One of Washington, DC’s most beloved Independence Day traditions. Gather your family, friends, neighbors, and community groups and join the celebration!
PARADE HIGHLIGHTS
Led by the Capitol Hill BID and made possible through partnerships with Events DC, Naval Lodge #4, CHAMPS, and The Jeanne Phil Meg Team .
The parade kicks off with “The Commandant’s Own” U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps.
CAN I MARCH? Absolutely! Community groups, schools, businesses, nonprofits, and performers are encouraged to participate.
Join Eastern Market Main Street and Barracks Row Main Street for an afternoon of music, food, entertainment, contests, and family fun.
LOCATION: North Hall at Eastern Market
TIME: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES
LOCATION: Eastern Market Metro Park
TIME: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
INAUGURAL WATERMELON FESTIVAL
Live Jazz featuring Herb Scott Face Painting • Balloon Animals Pie Contest Judging (12:00 PM)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Explore Eastern Market’s unique merchants indoors and enjoy delicious offerings from food vendors in the outdoor market.
Visitors can enjoy shopping, food, music, and family-friendly activities throughout the afternoon.
Barracks Row Main Street proudly presents its inaugural Watermelon Festival, a fun-filled community celebration featuring live watermelon sculpture carving, DMV Drumline performances, live music by the Too Much Talent Band, and Compliments Only Sub Shop’s Cannoli Eating Contest. Enjoy summer activities, local vendors, and plenty of watermelon-themed fun for all ages.
EVENT SCHEDULE
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Live Watermelon Sculpture Carving & Showcase
• Too Much Talent Band Performance
• DMV Drumline Performances
• Cannoli Eating Contest
SPONSORS
• Compliments Only Sub Shop
• Ted’s Bulletin
• Llama’s Corner Coffee
• Chat’s Wine & Spirits
• National Community Church
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
• The Miracle Theater barracksrow.org/4thofjuly
SPEND THE ENTIRE FOURTH OF JULY ON CAPITOL HILL
Start your day at the Capitol Hill Community 4th of July Parade and continue the celebration with Eastern Market Main Street and Barracks Row Main Street.
Live Music • Pie Contest • Watermelon Festival • Family Activities • Community Fun
IN THIS ISSUE
by Rindy O’Brien
Maury Stern
Delmarva’s Dog-Friendly Beaches: Fun for You and Your Dog by Pattie Cinelli
In The Weeds by the Capitol Hill Garden Club
Question
Well, as someone found out, (who should realllllllly have known better,) even simple jobs aren’t simple when they are this big. Prep, training, skill, and follow through are what makes any kind of update/ upgrade worth it, or not. That’s why Home Inspections can be important. Critically important. Maybe even Criminally important. Hmmmmmm.
Next Issue: August 1
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So coming soon… but you must be on a list to see. If you are on the list, my list, confirmed by phone &/or text. If you add your name then I will inform you WHEN it can first be seen. I am cooperative, this is NOT an exclusive. I am not planning to sale it off market or myself. It is a great opportunity for a buyer. Capitol Hill always has historically rebound from depressions, recessions and all the previous administrations. Your client will buy a ticking gold mine for future equity.
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.
Serving Capitol Hill for 50 Years!
Saturday & Sunday, July 11–12, 2026
Inside the Gallery: 10 am - 4 pm
Fine Art * Jewelry * Fine Crafts * and More
Different local artists featured each day! 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue • Alexandria VA
ON THE TOWN
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
THE PLAYGROUND at the National Building Museum
THE PLAYGROUND provides a nontraditional environment centered on the mental and physical benefits of play. Designed for all ages, the installation supports motion, exploration and togetherness in an immersive environment. Opening on July 3 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, THE PLAYGROUND transforms the historic Great Hall into a sculptural landscape that reimagines the familiar experience of parks and playgrounds with a delightful twist. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy a variety of interactive experiences throughout the space. Museum admission is $10 for adults; $7 for youth, students with ID and seniors. www.nbm.org
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens’ Lotus and Lily Festival
On Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE, experience water lily species in full bloom, take guided tours of the park and enjoy live music, cultural performances, kids’ activities, craft workshops and food from local vendors. The Visitor Center is an ideal place to begin your visit. Restrooms are located here as well as orientation brochures. A small room of exhibit panels surveys the history of the gardens and its key plants. Free admission. www.nps.gov/keaq
“Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography” at the NGA
Photographs have documented how we extract natural resources and the impact on people and our planet. Through Aug. 23, “Beneath the Surface” at the National Gallery of Art (West Bldg., second floor) explores how photographers in the United States have depicted resource extraction for 185 years. www.nga.gov
Movie screenings are on Thursdays, July 9 through Aug. 6 (rain date, Aug. 13), on the southeast lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Each event includes a 7 p.m. preshow performance followed by the movie at sundown. Here’s the lineup: July 9, “Clueless”; July 15, “Rocky”; July 23, “Back to the Future”; July 30, “A League of Their Own”; and Aug. 6, “Apollo 13.” Visitors are encouraged to arrive early with blankets, lawn chairs and snacks to grab a good spot before the film begins. No tickets required. www.loc.gov
STC Academy Summer Repertory’s “Macbeth” and “Twelfth Night”
The Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy is a master of fine arts program that trains actors to work with classical language and embody mythic storytelling. After completing a one-year program of coursework, the Class of 2026 performs two plays in repertory as the culmination of its training. “Macbeth” and “Twelfth Night” are performed in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. Dates for “Twelfth Night” are July 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25. Dates for “Macbeth” are July 16, 18, 19, 22, 24, and 25. Tickets are $25 or see both shows for $40. www.shakespearetheatre.org
“Making a Statement” at the American Indian Museum
On view through spring 2027, “Making a Statement” is part of the American Indian Museum’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It highlights Indigenous heritage and honors active-duty and retired Native American servicewomen. This special installation features an early 20th-century Lakota beaded dress and a contemporary color guard dress worn by members of the Native American Women Warriors (NAWW). The NAWW color guard dress recognizes the military service of Native women in the US Armed Forces. The dresses were made 100 years apart by Native dressmakers who drew inspiration from their personal experiences. www.americanindian.si.edu
of Working.
Otakon at the Washington Convention Center
Founded in 1994, Otakon is an annual convention held to celebrate Asian pop culture (anime, manga, music, movies, video games) and its fandom. This year’s Otakon is at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Pl. NW, from July 31 to Aug. 2. Enjoy an art show, car show, cosplay coordination, artists alley, dealers room, tabletop gaming and more. See a full schedule at www.conventions.leapevent.tech/ schedules/frontend/Otakon_2026. Registration fees are: for the weekend, $100 (discounts for one day only); youth membership, 9-12, $55; eight and under, free. www.otakon.com
Cosplayers
“Brilliantly written and illuminating.”
— Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of Silent Spring Revolution
A clear-eyed yet hopeful history of the United States, revisiting the state of the
union every fifty years since America’s birth.
AVAILABLE NOW AT MAJOR RETAILERS, INCLUDING
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Lockheed TR-1/U-2C aircraft.
Eyes in the Sky:
From Spy Planes and Space to Everyday Technology
In partnership with the CIA, on Thursday, July 16, from 7 to 8 p.m., this program looks at CIA stories found in the National Air and Space Museum collection, including aerial innovations like the U-2 aircraft, the CORONA Satellite Program, the Insectothopter and the lineage of the A-12 Oxcart to the SR-71 Blackbird. Visit the Air and Space Museum to learn how innovations born in secrecy have shaped technology, industry and daily life. Afterhours at 6 p.m., there is access to the museum’s exhibitions, including the five newest galleries, additional Discovery Stations and Ask an Expert stations featuring CIA historians and museum staff. Free; registration required. www.airandspace.si.edu
“District Vibes/
American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture”
DC Public Library commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary by showcasing the contributions Washingtonians have made to America’s culture and history. DC gave the world the football huddle, Gallaudet University, the modern blood bank (pioneered by DC native Dr. Charles R. Drew) and a public school system that educated icons like John Philip Sousa and Marvin Gaye. “District Vibes/American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture” is in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Li brary, 901 G St. NW, throughout the summer. www.dclibrary.org
Courtesy of the artist and Hutchinson Modern & Contemporary, NYC
“Juan Sanchez: A Survey” at the Phillips Through Sept. 12, 2027, at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, this is the first traveling retrospective of Juan Sanchez (b. 1954, New York City), one of the founders of Latinx art in the United States. The exhibition’s 75 works include paintings, works on paper, photography and video that offer a comprehensive look at Sanchez’s powerful and thought-provoking art. www.phillipscollection.org
Prince William County Fair
The Prince William County Fair is at the Prince William County Fairgrounds Expo & Event Center in Manassas from July 31 to Aug. 8. The fair features rides, a petting zoo, farm animals, a dog show, pony rides, camel rides, monster trucks, camp grounds and more. Here’s the evening lineup: July 31, demolition derby; Aug. 1, fireworks; Aug. 2 and 3, rodeo; Aug. 4 and 5, monster trucks; Aug. 6, color works; Aug. 7, tractor pull; Aug. 8, demolition derby. Adult admission is $25; kids, $15; four and under, free. www.princewilliamcountyfairgrounds.com
“American Aspirations” at the Smithsonian Castle
For nearly 250 years, Americans have been inspired by the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Through July 26, “American Aspirations” brings together more than 30 of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects to commemorate this founding document. The Smithsonian Castle is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. www.si.edu/castle
Juan Sánchez, “Lindo Rayos, Lindo Colores,” 2003. Oil, mixed media collage on wood panel, 74 x 72 inches. Image:
The desk on which Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence. Courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, transferred from the Department of State.
Portrait of blood-bank pioneer Charles R. Drew by Betsy Graves Reyneau.
