday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., meet General Washington for hoecake demonstrations with Half Crown Bakehouse on the 12-acre eld from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Plus, pick up fresh baked bread all day. Listen to a concert by the United States Air Force Strings at 2:30 p.m. in the Smith Auditorium. Activities are included with admission: Adults, $30; ages six to eleven, $16; ve and under, free. mountvernon.org.
baked bread all day. Listen to a concert by the United States Air Force Strings at 2:30 p.m. in the Smith Auditorium. Ac-
The Harlem Globetrotters at the Capitol One Arena
On Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m. (doors at noon), the Harlem Globetrotters return to the Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, as part of their 100 Year Tour, celebrating a century of basketball, entertainment, and global impact. Since 1926, the Globetrotters have combined athletic skills, comedy and community outreach to create one of the most recognizable sports experiences in the world. This milestone event o ers fans of all ages the chance to experience the evolution of the Globetrotters’ unique style while recognizing their in uence on sports and culture over the past century. Tickets start at $54. capitalonearena.com.
Free Family Fun Days at the LOC
On Saturdays, Feb. 14, March 14 and April 11, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (drop-in anytime), enjoy activities, collections and learn to use Library resources. On Feb. 14: Happy Birthday, George Washington! Celebrate Washington’s birthday with activities, collections, and The Two Georges exhibition. On March 14: Mapping a New Nation. Explore early American maps and create your own. On April 11: Birds at the Library? Discover birds and birdwatching through Library resources, activities and more. All ages are welcome. Family Fun Days are at the Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE. Reserve free tickets at loc. gov/events.
MLK Day Scavenger Hunt at MLK Library
Notable gures from history are hidden around the MLK Library Children’s Room. Drop in all-month-long in February to search for them and win a small prize. The MLK Library is at 901 G St. NW. dclibrary.org.
Explore the outdoors with exciting nature hikes, treasure hunts, field trips, and creative challenges.
Full Day: 8:0 0 AM – 5:00 PM Half Day: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM Half
This summer, let your child unleash their imagination, explore new adventures, and create unforgettable memories! At Polite Piggy’s, we believe that fun is not just an activity — it’s an experience, and it starts with you!
Create masterpieces in art, science, theater, dance, and crafts while discovering new talents. Be…The Fun! Embrace your inner adventurer, make new friends, and enjoy endless laughter through games, performances, music, and wacky competitions!
Base Camp Base Camp
RATÓN DE BIBLIOTECA (The Library Mouse) at GALA
For campers entering PreK–4th grade
Three two-week sessions packed with:
Daily swim • Arts & crafts
Sports & games
Weekly themes, dress-up days & field trips
August Specialty Camps
Base Camp Adventure: teamwork, outdoor challenges & ropes course
Base Camp Quest: puzzles, inventions & creative problem-solving
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Extended care available
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Scan to explore sessions, dates & pricing
This charming bilingual play, on Saturdays, March 14, 21 and 28, 3 to 4 p.m., at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, is about the clash between an intellectual library mouse and a street gang of mice. It teaches children to respect di erences and appreciate books. Tickets are $14 (including fees) for adults; $12 for kids, two to twelve. galatheatre.org.
Words, Beats and Life at Saturday Morning Live!
Words, Beats & Life (WBL) is a HipHop performance experience, rooted in the music and dance culture of Washington, DC. WBL transforms individual lives and communities through Hip-Hop culture in all its forms. Performances take place at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, Feb. 14 and 28, in the Helen Hayes Gallery of The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Children are encouraged to sit on rainbow mats on the oor and parents to sit in chairs behind. This performance is ideal for children ages three to six but all are welcome. Preregistration is now live. nationaltheatre.org/saturday-morning-live.
Omnium Circus:
“I’m Possible II” at Warner Theatre
The Visionary Omnium Circus returns to Warner Theatre with a brand-new cast including never-before seen artists sharing incredible feats of daring, beautiful music and a life-changing message of hope. On Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m. (doors at 2 p.m.), join Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW, for an unforgettable experience where joy knows no limits, and everybody belongs. The show is performed in both ASL and English, captioned, audio described, sensory friendly with house light at low glow,
“Save a Spider Day” at Natural History
Join the Natural History Museum on Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for a celebration of “Save a Spider Day.” See spider specimens and other arachnids up close, make observations at live tarantula feedings, and learn about the amazing diversity found within the di erent spider and arachnid species. Scientists from their museum will also share about the science they do to learn more about spiders and will help us debunk common spider myths. Families can join at any time during the duration of the event and stay as long as they wish. This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the ground oor of the museum. Enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. naturalhistory.si.edu.
capped sounds at 85 decibels and available quiet zones. Movement and vocalization are welcome. Tickets start at $36. warnertheatredc.com.