“Pippin” at Signature
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
“Shakespeare and the American Story” at the Folger
The Folger Shakespeare Library is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by sharing how Shakespeare has always been a part of the American story. The first European colonizers brought Shakespeare’s words and stories with them. The focal point of the exhibition presents three important American “firsts”: The first American edition of Shakespeare’s plays (1795), the first illustrated American edition of Shakespeare’s plays (1844) and the first American edition of Shakespeare’s plays edited by women (1903). “Shakespeare and the American Story” is at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE, through Aug. 2. www.folger.edu
A traveling troupe of performers bring to life the story of Pippin, the restless heir of Charlemagne, on his quest for purpose. Dreaming of greatness, he dives into war, passion and even murder, only to find himself disillusioned at every turn in this provocative coming-of-age parable about what it means to be extraordinary. “Pippin” is at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia, through July 26. Tickets start at $47. www.sigtheatre.org
“Brilliant Beginnings”: Mozart and Beethoven at Strathmore
Mozart’s Symphony No. 1, written at age eight, sparkles with youthful brilliance, while Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 reveals a composer already pushing boundaries. Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen joins the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in this SummerFest celebration of genius in its earliest form. “Brilliant Beginnings” is at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland, on Saturday, July 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 12, at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. www.strathmore.org
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at Wolf Trap
Coming off his Grammy-nominated 2025 album “Second Line Sunday,” Trombone Shorty returns with his band Orleans Avenue to bring high-octane New Orleans funk to the Filene Center. The iconic Mavis Staples lays it down with Staple Singers’ classics plus other highlights from her career. Rounding out the lineup is country soul duo the War and Treaty. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are at the Wolf Trap Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, Virginia, on Saturday, July 18, at 7 p.m. (doors at 5:30 p.m.). Tickets start at $62.50. www.wolftrap.org
Cedric Neal (leading player) and the cast of “Pippin.” Photo: Daniel Rader
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews playing with Glen David Andrews, Julius McKee and Amanda Shaw at JazzFest, New Orleans.
Letter from Major General Charles Lee, commander of the Continental Army in the South, Williamsburg, Virginia, to Robert Morris, Philadelphia, April 10, 1776. Folger Shakespeare Library.
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center
Co-founded by Arthur Ashe, Donald Dell and John A. Harris, the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, DC, is one of the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments and the only combined ATP & WTA 500 tournament in the world. Held annually at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, 16th and Kennedy streets NW, it is also the longest-running pro tennis event to be held in an equal-access public park. The qualifying weekend is July 25 and 26; main draw is July 27 to Aug. 2. Full ticket packages are from $510; single session tickets are available at www.mubadaladctennis.com.
“Woody Guthrie’s American Song” at The Wharf Waterfront Park
“Woody Guthrie’s American Song” is a musical that weaves Guthrie’s storytelling with scenes drawn directly from his life, wielding music as a loudspeaker for the voice of the working people, speaking up for those swept aside by economic collapse and political indifference. A panoramic tribute to the legacy of activism in the arts, this work celebrates American spirit as the nation marks its 250th Anniversary. “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” is performed at The Wharf Waterfront Park, 515 Water St. SW, from Aug. 6 to 28, at 7:15 p.m. Every ticket is name-your-own-price (minimum ticket price $1). www. theateralliance.com
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters at the Lincoln In conjunction with the release of their newest album, The Boxmasters kick off a tour of the United States in June. This marks their 21st release as J.D. Andrew and Bud Thornton showcase their love for the sounds of the 60s and the inspiration of their heroes on an album called “In the Bay.” Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters are at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, on Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.). Tickets start at $56. www.thelincolndc.com
The Timber Bridges at Songbyrd
The Timber Bridges is an indie folk trio of multi-instrumentalists who write and play bittersweet songs inspired by amazing people, unique places and unusual things. The Timber Bridges is at Songbyrd, 540 Penn St. NE, on Saturday, July 11, at 7 p.m. (door time). Tickets are $17 to $20. www.songbyrddc.com
The Boxmasters. Photo: @theholymountain
COOKING CLASSES & TASTINGS
Long Lunch – Summer Paella with Chef Mark Haskell
Friday, July 10 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Date Night: Summer in France with Chef Wendi James Friday, July 10 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Master Chef Featuring Celebrated Pastry Chef Padua Player: Bubbles & Brushstrokes
CONCERTS
Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Crys Matthews, 2025 International Folk Music Award’s Artist of the Year
Sunday, July 12 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Kitchen 101: Knife Skills w/ Chef Wendi James Monday, July 13 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
International Summer Survival Soups with Chef Mark Haskell
Tuesday, July 21 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Date Night: Summer in France with Chef Wendi James Friday, July 24 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sunday, July 19 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Groovy Nate In Concert Friday, July 24th @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
LECTURES & CONVERSATIONS
Master Chef Featuring The Duck & The Peach Executive Chef Katarina Petonito
Sunday, July 26 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’: Discussion Featuring Eminent Historians Edna Greene Medford, Kay Wright Lewis, and John Muller Wednesday, July 8th @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Programmatic support provided by the Capitol Hill
Capitol Cuisine
by Celeste McCall
Our Navy Yard unveiled a tasty bite of the Big Easy as Catahoula rolled into town this spring. Located at 79 Potomac Ave. SE, the zesty newbie is named after the Catahoula leopard dog, Louisiana’s state dog. The canine is known for its distinctive spots.
Our foursome settled into a comfy window spot, where we ogled the jaw-dropping view of the majestic Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. (A rooftop wine and cocktail bar provides an even more spectacular panorama, and pepper plants growing out front promise sassy seasoning.) The restaurant interior, highlighted by gorgeous chandeliers, reminded us of New York’s Tavern on the Green and the long-gone Maxwell’s Plum.
From Catahoula’s New Orleans-centric cocktail menu, I couldn’t resist ordering a Hurricane, made with rum, lime juice and ssional syrup (a mixture of strawberries, cherries, hibiscus). The heady concoction is the signature drink of the French Quarter’s famed Pat O’Brien’s. Unlike the original, Catahoula’s Hurricane seemed (fortunately) less sweet. But please, lose that silly miniature umbrella. Other potent potables include bourbon cherry lemonade and Sazerac (rye, bitters, absinthe), wine and beer.
Our table shared an order of crispy okra, a mound of crunchy mini globes scented with lemon, basil and chilies, escorted by jalapeno remoulade. The spicy crunchiness masked the vegetable’s unappealing texture. I’m not an okra fan, but I joined my tablemates in devouring these crispy critters.
I barely found space for a bowl of traditional gumbo, a tongue-tingling montage of andouille, okra, potato aioli and lots of shredded chicken. Equally tasty is corn and crab bisque, laced with beaucoup crab and pea shoots, a taste of summer. Fries are studded with garlic and black pepper and dipped in aioli.
Just like in New Orleans, oysters lead Catahoula’s lunch menu. You can order a half-dozen “cru” (raw on the half-shell), accompanied by jalapeno mignonette with black pepper cocktail sauce. Among cooked options are Oysters Catahoula, a half-dozen bivalves broiled with bacon, watercress and Pernod cream sauce. The latter gave the oysters a wonderful licorice-like avor.
You can’t operate a New Orleans-style restaurant
without including po’boys, assorted goodies stu ed in a long roll. Passing over the fried oyster, shrimp and hot creole sausage llings, husband Peter chose blackened catsh, snuggled with lettuce, tomato and remoulade in a Leidenheimer roll. He loved it.
Among daily specials was a half-pound lobster, served whole, with the tail cracked, with lemon and melted butter. Another special was the seafood boil, a mound of craw sh ( own in from Louisiana), shrimp, a Maine lobster and more.
Lunch for two with my cocktail came to $90.75, including tax. Pricy, but worth it, and cheaper than a trip to New Orleans. Service, provided by Annie, was savvy and pleasant. For Catahoula hours and more information, visit www. catahouladc.com.
More Oysters
Speaking of topnotch seafood (especially oysters!), we’ve revisited Hank’s Oyster Bar, 701 Wharf St. SW, at the District Wharf.
Enjoying a gorgeous late spring day, Peter and I settled into sunny seats right by the water. Although everything emerging from the kitchen is recommended, the stars are oysters: on the half-shell, fried, snuggled in a po’boy or part of the Grand Plateau, a mound of oysters, clams, jumbo shrimp, mussels and a Maine lobster. Ide-
al for a large, hungry group.
We both chose small plates. Peter decided on the fried Goose Point oysters, lightly breaded, crunchy bivalves served with a lemon wedge. I went for the charred octopus. The tender cephalopod tentacles were enlivened with ngerling potatoes, chimichurri sauce, fresh dill, sliced olives and endive, all spritzed with lemon vinaigrette.
Lunch for two including my Alberino came to $78 before tip. Service was excellent. Hank’s Oyster Bar is open daily; for hours and more information, visit www.hanksoysterbar.com.
New Market
The Hill East neighborhood welcomes STREETS Market, 1442 Penn-
LEFT: Among Catahoula’s appetizers is a dish of crispy okra flavored with lemon, basil and chilies. RIGHT: Catahoula’s drink menu includes the Hurricane, signature drink of the New Orleans-famed Pat O’Brien’s.
sylvania Ave. SE (corner of 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue SE). Locally owned and operated, the moderately priced newcomer arrived this spring in what used to be the McCormick paint store. You’ll nd STREETS a block from the Potomac Avenue Metro stop.
A stroll through STREETS Market’s well-stocked aisles revealed staples like baked goods, packaged pasta, canned items (including pet food), fresh and processed meats including Boar’s Head charcuteries. There’s a small seafood selection and lots of fresh produce. In the frozen food department we saw myriad frozen entrees, pizzas, sides and desserts including Yasso frozen Greek yogurt ice cream bars. (We love the fudge chocolate crunch!) STREETS Markets also has an extensive wine and beer department.
Unfortunately, parking is extremely limited. STREETS Market is open daily; for hours and more information, visit www. streetsmarket.com.
Happy on H
On a recent Sunday, Peter and I checked out the happy hour at Sushi Sato, 1245 H St. NE. Joined by two friends, we perched at the bar, where we scanned the row of whiskey bottles
interspersed with Pokemon characters. Peter and I were in the mood for hot sake, but they only o ered it cold. After perusing the listing of straight sakes and other Japanese drinks, I decided on a lychee yuzo crush, made with vodka, sake and yuzo, garnished with a whole lychee. Tasting like a vodka tonic, the drink was refreshingly delicious. Other spirited and sometimes spicy drinks include Wake Me Up Wasabi, made with gin, lime and the incendiary Asian horseradish, and the Miso Old Fashioned.
From the appetizer and sushi menu, our companions split an order of garden rolls, a colorful medley of rice and vegetables encased in nori (seaweed). We all shared dishes of spicy edamame ‒ plain and spicy. The tongue-torching version tasted of tru es.
Sushi Sato’s “very” happy hour goes from 4:30 to 6:29 daily. Appetizers encompass gyoza for a buck apiece; $2 shrimp tempura; classic sushi rolls (seafood and veggie), shishito peppers. Weather permitting, fans can enjoy their gustatory joy on Sushi’s spacious back patio. For more information and reservations, visit www.sushisatodc.com. ◆
THUR. JULY 16: 2010s (With a Taylor Swift focus!) SAT. AUGUST 29: 60TH Anniversary Celebration
At the District Wharf, Hank’s Oyster Bar is known for oyster preparations, including fried small plates.
There’s plenty of serious stuff going on in the world right now, which is why this month’s column is taking a muchneeded summer vacation and suggesting you do the same by enjoying some mystery, adventure, comedy and intrigue, here on your doorstep.
Catch before Closing
“The Play That Goes Wrong,” Keegan Theatre • June 13-July 12 keegantheatre.com
Dupont Circle’s Keegan Theatre again gives us comedic escape with the staging of “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Similar in slapstick style to Michael Frayn’s classic 1982 British farce “Noises Off” (which Keegan Theatre produced in July 2024), “The Play That Goes Wrong” features a dilettante theatrical company attempting to stage an Agatha Christie-inspired murder mystery play while contending with collapsing sets, errant props, feuding actors, missed cues and a multitude of other funny mishaps.
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields (founders of Mischief Theatre), “The Play That Goes Wrong” was first performed in London’s Old Red Lion Theatre in 2012. It won a 2015 Laurence Olivier Award, toured the UK, the US and Australia, ran on Broadway for two years and inspired several BBC
Theater Night
Comedy and
Adventure Await on Stage
(and in the Cemetery) This Month
by Matthew McClure
TV series and specials. The plot is relatively simple and truthfully ceases to matter as the play unravels: The curtain rises on the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s opening night of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” a classic Hercule Poirot/ Agatha Christie whodunnit, except produced with lot less professionalism. Hilarity ensues over the course of two acts as cheap sets crumble, props are misplaced, lines are forgotten, bad British accents start slipping and stage managers search for a missing dog while tunes from a misplaced Phil Collins CD box set blare unpredictably over the sound system.
It takes a dynamic cast to handle this much sustained and energetic action. Director Michael Innocenti has done a bang-up job of wrangling Darren Badley (Trevor), Rebecca Ballinger (Dennis), Jimmy Bartlebaugh (Max), Jared H. Graham (Jonathan), Leah Packer (Sandra), Matthew Pauli (Chris), Jackson Saunders (Robert) and Martina Schabron (Annie the stage manager). Without exception, everyone excels at making a series of catastrophic mistakes look utterly professional.
Bring your kids to this one. They’ll love it too.
On Right Now
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,”
Olney Theatre • July 2-Aug. 23 olneytheatre.org
If you watched A24’s “How to Make a Killing” (based on the 1949 British film
“Kind Hearts and Coronets” and featuring a debonair Glen Powell as Becket Redfellow and a sultry Margaret Qualley as Julia Steinway), you’ll have an idea of the plot of Olney Theatre’s new summer musical that’s closing out the 2025-26 season.
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” centers on the misadventures of Montague Navarro, who realizes after his indigent mother passes away that he’s related to the fabulously wealthy and idiosyncratic D’Ysquith family. As only the eighth in the line of succession, there’s little hope for Monty to lay claim to the family’s wealth, but an encounter with a soused D’Ysquith relative at the top of a bell tower leads our canny protagonist down a path of treachery, polyamory and –you guessed it – murder.
This comedic musical was originally developed around 2006 and debuted on Broadway in 2013. It’s based on Edwardian novelist Roy Horniman’s 1907 book “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal” and is famously tricky to stage, not least of all because all male members of the D’Ysquith family are played by a single actor. “’A Gentleman’s Guide’ has been on my radar ever since it won the Tony Award for Best Musical in
The Bernard Family Theatre. Photo: Courtesy Olney Theatre
Rebecca Ballinger as Dennis, Jimmy Bartlebaugh as Max, Matthew Pauli as Chris, Jackson Saunders as Robert, Leah Packer as Sandra and Jared H. Graham as Jonathan in “The Play That Goes Wrong” at Keegan Theatre. Photo: Cameron Whitman
2014,” explains Olney Theatre’s artistic director Jason Loewith. “I realized it had never been done in the DC area in a resident production because it requires an actor that can play multiple roles and it requires plenty of scenery and plenty of costumes. That’s a hard show to do!”
Ever one for a challenge, and answering the call from patrons for something light, Loewith reread the libretto and settled on Helen Hayes Award-winning Tom Story to play all seven members of the D’Ysquith family alongside Jacob Tischler as social climber extraordinaire Montague Navarro. “He’s a singular performer who’s extremely versatile and can be both a character and a leading man,” Loewith says of Story. “We’re very lucky to have him opposite Jacob as Monty Navarro.”
Directed by Eleanor Holdridge with a book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and musical direction by Christopher Youstra, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” features choreography by Ashleigh King. Sumie Yotsukura and Sadie Koopman are cast as Monty’s competing love interests Sibella and Phoebe. The musical will debut at the Roberts Mainstage, which will feature a new passerelle that extends the action into the audience in the style of old British music halls.
“A Respite for City Folk”
Olney Theatre Center’s 2026-27 season ‒ which kicks off in September with a production of “La Cage aux Folles” –takes place amid a raft of new developments and upgrades to the 88-year-old, 14-acre performing arts campus, all part of the $37 million “Staging the Future” capital campaign.
Officially designated as one of only two state summer theaters of Maryland, the Olney Outdoors series of concerts and plays performed under the open sky has always been intended, as Loewith says, “to be a respite for city folk.” Back in the 1930s, audiences from DC and
New York would make the trip to Sandy Spring Road to watch actresses like Tallulah Bankhead and Olivia de Havilland tread the boards for summer stock performances, and Olney’s kept this tradition alive for over 80 years.
On your visit this month to check out “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” at the Roberts Mainstage, check out the new Bernard Family Theatre (Olney’s original 1938 performance space), which has been reenvisioned as a flexible barn for not only musicals and plays but also conferences, weddings, corporate gatherings or even a bat or bar mitzvah. The sparkling new Jim and Carol Trawick Education Center, the Gana Dunlop Maker’s Center and the renovated 150-seat black box theatre space are also new attractions that’ll draw even more patrons to Olney this summer.
Upcoming Attraction
“National Treasure,”
Historic Congressional Cemetery Showing July 17
The Historic Congressional Cemetery (laid out in 1807) is beautiful all year round, but it really comes alive in summer through executive director Mark Hudson and program director AJ Orlikoff’s outdoor programming, of which Cinematery is one of our annual favorites. There are few things more quintessentially summer in DC than relaxing among the headstones with a few drinks and a light picnic while enjoying a film. This summer’s Cinematery (themed “Dinosaurs and Declarations”) kicks off with John Turteltaub’s swashbuckling 2004 adventure flick “National Treasure.” Remember, you’ll have to leave Fido at home for this one, and blankets are better than large lawn chairs (which block the view of the screen for others). And don’t lean on the grave markers! Tickets sell fast, so get yours now at www.congressionalcemetery.org. u
The Poetic Hill
Kristen Zory King
by Sandra Beasley
Kristen Zory King is a writer, teaching artist and yoga instructor based in Washington, DC. For the past ten years, she has been a proud Mt. Pleasant neighbor and frequent Rock Creek Park hiker. Her work, both on and off the page, is deeply inspired by nature, movement, and creative congregation. Published writing can be found in Electric Lit, HAD, Ghost Parachute, among other journals and in 2025, she celebrated the release of her chapbook of flash fiction stories, Ladies, Ladies, Ladies, at The Potter’s House alongside family, friends, and the vibrant DC literary community.
She is currently a graduate student at George Mason University where she is exploring a project on vocation, community, and the creative human spirit. Learn more or be in touch at www.kristenzoryking.com.
Simply
The leaf belongs to no one. Not even to the tree, not even to the wind. The leaf belongs, simply, to the leaf. But—for the tree the leaf will work. For the wind, the leaf will play. From the sun, she drinks (how ancient, this thirst). To the earth, she feeds (how holy, thanksgiving). What I am saying is this that to stand is one way to pray. To sit is another. You must—yes, must—take your role in this world seriously. What I am saying is that love is the opposite of everything and you, too, belong simply to yourself.
Sandra Beasley is the curator of “Poetic Hill,” a resident of Southwest, and the author of four poetry collections. If you live in D.C. and you’re interested in being featured, you can reach her at sandrabeasley@ earthlink.net for questions and submissions (1-5 poems). u
Art on the Hill
Honoring the Enduring Legacy of Artists
Article and photos by Rindy O’Brien
With the recent death of David Hockney at age 88, the world has lost an art legend. His passing – one of the most significant since Andy Warhol – marks the end of an artistic era. His acrylic paintings used vivid blues, yellows and other colors. Hockney often incorporated friends in simple scenes. He was an inspiration to pop artists around the world.
By chance, the week Hockney passed, I attended a public tour of the Walter Washington Convention Center public art collection. As I toured the three floors, I thought of Hockney because so many of the 134 art pieces in the collection reflect his style and use of color.
Art can either define time or transcend it. Great artists like Hockney are able to do both. Art also connects us to those gone, whose impact endures long after their passing. That was evident in the Capitol Hill Art Workshop (CHAW) celebration of the memory of beloved teacher Gina Clapp, at the spring adult student show.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Adult Student Show
The June 13th show was produced by CHAW’s visual art teachers to honor Clapp’s memory and legacy. The Wednesday studio painting class continues after her passing in 2021. Currently Ellen Cornett leads the painters as they connect with one another through art and friendships. As part of the opening reception, students from Clapp’s Wednesday studio donated art books to encourage students to keep exploring their art.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center Art Collection
On Friday nights, CHAW’s drawing teacher Will Feishell hosts the Open Figure Drawing group, a popular live class open to anyone who would like to do figure drawing. A few of the Friday night artists’ works are on display in this show, along with beautiful ceramics and watercolor pieces. Clapp would have loved it.
The first-place winner of the show is Justin Han, a Hill resident and Open Figure Drawing group regular. Han really enjoys the opportunity to draw with a live model for three hours on a Friday evening. “I find the process very meditative,” he says, “and I like that at the end of the night I have created a piece of art. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it isn’t. But I leave it and move on.” He uses mechanical pencils and has discovered a Japanese eraser pen made by TomBow which erases the smallest mistakes.
Other winners include Arielle Tcho’s “Kissing Gravity Goodbye,” Simon HinsonJones’ “Ripe Banana Box” and two honorable mentions, Martin Rundle’s “Tom” and Jeffrey Levine’s “Harry and Harp.”