Midiculous at The Keegan
Midiculous Middle School. A laughably lopsided social “order” in which students are designated either Queen Bee, Jock, Geek, or Goth—and woe betide any who dare defy their thus declared destiny. Add to this sinister stew a mysterious zombifying virus spread through TikTok dances. How is one to survive all of this “Midiculousness?”
Underside of a European garden spider (Araneus diadematus) in its web.
By turning to… you. Yes, you! In this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style world premiere by Drew Anderson and Dwayne Lawson-Brown, you decide the outcome of a metaphysical game show where only the winner escapes the prison of preteen politics. The Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, from Feb. 24 to March 8. Performances are Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m.; Saturdays, 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 3 p.m. $60 for adults, $50 for students, seniors and under age 25. keegantheatre.com.
250th Festival: A Celebration of Our Story at the National Portrait Gallery
On Saturday, Feb. 14, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., kick o the yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and G streets NW. They’re bringing the past to life in a festival for all ages that commemorates 250 years of art, history and culture. Dance along with live performances and take guided tours through the galleries. Enjoy story times, games and more. Participants can create art with friends and family and take home a booklet to celebrate the 250th all year long. This free community festival highlights joyful moments and heroic stories that have shaped the nation. Free, registration encouraged. npg.si.edu.
Great Movies in the NBM Great Hall: Cinderella
On Friday, Feb. 6, 6:30 to 9 p.m., at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Disney’s Cinderella (2015) tells the timeless story of a young woman whose courage and kindness transform her world, set against the magical backdrop of a grand palace and vibrant kingdom. The evening begins with a fun, in-
teractive dance activity led by The Washington Ballet’s community engagement team and dancers from The Washington School of Ballet’s trainee division, giving children a chance to explore movement and storytelling through dance. Doors open at 6 p.m.; Washington Ballet led activity at 6:30 p.m.; movie at 7 p.m.; program ends at 8:45 p.m. $15 for adults; students, $5; under twelve, free. nbm.org.
Atlas Intersections Festival Family Fun Day
The Atlas Intersections Festival Family Fun Day, 1333 H St. NE, is on Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. to noon. It features The Great Zucchini with free interactive performances led by him, crafting stations, and other exciting surprises. Free admission: registration is encouraged but not required. atlasarts.org.
The Folger’s Family Workshops: My Shakespearean Monologue
On Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., in these workshops, families will examine different ways that Shakespeare’s characters show us who they are and what makes them special. Families will use words and phrases from Shakespeare’s plays to create personal monologues about who they are, with a chance to proudly perform it for everyone to hear. Attendance is free with a recommended $3 donation. There are two sessions available with these recommended ages: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., ages five to seven; and 1 to 2 p.m., ages eight to eleven. The Folger Shakespeare Library is at 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.
“Come Rap with Mr. Root” at Discovery Theater
On Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday,
“Havana Hop” at Imagination Stage
Havana Hop is a charming, dynamic tale of culture and originality, created by award-winning DC artist Paige Hernandez, using her childhood as inspiration. What if you were invited to dance for President Obama? You’d want it to be the best dance ever. Meet young Yelia who visits her grandmother in Cuba to add a salsa flavor to her own hip-hop style. Journey with Yelia as she discovers the fun of her multi-cultural heritage. Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, from Feb. 14 to March 7. It is best for ages five to ten. Tickets start at $15. imaginationstage.org.
Feb. 20, at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., get ready for an engaging, high-energy experience with the masterful HipHop artist Mr. Root. He’s a rapper, beatboxer, and dynamic performer who knows how to light up the stage and captivate children and families with his unique blend of music, movement, musical wisdom, and fun. He makes sure every child is engaged and has a great time. Discovery Theater at The Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. All seating is general admission. Recommended for ages three to seven. Adult tickets are $8; kids, $7; and under two, $3. discoverytheater.org. u
CROSSWORD
“Cities”
by Myles Mellor
Across:
1. Different roles, metaphorically
5. Jagged tears
10. Shatner’s “Star Trek” costar
15. Capri or Corfu
19. Designer Cassini
20. Land
21. Sultanate inhabitant
22. Stratagem
23. City famous for its cathedral
25. Pelican state city
27. Synthetic thread
28. Some are slippery
29. Just beat
30. Didn’t just criticize
34. Certain clarified butters
36. Cowboys abbreviation
38. 1987 Costner role
39. Waders
41. Qualified
46. House of Lords member
49. Doodle paper
51. Off in the distance
52. Wander off course
53. Adherents
54. Song from Take That
61. One of a group standing in an alley
65. Basis of matter
66. Baseball’s Blue Moon
68. Lower house in Ireland’s parliament
69. Mas’ mates
72. City near Berlin
76. The highest world capital
78. City where the Titanic was built
80. Vane direction
81. Each
83. Voice amplifier, for short
84. Oppositionist
85. Strike caller
87. Plotter
92. “Alfie” actor, 2004
95. Unit of electric current
97. Meat on a kabob, maybe
98. Halifax locale
102. Overtaking
108. Songster
109. Go back the same way agin
111. Tabloid twosome
112. Tempe sch.
113. Humerus’ neighbors
114. Legendary French actress
116. BMW Series
120. Fly in the ointment
121. Right away
123. Where Rihanna was raised
126. City well known to soccer fans
132. Italian city famous for wine
133. Loan type
134. Doldrums
135. Golda Meir’s Russian birthplace
136. “Now!”