Liz Brown, CHAW’s gallery manager, says this year’s show came from several adult classes, and she is proud of the quality of the work presented. “It is also wonderful to see the community of artists coming together to support one another.”
The work of local artists is also on display at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW. The Convention Center building features massive windows that look out toward the Mall area and other parts of the city. Its bright carpets, digital technologies, ballrooms and meeting rooms make it a popular spot.
One of Washington’s best-kept secrets, the center’s $4 million art collection features works by both local and internationally known artists. Many pieces were commissioned for specific spaces within the center and selected to bring history and beauty into its industrial setting. The collection is managed by Events DC.
Events DC offers Art at the Center – Free Public Art Tours. In addition to the free public tours,
Justin Han’s life drawing won first prize at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop adult student show. The drawing is small, compared to many other pieces in the show, but his ability to capture detail of the model’s face and expression are exceptional.
CHAW gallery manager Liz Brown, student Lisa VanAusdall and Jake Zappala enjoy the opening reception for the spring adult student show. VanAusdall participated in the Friday open drawing sessions.
Events DC offers free, one-hour public tours of its $4 million art gallery at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The next tour is July 28. The tour requires advance registration.
Upcoming Exhibits:
Robert Freimark’s “Fifty States: A Journey through America,” at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, features 50 prints of 50 states, using bold color capturing the spirit of diversity and evolution of our national story. Curator Jason Vaugh conducts a tour on July 23 at noon. The center is free at 1503 Pennsylvania Ave. NW and is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday through Monday. Free tickets required for the tour.
First Friday: Art Walk Dupont takes place on the rst Friday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. It is a self-guided walk with 15 galleries, embassies and cultural centers participating. “Translations,” the rst solo show of Meghan Mood’s abstract paintings, opens on July 3. Her work is at the gallery space Wise and Partners, 1740 N St. NW, Suite One.
“American Icon: The US Flag in Art,” at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW, shows 30 artworks from 1800 to present in the East Building lobby through Dec. 6. Free, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
free tours can be scheduled for interested groups at other times. The next tour is at the end of July.
Sol Lewitt’s “Wall Drawing #1103” is a three-story spiral staircase made of blocks of bright colors hand-painted by local artists under direction from the artist. Lewitt built his reputation in the 1960s and helped define conceptual art and minimalism. His works t into the pop scene in New York and Spain. He would create blueprints of his pieces and have other artists manufacture them.
Local artist Jim Sanborn has created Lingua, two bronze columns that welcome visitors to the center. They are lled with eight di erent ctional and historical texts in seven languages. The columns are lit from within, and their placement at the entrance catches the light during the day. Sanborn was recently featured in the news for his controversial work at the CIA.
Capitol Hill’s Tatiana Kaupp also has a permanent piece in the collection. “Cape May #1 Tapioca” is on street level along Seventh Street NW. The painting is full of bright colors with red tapioca dots. Kaupp is known by art collectors on the Hill, and her work is available online, https://www.tatikaupp.com/newwork.
Other important works in the collection include Larry Kirkland’s “Capital Stars,” Sam Gilliam’s “Many Things,” works by Carrie Mae Weems and a collage by Frank Smith and Arnetta Lee celebrating the Shaw neighborhood.
The next tour, “Spotlight: After Abstract Expressionism,” is at 6:30 p.m. on July 28. It is free but you must register in advance through Events DC, https://www.universe. com/events/art-at-the-center-free-public-arttour-tickets-15R3FZ.
Rindy O’Brien writes about Capitol Hill’s art and cultural scene and can be contacted at rindyobrien@ gmail.com. ◆
The three-story spiral staircase is the work of internationally known artist Sol Lewitt. It captures the visual spirit of the colorful pop scene of David Hockney and 70s artists.
Jim Sanborn, local DC artist, is known for his sculptural work and use of texts and codes. Lingua, composed of two huge bronze columns at the front entrance of the Convention Center, are some of the most loved pieces in the collection.
The Jazz Project Creating Space for Reflection, Compassion, and Gratitude
by Jean-Keith Fagon
For listeners between 30 and 45, jazz saxaphoist, Jan Garbarek’s In Praise of Dreams can connect in deeply personal ways. This is an age group often living in constant motion—career demands, raising children, relationships, caring for parents, nancial pressure, and the digital noise of modern life. Music for them often becomes background while multitasking, or a quick emotional release between obligations.
and full minds, that openness can feel restorative. It becomes a reminder that not every moment needs urgency, explanation, or answers. The happiness in this music is not loud celebration. It is subtler and often more lasting: calm after a difcult day, gratitude in quiet re ection, a renewed sense of wonder, or simply the feeling of being emotionally grounded again.
For jazz listeners, this question resonates strongly because jazz itself has always been an art form rooted in the present moment. Every improvised solo exists only once. Every performance disappears into memory as soon as the nal note fades. Jazz musicians understand perhaps better than most that life is temporary, and beauty often emerges precisely because it does not last.
Jan Garbarek o ers something di erent: permission to slow down and feel.
Many listeners in this generation already move naturally between neo-soul, ambient electronic music, lm scores, and thoughtful hiphop. Their playlists may include Bon Iver, Sade, Kendrick Lamar, Nils Frahm, or mood-based streaming collections that are less concerned with genre than atmosphere. Garbarek ts beautifully into that world. His sound is re ective without being heavy, emotional without demanding explanation.
That is where empathy begins.
The quiet spaces in In Praise of Dreams ask listeners to become present again—to notice breath, tension in the body, or feelings that may have been pushed aside. That stillness can soften stress and invite compassion inward rst. And when people feel less rushed inside themselves, they often extend more patience and kindness outward.
There is also hope in Garbarek’s spaciousness. He leaves room between phrases. The silence matters. For adults carrying full schedules
That may be where Garbarek’s jazz connects most powerfully with today’s 30-to-45 generation. Not by demanding attention, but by o ering a gentle place to return to themselves.
The Last Night of the World (single) Bruce Cockburn
There are songs that entertain us, songs that inspire us, and then there are songs that quietly ask us to examine our lives. Bruce Cockburn's Last Night of the World belongs to that rare third category. The song poses a question that most of us spend a lifetime avoiding: What would we do if tonight were our last night on Earth?
Cockburn’s Listening to Last Night of the World feels especially relevant today. We live in an age of constant distraction, endless noti cations, and relentless schedules. Yet Cockburn gently reminds us that our most important conversations, acts of kindness, and expressions of love cannot be postponed forever.
If this were truly the last night of the world, would we spend it arguing online? Worrying about money? Revisiting old resentments? Or would we call someone we love, forgive an old wound, listen to a favorite song, and watch the sunset with gratitude?
Cockburn does not answer with grand speeches or dramatic declarations. Instead, he offers a simple and deeply human question: "What should I do?" It is a question that strips away status, possessions, arguments, and ambitions. In that moment, what truly matters?
Great music sometimes serves as a mirror. Last Night of the World re ects not our fears but our priorities. Its enduring message is not about death. It is about life—about living with enough awareness that when the nal evening eventually arrives, we can look back knowing we spent our days on what mattered most.
That may be the most profound jazz lesson of all: cherish the moment, because every note, and every day, is precious. ◆
Faction of Fools’ “Leftover Lazzi: A Commedia Cabaret” at CHAW July 23 to Aug. 1. Family-friendly but contains some PG-13 humor. Tickets are $27; payit-forward price, $37; child price or “times are tight” price, $17. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. www.factionoffools.org
Scena Theatre’s “No Exit” at the Atlas. Through July 19. “No Exit” by JeanPaul Sartre ranks as a classic of the modern theatre. It was first performed in 1944 in German-occupied Paris. Tickets are $56.25 for adults; $50.75, seniors; $29.75, students. www.atlasarts.org
“CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical” at Arena. Through Aug. 9. TLC stormed the 90s music scene, creating the look, sound and soul of a generation. Tickets start at $83. www.arenastage.org
LOCAL CALENDAR
Watch the World Play: Union Market’s Hi-Lawn and La Cosecha. Through July 19. Union Market District is DC’s go-to neighborhood for watching the world’s biggest soccer tournament. Hi-Lawn and La Cosecha will anchor the experience throughout the tournament with large-screen match broadcasts, soccer-inspired activations and watch parties. www.unionmarketdc.com/soccer
Grooves in the Grove at The Wharf. Thursdays, 7 to 9 p.m., through Sept. 3, in The Grove near bartaco. Here’s July’s lineup: July 2, DeJay Sax; July 9, Sterling Anderson; July 16, Tre4rmDC; July 23, DeJay Sax; July 30, Alisha Glover; Aug. 6, Sterling Anderson; Aug. 13, Tre4rmDC. www.wharfdc.com
Free Friday Night Concerts at The Wharf (Transit Pier). 7 p.m. Here’s the July lineup: July 3, Country Line Dance Night with DC Rawhides and music by Shawn Parsons & The Secret Service; July 10, HariKaraoke Band; July 17, Hot Cactus; July 24, The Fearless Eras; July 31, 7 Deadlies. www.wharfdc.com
Cajun Dance on Capitol Hill. July 7, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE, enjoy Cajun French music from southwestern Louisiana and dance to waltzes played by the Capitol
Crys Matthews
Cajun Orchestra. All ages welcome; free admission. www.stmarks.net
Capitol Hill July 4th Parade. July 4, from 10 a.m. to noon, starting at Eighth Street and Virginia Avenue SE and ending at Eastern Market Metro Plaza. The parade includes businesses, elected officials, community groups, veterans, youth organizations, cultural performers, marching bands and more. The Capitol Hill BID’s “men in blue” will toss out goodies to onlookers. www.capitolhillbid.org
Free Outdoor Movies at The Wharf. Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., July 8, “Hamilton”; July 15, “A League of Their Own”; July 22, “Catch Me If You Can”; July 29, “Apollo 13”; Aug. 5, “Roman Holiday”; Aug. 12, “10 Things I Hate About You”; Aug. 19, “F1: The Film”; Aug. 26, “Project Hail Mary”; Sept. 2, double feature of “When Harry Met Sally” and “First Wives Club.” These movies are family-friendly. Dogs on a leash are also welcome. Closed captions are available upon request. Limited Adirondacks chairs are available on a firstcome, first-served basis starting at 7 p.m. You can bring a blanket or folding chair. www.wharfdc.com/sunsetcinema
Crys Matthews Concert at Hill Center. July 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center features Crys Matthews, 2025 International Folk Music Award’s Artist of the Year. Matthews blends country, Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass into a complex performance steeped in traditional melodies. $23. 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. www.hillcenterdc.org
Live at the Library: Summer Movies on the Lawn. July 9, “Clueless”; July 16, “Rocky”, July 23, “Back
to the Future”; July 30, “A League of Their Own”; Aug. 6, “Apollo 13”; Aug. 13, rain date if needed. The Library of Congress’s annual Movies on the Lawn series returns with free outdoor screenings with pre-show performance at 7 p.m. (movie at sundown) on Thursdays on the southeast lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Building. www.loc.gov
Drive-In Movies at Union Market. July 10, “Iron Man”; Aug. 14, “F1: The Movie”; Sept. 4, “Mean Girls”; Oct. 5, “The Addams Family.” www.unionmarketdc.com. Get tickets to watch from your car ($25) or bring chairs and blankets for a picnic-style setup in front of the market. No tickets needed to watch on Neal Place. Summer movies start at 7:30 p.m. www. unionmarketdc.com
Stories for a Saturday Night: An Evening with Ira Glass. July 11, at 8 p.m. (doors 7 p.m.). “This American Life” host Ira Glass brings a night of storytelling in the style he pioneered on his weekly radio show. General admission. $73. Capital Turnaround, 770 M St. SE. www.unionstagepresents.com
Used Book Sale at NE Library. July 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (second Saturday of the month). Shop a wide range of donated titles, most $1 to $2. 330 Seventh St. NE. www.dclibrary.org
Summer Evening Hours at the Botanic Garden. On July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17, the Conservatory stays open until 8 p.m. for visitors to explore the USBG plant collection while enjoying live music beginning at 5 p.m. Refreshments for purchase. www.usbg.gov
Rest-in-Poses Yoga Class at Congressional Cemetery. Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. to noon. This outdoors class is Vinyasa-style flow, beginner friendly, taught by Jennifer Carpenter (Jenuine Yogi). She has taught pop-up classes for eight years, most benefiting local nonprofits in the Frederick area. $21.40. www.congressionalcemetery.org
SOJA with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Nats Park. Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. For more than two decades, SOJA has elated audiences across the globe with fresh takes on roots reggae, a sound born from their shared passion for making music that transports and inspires. General admission, $62. www. unionstagepresents.com u
Hill
Events Calendar
“American Aspirations” at the Smithsonian Castle. Through July 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily. To honor the 250th anniversary of the nation, the Smithsonian Institution is presenting the promise and aspirations of America expressed through more than 30 of its most treasured objects. www.si.edu/castle
America’s State Flowers: An America 250 Celebration. Through Oct. 12, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the US Botanic Garden blooms with the flowers each state and territory has chosen as its official flower. Explore the display that shows the state and territory flowers with living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations and herbarium specimens. www.usbg.gov
American Icon: The US Flag in Art at the NGA. Through Dec. 6. This installation features 30 artworks tracing how the meaning of the flag
has evolved over time. It explores what the flag represents and how people connect with paintings, prints and photographs by artists like Gordon Parks, Childe Hassam, Dorothea Lange, Jasper Johns and Faith Ringgold. www.nga.gov
“In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness” at American History. The exhibition features 250 objects from the 1700s to the 21st century and spans 250,000 square feet across the museum’s three public floors. Highlights include George Washington’s uniform and sword, the desk Thomas Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence and the 1813 flag that inspired the National Anthem. www.americanhistory.si.edu
Patriots Path: A Revolutionary War Encampment. Through Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily, at Mount Vernon. Walk through an 18th-century Continental Army encampment featuring soldiers’ tents and an officer’s tent. At this hands-on attraction located on the 12-acre field, you can touch the items inside the tents, wash clothes in the laundry yard, and examine cooking utensils used by women and children who traveled with the army. www. mountvernon.org
Independence Day Concert at the Capitol and Dress Rehearsal. The concert is on the West Lawn of the Capitol, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., immediately followed by fireworks. Public access opens at 3 p.m. The entrance gates are located at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds. Checkpoints will be set up, and all bags and parcels will be checked. The concert dress rehearsal, with a smaller crowd but the same checkpoints, is on Friday, July 3, with public access opening at 3 p.m. No tickets required for either event. www.pbs. org/a-capitol-fourth
“Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration” at the National Archives. Through July 5, 2027, the exhibition features 40 artifacts including a 1763 broadside of King George III’s “Instructions to the Governors of His Provinces in America,” the Lee Resolution that proposed declaring independence and the 1776 Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence. www.archives.gov
“Revolutionary Arguments: The Legal Fight for Independence” at the US Supreme Court. This exhibit highlights legal arguments featured in the Declaration of Independence that influenced state constitu-
tions and the US Constitution. The Supreme Court is open Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed Saturdays, Sundays and Federal Holidays. www.supremecourt.gov
“Spirit of ’76” Jubilee at the Capitol Visitor Center. July 2 to 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with three days of family-friendly events, interactive experiences and patriotic fun at the Capitol Visitor Center. Activities include handson crafts and storytelling, interactive mapping activities, historic object encounters, curator-led tours of the “Spirit of ’76” exhibit and live presentations throughout the day. www.visitthecapitol.gov
Freedom Fireworks at Nats Park. July 3, after 6:45 p.m. game against the Pirates. Nationals vs. Pirates on July 4 at 11:05 a.m. A Nationals patriotic shirt giveaway on July 5 at 1 p.m. before game against the Pirates. www.mlb.com/nationals/schedule/2026-07
An American Celebration at Mount Vernon. July 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy a day of patriotic events, including daytime fireworks over the Potomac, historic demonstrations, family activities and a naturalization ceremony. Events included with admission: Adults, $30; ages 6-11, $16; ages to five, free. www.mountvernon.org
“We Sing America”: Planet Word Celebrates the 4th of July. July 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Franklin Park, between 13th and 14th streets and I and K streets NW. Pack a picnic and head to Franklin Park for a free, all-ages community singalong brought to you by Planet Word. From folk songs to classics to civil rights anthems, journey through the music that tells America’s story. www.planetwordmuseum.org
Capitol Hill July 4th Parade. July 4, from 10 a.m. to noon, starting at Eighth Street and Virginia Avenue SE and ending at Eastern Market Metro Plaza. The parade includes businesses, elected officials, community groups, veterans, youth organizations, cultural performers, marching bands and more. The Capitol Hill BID’s “men in blue” will toss out goodies to onlookers. www.capitolhillbid.org
Sweet Land of Legacy: Ice Cream Social and Art Workshop at ACM. July 4, noon to 1 p.m.,
Dress rehearsal on July 3. Smaller crowds, more fun.
ice cream; 1 to 3 p.m., art activities. Following the ice cream social, families will participate in a hands-on workshop creating legacy-inspired artworks that explore roots, values and dreams for the future. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. www.anacostia.si.edu
Grave of Vice-President Elbridge Gerry at Congressional Cemetery.
Fourth at The Wharf. July 4, celebrate America 250 with live country music. On District Pier Stage, 5 p.m., Melissa Quinn Fox, and 7 p.m., Chris Ryan Band. On Transit Pier Floating Stage, 5 p.m., Shane Gambles & The Pawnshop Hearts, and 7 p.m., Shawn Parsons & The Secret Service. On the Grove Stage at 7 p.m., Jeremiah Prophett & Band. On M Street Landing, 5 p.m., Gary Palumbo, and 7 p.m., Emily Woodhull. Fireworks viewing locations include District Pier, Recreation Pier, Transit Pier and restaurants and bars at The Wharf. www. wharfdc.com
Elbridge Gerry: America 250 Commemoration at Congressional Cemetery. July 4, from 10 a.m. to noon. The program includes the presentation of colors, the National Anthem, the playing of taps, unveiling a new interpretive sign and a wreath- and flower-laying at Gerry’s grave. Elbridge Gerry is the only signer of the Declaration of Independence and the only vice-president buried in Washington, DC. www.congressionalcemetery.org
America’s National Independence Day Parade. July 4, at 10:30 a.m. The parade starts at Third Street and Constitution Avenue SW, runs south along Third Street to Independence Avenue, heads west at Independence Avenue and ends at Twelfth Street. It consists of invited bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military and specialty units, giant balloons, equestrian drill teams, VIPs, national dignitaries and celebrity participants. www.july4thparade.com
Independence Day Mass at the National Shrine. On July 4, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE, welcomes those travelling to Washington to
commemorate Independence Day. All are invited to gather in prayer at America’s Catholic Church. The 12:10 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington. This Mass will be livestreamed at www.nationalshrine. org/Mass.
July Family Day: The Declaration of Independence. July 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Celebrate at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building with activities highlighting the Declaration of Independence and its legacy. View displays of the library’s holdings related to the document and its history. The event is free, but tickets are required. www.loc.gov
“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” at Hill Center. July 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. In April 2015, the Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration Series launched with a series of programs that considered Ta-Nehisi Coates’ question, “Why do so few Blacks study the Civil War?” The discussion features historians Edna Greene Medford, Kay Wright Lewis and John Muller. $12. 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. www.hillcenterdc.org
Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration. July 11 at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St. Experience this Alexandria event filled with live music, food-and-drink vendors and a finale fireworks display on the Potomac. Free admission. ◆
TP PHOTO CONTEST E S
Congratulations to the Winners of our Annual Pet Photo Contest!
Besides looking for submissions that are well-composed, our judges like photos that tell stories or ones that say something true about our companion animals or our bond with them. They admired the ability of these shots to make the viewer stop and take in the beauty of the cat against the dark, the hilarious expression on the dog looking at her yawning partner, or the trio of cats alert at the window. On the following pages are the winners of our other categories. Thanks to everyone who participated in our eve- popular Pet Photo Contest.
Cat: Hendrix Bilbeisi, “High-contrast drama with low-key judgment.” by Suzanne Bilbeisi
Penelope and Penny Lane. “My friend, what a big tongue you have!”, by Emily Levinson
Bertie, Nigel & Jasper birdwatching. by Linda Hight
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For over two decades, Dr. Moiseiwitsch (“Dr. M”) has been a trusted endodontist in Washington, D.C., consistently recognized among Washington’s Best Dentists including “Top of the Top” honors. Known for his gentle approach, Dr. M offers a full range of sedation options, but many patients will tell you his real secret is storytelling and humor— often enough to make people fall asleep in the chair!
After years in Northwest D.C., Dr. M and his wife opened Capitol Hill Endodontics on Pennsylvania Avenue SE, bringing advanced care to the Hill. He treats patients of all ages, from toddlers to great-grandparents. His philosophy is simple: whenever possible, teeth should be saved.