137. Picture
138. Parkinson’s drug
139. Longs
Down:
1. Ad ___ committee
2. King’s introduction
3. Part of a royal flush
4. Military rank, abbr.
5. Amati kin
6. Wyo. neighbor
7. Make ___ for it
8. Watchdog’s warning
9. Two cents worth
10. High birth
11. Islamic rulers
12. Shoe-wiping devices
13. “Walking on Thin Ice” singer
14. Yang’s opposite 15. Tune player
16. Wallop
17. Opera house seating
18. Saw
24. Iris’s place
26. Artifact
28. Specialty shoe width
30. H.S. biology topic
31. One engaged in, suffix
32. Alicia Keys “___ Am”
33. Work for eds.
34. Jaguar in “Madagascar 3”
35. President after F.D.R.
36. Common evidence used in tracking a killer
37. QB’s pass, completed or not
39. World flying association
40. Chilly reaction
41. Made a boo-boo
42. Skeletal
43. Music collectibles
44. Wolf
45. Dentist qualification
47. Road goo
48. Not functioning
50. Old computer monitor, briefly
54. What a scarf covers
55. Collar or college
56. Referendum
57. Rescue squad, for short
58. Goal in Mexico
59. Dutch cheese
60. Something to talk about
62. Collar
63. Chart genre
64. Kan. neighbor
67. Shark
69. Breath hard
70. Respecting
71. Start to awaken
73. Lady horse
74. PC program
75. Me, in French
77. Buddhist philosophy
79. Airport authority, abbr.
82. Canadian poet, Edwin
85. Insurer for military personnel
86. Longtime record label
88. Camera shop display, for short
89. Soft infant foods
90. Personal statement intro
91. N.F.L. ball carriers
92. Ltr. holder
93. Nanki-___ of “The Mikado”
94. Pipe
96. Manner of speaking
99. Jargon
100. U.S.S.R. successor
101. The Buckeyes
102. Vacation spot
103. Emirates, for short
104. Mick Jagger, for one 105. “__ be an honor”
106. Conservative leader
107. Prime meridian std.
110. H.S. class
113. Not achieved
114. Brazilian state on the Atlantic 115. Act like
116. Government lending group’s
117. At a previous time
118. “La Dolce __”
119. Change a bit
120. Catch of the day, perhaps
121. Cornerstone word
122. Atlantic fish
124. Responses of confusion
125. P.I., e.g.
126. Gibson or Brooks
127. The Beatles’ “_____ I Love Her”
128. Blue Angels’ bailiwick
129. Bow
130. Dark time for poets
131. Campers, for short
COOKING CLASSES & TASTINGS
Master Chef Featuring The Duck & The Peach Executive Chef Katarina Petonito: Lumpia Shanghai
Featuring Award-winning Traditional Musicians Newberry & Verch
Sunday, February 8 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Eurovision 2024 Winner Nani Vazana in Concert
Sunday, February 15 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
STUDIO ARTS
Introduction to Block Printmaking Course with Christine Vineyard
Monday, February 2 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing From an Image with Christine Vineyard
Tuesday, February 3 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
The Paper Architect Hack®
Wednesday, February 11 @ 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Contemporary Watercolors Workshop with Christine Vineyard
Saturday, February 21 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop with Christine Vineyard
Saturday, February 21 @ 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Programmatic support provided by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. Cultivated indoor and garden event space for Conferences, Celebrations & Life Events on Capitol Hill
630 13th Street NE
Got it all: 3BR/3BA, high ceilings, spacious lr/dr, pkg!
ACTIVE: $989,000
Listing Agent: Don Denton (202) 256-1353
308 5th Street SE
4000 SF of Victorian Grace
SOLD: $1.430M
Listing Agents: Don Denton (202) 256-1353 Chuck Burger (202) 258-5316
7 9th Street SE
Timeless 1865 residence offers rare opportunity to own a piece of
SOLD: Asking $895,000
Listing Agent: Don Denton (202) 256-1353
101 North Carolina Ave SE #G
Perfect studio for son/daughter starting new career on the Hill! Beats renting!