Credentials & Experience
• Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics
• Ph.D. in Craniofacial Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Former UNC and UCSF faculty member
• Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
• On staff, Children’s National Medical Center, where he developed the pediatric endodontics curriculum
Darling Dog
Trappy. by Josh Perry
“Florals for Spring? Growl-breaking...” by Steven Yates
“Just resting my eyes!”. River by Noah Meyerson
Tibetan Terrier Harry Bekesha. “Happy, Hairy and always Harry!” by Dale and Bob Bekesha
Lupa. “Lobbying for One More Throw” by Brittany Tovar.
“If cats could talk, they wouldn’t.” –Anonymous. by
Susan Faust
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Buffalo and Lionel.
“Let the sunshine in…” by Bob Dardano
Albertine “Sleeping Beauty” by William Chettle
Pet: Jesse Winchester, “I said dinner at 6:00. It is 6:01.” by Karen Kitching
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Tuna – Shadow and Light. by Natalie Skidmore
Pet: Vivi, “Santa Claws and Elves” by Veronica Riquelme
Tater Tot. by Susan Fournier
Pet: Bailey. by Hannah McDonald-Moniz
“Grace. Beauty. A little bit of trouble.” Pet: Coco. by Patty Brosmer
“Luca, Couch Potato” by Emily Blackwell
Best Buddies-Human
Snowy & Brownie. “The best therapy comes with whiskers and wagging tails.” by Faith Winkler
Albert - “I love my Grandma.” by Kirsten von Topel
“Friends Furever” Pets: Biscotti (dark pink collar) and Hazel (light pink collar). by Channing Kelly by Desiree Carey
Chase Leo by Stephonie Magruder
Best Buddies-Pets
“Pure joy, salt air and best friends”. Stella and Scout. by Donna Roberts
“Little Sisters” Pets: Oaklee & Zelda by Jenn Hougland
Pets: Garfield (Orange) & Greta by Marc Shaller
Pet: Red (right) & ??? by Jennifer Homendy
Sir Edmund with baby Charles “Naptime”. by Morgan Giddings and Dave Young
“Starlight loves hiking followed by a comfortable couch!” by Loredana Santo
“Carrot and her favorite Hello Kitty stuffy (yes, she is an orange girl cat!)”. by Katherine Taylor
“Play Date!” Max (the dog) and Pancho. by Fernando Wright
Artichoke Touhey, Commander in Leash “Some come for power, I come for treats” by Ruthcarol Touhey
Take me out to the ballgame! Dog: Lincoln. by Karen Zens
Gwennie and Madalyn at the Loving Hands sculpture. by Andrea Maleter
Penny by Sara-Jane Gage
“Ball or Ice Cream?” Pet: Moses. by Paula Fynboh & Robinson Cook
Cathy Phillips
Gail Levine
John Troutman
Julie Rios
Justine Noel Kelly Maurer
Krysten Thomas Lance Wright
Libby Quaid
Madison Ritarita
Jay Adelstein
Jennifer Hoff
John Johnson
Danielle Solomon
Edward Giefer
Elizabeth Held
Bethany Martin
Carolyn Rondthaler
Marc Holmes
Mary Pfeiffer
Matt Jex
Maura Kennedy
Maureen Buell
Megan Dominish
Michael Sandifer
Nancy Bates
Pat Leitner
Rindy O’Brien
Sara Ritchey
Terry Nicolosi
Tessa Biswell Tom Dunkel
Victor Romero Wendy Cronin
Is Fido Anxious?
The District Vet
by Dan Teich, DVM
When dog owners seek help for leash-pulling, barking, lunging or other frustrating behaviors, they often focus on the behavior itself, yet many of these problems are symptoms rather than causes. Dogs that feel anxious, insecure, overwhelmed or uncertain frequently express those emotions through behaviors that owners nd challenging or upsetting. Understanding why a dog is behaving a certain way is often the rst step toward meaningful improvement. To make life pleasant for all involved, small changes can make dogs feel more secure, and a secure dog is generally a happy dog.
Behavior Is Communication
In general, dogs aren’t trying to be di cult, with a few exceptions I have seen in my career. (They know who they are.) It should be realized that behavior is communication. When a dog is pulling on a leash with no overt cause, and it’s chalked up to being “excited” or “stubborn,” ask what the behavior is accomplishing. There may be an underlying cause such as anxiety, fear, frustration, a predatory drive or simply poor training.
Undesirable behavior usually has a cause and is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Step back and think about causes of the behavior and understand that actions may be a consequence of something else. There is de nitely a di erence between anxiety, fear and just plain old excitement.
Rule Out Medical Causes
Once we recognize that behavior is often a symptom rather than the problem, the next question becomes whether there is an underlying medical or physical reason. Puppies are puppies and generally don’t have signi cant medical problems contributing to behavior issues, but they do teethe, which can be uncomfortable, and some may even have “growing pains.” In all dogs, whenever a sudden behavioral change develops with no apparent cause, a veterinary exam may be warranted before the issue is assumed to be purely behavioral.
Just like people, dogs will be grumpy if in pain. Osteoarthritis can make dogs less tolerant of handling or other dogs. Older (and sometimes even not-so-old) dogs may not simply grow grumpy being around puppies ‒ they may have aching joints and not want to rough-house. Pain also greatly increases reactivity and possibly even biting behavior. The same can be attributed to hearing and vision loss. They may be more or less reactive. We’ve touched upon this in past articles. Brain aging leads to behavioral changes, as does endocrine disease. There may be something medical behind that behavior you are noticing.
Creating Predictability
We generally like routines, and so do dogs. A routine reduces uncertainty, and reducing uncertainty leads to less anxiety. Stable routines for feeding, exercise, rest, training and home schedules usually make for a happier dog.
Behavioral changes and anxieties may be noted when routines are broken in unexpected ways. Moving residences, adding a new family member (human or animal), losing a companion pet, changing jobs or schedules, boarding and travel may all trigger behavioral changes. New behavior developing? Ask if anything in the routine has changed.
Adding Enrichment
Here’s a theme we have addressed over the years. Remember that a bored dog may easily become stressed. While exercise is essential, being tired or physically t isn’t su cient: they must use their brains! Monotony leads to bad behavior in dogs and people. A “misbehaving” dog may need more enrichment. Consider sni -walks, food puzzles, simple training games, hide-and-seek with treats or teaching a new trick. Mental exercise often tires a dog more e ectively than another mile on the leash. A tired dog is not necessarily a calm dog; a mentally-enriched dog is better equipped to handle stress.
Positive Experiences
A rule of training is, “reward good behavior, ignore bad.” Remember that attention is a reward. Dogs do not always understand why they are being corrected, particularly if the correction occurs after the behavior has already happened. Or if harsh, a corrective command may increase fear and anxiety! Modern behavioral training fo-
cuses on rewarding desired behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones. Dogs that feel safe and successful are generally more receptive to learning than dogs that are fearful or confused. Avoid known stressful situations whenever possible and don’t overwhelm them with stimuli. It is important to set them up with positive experiences in order to succeed.
Patience Matters
Con dence is not an innate behavior ‒ it develops over time. Progress is rarely linear and often comes in ts and starts. Many owners hope for immediate improvement, but confidence, resilience and trust are usually built over weeks or even months. While exercise is important, many anxious dogs bene t just as much from mental enrichment, training and predictable routines.
Perhaps most importantly, the solution is often not simply finding a way to stop an unwanted behavior, but understanding what that behavior is trying to communicate. When we address the underlying cause, whether it is pain, anxiety, uncertainty, boredom or a lack of training, we frequently nd that the behavior improves on its own. The goal is not perfection but helping a dog become more comfortable, condent and resilient. A secure dog is generally a happier dog, and a happier dog makes life more enjoyable for everyone. Like most worthwhile things in life, that takes time.
CAPITOL STREETS
Aging In Place, Together
A Look Back–and a Big Year Ahead–at Capitol Hill Village
When I think about what makes Capitol Hill special, I keep coming back to a simple idea: nobody should have to leave the neighborhood they love just because they’ve grown older. That belief is the heart of Capitol Hill Village, and serving as its President these past two years has been one of the great privileges of my life on the Hill.
As my tenure comes to a close, and as CHV approaches its 20th anniversary, I want to share why this organization matters, and why I hope you’ll consider being part of what comes next.
What CHV Does
by Maury Stern
Capitol Hill Village is a membershipbased nonprofit that helps neighbors age in place with confidence, connection, and dignity. We’re part of the national “Village” movement, but we’re proudly local: run by and for the people who call the Hill home. For our members, that means rides to medical appointments, help with the small logistics of daily life, vetted referrals for everything from handymen to home health aides, and a calendar full of social events, talks, and friendships. What’s struck me most is how often the line between “helper” and “helped” disappears. Members volunteer for one another. Neighbors who joined to receive support end up giving it. That back-and-forth is what makes the model work.
Twenty Years on the Hill
This year marks a real milestone: Capitol Hill Village is turning 20. Two decades ago, a handful of neighbors decided that growing older here should be a supported choice rather than a daily struggle—and they built some-
thing that has since served hundreds of households on Capitol Hill.
We’ll be celebrating throughout the year, and I hope you’ll join us. Whether you’ve been a member since the early days or are just hearing about CHV for the first time, our 20th anniversary is a good moment to connect with this community. Watch for event announcements, and come see what two decades of neighbors looking out for one another actually looks like.
An Invitation
Good organizations run on people who show up. As I hand off the President’s role, CHV is actively looking for new members, Board members, and Committee volunteers to help carry this work into its next chapter. If you or someone you love could use CHV’s support, reach out and learn about membership—there’s no better time to join than as we mark 20 years. And if you want to help shape what comes next, we need you too. You don’t have to be a nonprofit expert. We welcome people with all kinds of skills—finance, communications, fundraising, event planning, technology, outreach—and people who simply care about their neighbors. Committee service is a lower-commitment way to get involved and see whether the Board might be a fit down the road.
Leading this organization has taught me that what makes Capitol Hill work isn’t simply its history or its rowhouses. It’s the people, and the fact that we look out for each other. That’s what Capitol Hill Village does, and it’s worth keeping it going for another 20 years.
Maury Stern is the outgoing president of Capitol Hill Village. To learn more about membership, volunteering, or joining the Board, visit www.capitolhillvillage.org or contact Executive Director Judy Berman at jberman@capitolhillvillage.org. u
The Capitol Hill Village Mahjong group is one of the popular social groups that support the vision of the Village to make Capitol Hill a welcoming home for all residents. The group meets weekly at various Capitol Hill businesses where they can enjoy food and fellowship. Photo: Sophia Ross
National Capital Bank to Merge with Old Dominion Capitol Hill Will Be Headquarters
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
For many Capitol Hill residents, businesses and neighborhood organizations, National Capital Bank is more than a place to cash checks or secure a loan. The institution at 316 Pennsylvania Ave. SE has been part of the community since 1889, financing homes, supporting local nonprofits and maintaining the kind of face-to-face banking relationship that has become increasingly rare.
Now, the bank is preparing for its biggest change since it added the first drive-through teller in the 1950s.
National Capital Bancorp, the holding company for National Capital Bank of Washington, announced June 15 that it has agreed to merge with Tysons Corner-based ODNB Financial Corporation, parent company of Old Dominion National Bank. The transaction will create a combined institution with approximately $2.4 billion in assets and 10 branches spanning Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida. The combined company would retain the National Capital Bank name and maintain its headquarters on Capitol Hill.
For customers worried that the merger signals the loss of one of Capitol Hill’s oldest institutions, bank leaders say the opposite is true. “This was really about our history and our depositors,” said Andy Didden, a fifth-generation representative of the family that has been involved with the bank since its founding. “When it became clear to us that it would be good for them, then it became a good decision for all of us.”
Why Merge?
The merger comes at a time when community banks nationwide face growing pressure from rising regulatory costs, technology investments and increasingly competitive financial markets.
Richard B. “Randy” Anderson Jr., chair and chief executive officer of National Capital Bancorp, said many smaller banks are exploring partnerships because operating independently has become more difficult. “It’s hard to survive without getting scale,” Anderson said. “The economies of scale are very important.” He cited shrinking interest margins, regulatory expenses and the growing cost of maintaining technology platforms as factors driving consolidation across the banking industry.
Yet executives from both institutions insist economics alone did not drive the decision.
Mark Merrill, chair and chief executive officer of Old Dominion
National Bank, said discussions began between colleagues who had known each other for more than a decade and who believed the two banks shared similar values. “Either bank needed to do this,” Merrill said. “It was very opportunistic based on the relationships and what we thought we could do together.”
Merrill and Anderson previously worked together at Virginia Commerce Bank and continued collaborating after moving to separate institutions. Over the years, the banks collaborated in commercial lending transactions, creating a level of trust that eventually led to merger discussions.
Executives repeatedly described the institutions as “community banks” with similar cultures focused on local decision-making and longterm customer relationships.
What Changes for Customers?
According to bank leaders, very little. Unlike many bank mergers, this transaction will not require customers to move to a new operating system. Both banks use the same core banking platform, a circumstance executives described as unusually advantageous. “The account numbers should remain the same, the online banking should remain the same,” Didden
Staff outside National Capital Bank in 2019.
said. “Unless you really dug into it, you may not actually know that something had occurred.”
Customers will continue banking under the National Capital Bank name. The Pennsylvania Avenue branch will remain open and serve as headquarters for the combined bank. Executives said they expect staff members to remain in place, including tellers and branch personnel familiar to neighborhood customers.
Debra Keats, a longtime National Capital Bank employee and Capitol Hill resident, said customers she has spoken with since the announcement have generally reacted positively. “It is two great community banks that are bringing the best of the best and merging them,” Keats said. “We have things that they don’t have, they have things we don’t have, and so we’re bringing even more to our customers.”
The merger will also preserve local governance. Seven National Capital directors, including members of the Didden family, will join the 17-member board of the combined company. Anderson will serve as non-executive chair, while Merrill will become chief executive officer.
A Larger Footprint
The combined bank will become the seventh-largest bank headquartered in the Washington metropolitan area, according to the merger announcement. It will hold approximately $2.4 billion in assets, combining National Capital’s $735.3 million with Old Dominion’s roughly $1.6 billion.
Bank executives argue that additional scale will allow them to invest in technology and expand services while retaining a
community-bank model.
Merrill pointed to Old Dominion’s office at 14th and P streets NW as an example. The bank has invested in interactive teller technology there but has not established a traditional full-service branch. Following the merger, executives said, they may explore additional service locations throughout the District that connect customers with live bank employees through video technology while maintaining local staffing and decision-making.
The merger will also create a publicly traded institution. The combined holding company expects to list on either Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NACB, potentially making it easier for local residents to purchase shares in the bank.
“For the first time, if our community members and shareholders and depositors actually wanted to purchase stock in the local bank, they’ll have the opportunity to do that,” Didden said.
Community Connections
Executives stressed that community involvement will remain central to the institution’s mission. National Capital Bank has long been intertwined with Capitol Hill civic life. Neighborhood organizations, businesses and advisory neighborhood commissions maintain accounts there, and bank staff regularly participate in community events and charitable efforts.
Anderson said support for local organizations and volunteer activities would continue after the merger.
The emphasis on preserving local identity was a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Didden said National Capital was not interested in being absorbed by a larger institution and instead sought a partner that would allow it to remain recognizable to customers while gaining the resources needed to compete in a changing industry.
“We did not want to do something with a larger bank,” Didden said. “We wanted to have a merger partner so we could do things together.”
Community Reaction
Capitol Hill BID chair Don Denton moved to the Hill in the 1970s and decided to bank local with NCB. “I quickly learned that it was not just a place to do my banking business but also found it to be a community center,” he said. Denton said he would often cross paths with friends and neighbors and had so many community meetings in the new building. “Nearly every community organization I have been involved with
Randy Anderson and Mark Merrill
over the years not only enjoyed nancial support from NCB but there was always one of their sta there giving time and e ort to the community organization’s mission,” Denton said.
In the 1990s, a group of local businesspeople led by former NCB chair George Didden III began the e orts that led to the creation of the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District. Eventually, Denton became part of the BID, working with Didden to nurture the BID.
All these years later, Denton said, NCB has remained true to its original role in the community, continuing to grow and to bring innovation and services to its customers. “I have no doubt this merger will be a very positive move for all of the bank’s customers,” Denton said. “More services and more opportunities will grow and protect our neighborhood gem for many more decades to come.”
Next Steps
The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies but requires approval from regulators and shareholders. The companies expect the transaction to close during the fourth quarter of 2026.
If approved, the result will be a larger institution with a broader geographic footprint but a familiar name on Pennsylvania Avenue. For Capitol Hill customers, that may be the most important point.
“The idea of being able to continue the bank as we de ne it, and not just the bank, but all the things we’ve done to serve the community, was paramount to this decision,” Didden said. ◆
ANC 6A REPORT
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
CStipulated License for The Hall on H Supported
Street SE. Both proj-
ommissioners voted to support a stipulated alcohol license for The Hall on H Street at 1258 H St. NE, subject to execution of a settlement agreement. The Hall on H is seeking a Class C Restaurant License from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA). The 84-seat hall serves food from various vendors, including Double Up Burger and AunTea Boba. Commissioner Gertz said the business has agreed to ANC 6A’s standard settlement agreement and is seeking permission to serve alcohol while its permanent license application proceeds through the ABCA process. The consent agenda passed unanimously.
DC Dank Appeal Continues
ects had been removed
from the mayor’s proposed budget but were restored by DC Council.
on the FY2027 budget approved on rst reading by DC Council. A second vote is scheduled later this month. She said the $21.2 billion budget restored funding for several programs that had been reduced or eliminated in the mayor’s proposal.
Committee members also reviewed WMATA’s proposed Gold Line
Commissioner Gertz reported that the appeal process continues for DC Dank, a proposed medical cannabis dispensary at 712 15th St. NE. ABCA previously rescinded the business’s placard after determining the location lies within 400 feet of Miner Elementary School (601 15 St. NE), making it ineligible for a new cannabis retailer license under District law. The applicant has appealed that determination. There was no vote.
Transportation Committee Reviews Vision Zero, Gold Line and Micromobility
Transportation and Public Space Committee chair Patrick Bloomstine outlined several issues discussed at the committee’s May meeting. Bloomstine said the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) plans to begin long-delayed Vision Zero safety improvements near Maury Elementary School this summer, including a protected bike lane on the 100 block of 13th Street NE. The project had been delayed approximately 18 months.
The committee also discussed restoration of funding for WMATA’s Better Bus Network redesign and for a protected bicycle facility on 11th
Line bus rapid transit project. Members expressed concern that discussion around the project has focused heavily on serving RFK Stadium redevelopment rather than creating a robust transit corridor connecting neighborhoods across the city. The proposed route would eventually run from Benning Road through downtown to Georgetown.
Additional discussion focused on dangerous operation of shared scooters and e-bikes, particularly on sidewalks. The committee plans to continue working with DDOT, DC Council sta and micromobility providers on possible solutions. There was no vote.
Council Budget Restores Childcare, Housing and Arts Funding
Jen DeMayo, constituent services representative for Ward 6 Coun-
Among the restorations were support
funding for the Pay Equity Fund and Child Care Subsidy Program, which support childcare providers and help stabilize costs for families. The budget also restored most proposed reductions to Paid Family Leave, maintaining six weeks of medical leave and 10 weeks of family leave, while parental leave remains at 12 weeks.
DeMayo said the budget funds 495 new housing vouchers, including vouchers for families exiting Rapid Rehousing, and restores $30 million for Access to Justice programs providing legal assistance to low-income residents. Funding for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities was also restored, preserving support for institutions including Atlas Performing Arts Center.
Additional investments include $10 million for the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund, continued funding for the new entrance at the NoMaGallaudet Metro station, funding for Eighth Street NE activation grants
cilmember Charles Allen (D), updated commissioners
and a feasibility study for an Eighth Street business improvement district. DeMayo also highlighted funding for WMATA, including planned improvements at StadiumArmory Metro station tied to redevelopment of the RFK campus.
She also announced a July 2 hearing before the Committee of the Whole on legislation introduced by Allen to reform how the District approves medical cannabis dispensaries. The bill follows concerns raised during several recent licensing cases in Ward 6. There was no vote.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A met online via Zoom June 11 with Commissioners Kimberly Butler (6A02), Ashley Blake (6A03), Morgan Conley (6A05), Jeff Gertz (6A06), Steve Kolb (6A07, vice chair) and Scott Burger (6A01, secretary) present. Chair Amber Gove (6A04) was absent.
ANC 6A generally meets monthly on the second Thursday. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, July 9. See www.ANC6A.org for details on upcoming meetings and how to participate. u
Wingstop Advances After Months of Negotiation
ANC 6B REPORT
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B voted 7-1 to support an application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a Wingstop
venue at 406 Eighth St. SE, conditioned on a detailed memorandum of agreement negotiated between the applicant, neighboring residents and the ANC Planning and Zoning Committee.
Fast food restaurants are limited on Barracks Row. The application requests a special exception to permit that use. The application has been under discussion since January and has generated opposition from residents concerned about odor, trash, rats, delivery traffic, late-night activity and the concentration of fast-food establishments on Barracks Row.
Planning and Zoning Committee chair David Sobelsohn said negotiations resulted in significant changes to the proposal. The most recent revisions focused on operating hours. Under the agreement, Wingstop would close at midnight, Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant would stop accepting walk-in customers at 1 a.m. and cease all service at 2 a.m., including delivery and online orders.
Commissioners acknowledged that many residents remain opposed to fast-food use at the location. A petition opposing the application drew hundreds of signatures, and neighbors continue to raise concerns about quality-of-life impacts. However, supporters of the agreement argue that the ANC’s role is to negotiate enforceable conditions rather than decide broader policy questions about fast-food restaurants on Barracks Row.
The commission also discussed how the agreement would be enforced if the applicant later altered plans. Commissioners noted that support is conditioned on compliance with the negotiated terms
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 Murphy 7D04 – River Terrace 7d04@anc.dc.gov
Ebony Payne 7D05 – Kingman Park 7d05@anc.dc.gov
Ashley Schapitl 7D09 – Hill East 7d09@anc.dc.gov
Vacant SMD 7D02 – Mayfair 7d02@anc.dc.gov
Dev Myers 7D10 – Hill East 7d10@anc.dc.gov
Virtual Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/82241 895770?pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuXw1vbrC1 rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d July 8 I 7 p.m.
and that the BZA would have authority to enforce conditions attached to any approval.
ANC Seeks Changes to ABCA Protest Procedures
The commission devoted significant discussion to a recent setback involving ANC 6B’s protest of the liquor-license application to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) for Civic on 8th (501 Eighth St. SE).
During a June 1 roll-call hearing, ANC 6B learned its January protest filing had been dismissed because the letter failed to state the reasons for the protest. Commissioners acknowledged the filing error but sharply criticized ABCA for waiting approximately five months before notifying the ANC that the filing was deficient.
Commissioners said the delay undermined months of negotiations over a potential settlement agreement. By the time the ANC learned the protest was invalid, commissioners were in the final stages of negotiations and had lost much of the leverage that comes with a pending protest. They argue the issue extends beyond the Civic case and raises broader questions about fairness and transparency in the District’s alcohol licensing process.
ANC 6B unanimously voted to file for a reinstatement of the protest in pursuit of the SA. They also voted to send a letter to DC Council seeking regulatory changes requiring timely notice of deficient protest filings and creation of a cure period.
Letter Re: Fast-Food Ordinances
The ANC unanimously voted to send a letter to DC Council and to the mayoral candidates, asking them to change the definition of fast-food restaurants. The letter argues that DC’s zoning restriction against fast food does not focus on harms that fast-food restaurants have actually been causing. The letter requests that council change the definition of fast food and also make DC noise ordinances enforceable by residents, given that Department of Buildings inspectors do not work the hours when the noise law is in effect.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B met in a hybrid format on Tuesday, June 9, at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, and via Zoom. Pres-
ent were Tyler Wolanin (6B01), Gerald “Jerry” Sroufe (6B02), David Sobelsohn (6B03, secretary), Brian Gorman (6B04), Samuel Pastore (6B05, chair), Anna Krebs (6B06, treasurer), Vince Mareino (6B07) and Karen Hughes (6B09). SMD 6B08 is vacant.
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 Tuesday, July 14. Details are available at www.anc6b.org. u
National Guard Out!
ANC 6C REPORT
by Sarah Payne
After months of silence from District officials on the National Guard’s presence in the neighborhood, commission secretary Hayes introduced a resolution expressing commissioner- and community-member concern and calling for an end to the postings and patrols within 6C.
Last fall, commissioners submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) concerning National Guard activity and immigration enforcement across the city. Commissioners expressed frustration with the District’s “lack of engagement” with these requests.
The resolution highlights concerns about the presence of armed patrols and postings in neighborhoods, parks and near schools and workplaces. It also references reports from local businesses of declining foot traffic and revenue associated with the federal law enforcement surge; expresses concern about the increased concentration and volume of troops in residential and commercial areas; argues that National Guard presence does not have a significant impact on violent crime; expresses concern that troops have interacted with District residents in ways inconsistent with guidance from Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-
DC) and questions the legality of the deployment. The resolution requests that MPD Commander Colin Hall coordinate with National Guard units and JTF-DC in support of this request. “I think it’s a well-reasoned request,” Hayes said of the resolution. “Many neighbors, community members, constituents I’ve talked to are not in favor of the ongoing National Guard presence here in ANC 6C.”
The commission voted unanimously to adopt the resolution and approve the distribution of an associated press release.
Other Matters
The Commission voted to:
• urge the Office of Planning (OP) to support increased housing capacity and supply through additional density, full use of allowances provided by the Height Act, zoning and permitting reforms, removal of parking minimums, revisions to building codes, housingproduction-based subsidies and the creation of a time frame in which District agencies are required to approve projects. The resolution also calls for equitable application of these policies across the city;
• support the application of Old City Market and Oven (522 K St. NE) to implement a new sidewalk cafe;
• support the zoning application of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (313 Second St. NE) for a special exception and area variance to create a single record lot, raze the existing structure and construct a two-story parish hall;
• oppose the Historic Preservation Application (HPA) of Bistro Cacao (316 Massachusetts Ave. NE) for concept approval to construct a large pergola in public space abutting the front facade due to the “incomplete and conflicting information” provided to the commission.
Commissioners Jeremiah Foxwell (6C01), Karen Wirt (6C02, chair), Jay Adelstein (6C03, treasurer), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04, vice chair), Daniela McInerney (6C05), Andrew Hayes (6C06, secretary) and Tony Goodman (6C07) attended the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C meeting on Wednesday, June 10.
ANC 6C will meet next on Wednesday, July 8, at 7 p.m., via WebEx. Learn more about the commission and register to attend at www.anc6c.org. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag. com. ◆
District Steps Up Air B&B Enforcement
ANC 6D REPORT
by Andrew Lightman
April Randall, the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) chief of legislative affairs, and Anisa Crosby, policy ofcer and DLCP chief of enforcement, briefed the commission on their agency’s regulation of so called Airbnbs. There are two types of temporary rentals licensed by the agency. Short-term rentals involve the host being present at the residence during the stay. Vacation rentals do not require a host’s presence. Both require a licensed issued by DLCP. In both cases, the residence must be the person’s legal domicile, Randall stated. Applicants are required to show “clean hands.” In other words, they owe no money to the city related to taxes or nes. No inspection is required for either license. Short-term rentals are limited to 30 consecutive days. Vacation rentals are limited to 90 days for a single calendar year, she said.
Enforcement can be triggered in several ways, said Crosby. An investigation can be triggered by a resident’s complaint led at the DLCP website. The agency also monitors
advertising on rental platforms, looking for those without a license and for vacation rentals exceeding the 90-day limit, she stated. The rental platforms are very cooperative in agging unlicensed properties, Randall said.
After discovering a possible unlicensed Airbnb, DLCP investigates. The agency has a 50% success rate in bringing unlicensed owners into compliance with a warning, Crosby stated.
As of April 17, DLCP had issued more than 300 notices of infraction in Ward 6 alone, Randall stated. Of those cited, more than 127 have come into compliance by obtaining a license.
Short-term and vacation rentals require a certi cate of occupancy and periodic inspections, according to a Department. of Buildings (DOB) representative, who added. That DOB accepts resident complaints regarding the conditions of neighboring properties, which are kept in a public database. DOB also maintains a public dashboard where complaints can be tracked.
DDOT Pilots
Micro Freight
District Department of Transportation (DDOT) program analyst Lorena Bird and freight branch manager Sam Brooks briefed the commission on a micro-delivery program that the agency is piloting in the Navy Yard with Amazon. The company has set up a neighborhood micro-hub to accept truck deliveries that are transferred to specialized e-bikes for the delivery’s last mile. The objective is to reduce pollution and truck congestion. According to Bird, the e-bikes are four-wheeled, pedal assisted, about four feet in width and equipped with backup
Trade Contractor Outreach
Howard Hospital
Howard Hospital, and the tri-venture partnership of Gilbane Building, Corenic Construction, and WKM Solutions are seeking trade contractors for employment on the Howard Hospital project being constructed at 2041 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20060.
Project description:
A new 400,000 SF, 225-bed state-of-the-art teaching hospital serving as a Level I Trauma Center. This advanced, modern facility will replace the existing hospital, which will remain fully operational throughout construction to support uninterrupted patient care. The project will deliver a comprehensive academic medical center designed to support cutting-edge clinical care, medical education, and research, establishing a new standard for healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Future Procurement Opportunities:
GMP 4- Core and Shell MEPS anticipated August 2026
Wonder Bread Fit-Out anticipated August 2026
Interior Fit-out Bid Packages anticipated January 2027
Location:
Interdisciplinary Research Building 2201 Georgia Avenue NW, Room 221F Washington, DC 20001 Scan to Register:
S I G N U P T O
D A Y !
cameras. Their speed is capped at 15 miles per hour.
DDOT trains and licenses the operators, Bird stated. Delivery bikes are allowed to operate in both bike and vehicular travel lanes but banned from bike trails and sidewalks. They are permitted to use loading zones but may not unload in bike lanes. Each micro-hub operates seven delivery bikes.
The delivery bikes have cameras and other sensors that record delivery and crash metrics. Resident can use the QR codes prominently displayed on the delivery bikes to file a complaint. The program website, www.freight.ddcot.dc.gov, accepts feedback and complaints, Bird said.
SWBID Art Installation
Lexie Albe, deputy executive director of the Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID), requested a letter of support for a public art installation planned for Southwest Library Park. The BID is working with No Plan Studio on the project, she said. The plan is to install interactive, spinning totem poles in the park, except for the playground. The SWBID is applying for funding from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and plans to meet with DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division to ensure the installation has no impact on trees, she said.
Treasurer Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer expressed skepticism about whether the public would interact with the sculptures. Chair Gottlieb Simon asked for a copy of the grant application. The commission voted to table the matter until its July meeting.
Other Matters
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Capt. Paul Hrebenak briefed
the commission on public safety. On July 4, residents should expect tremendous congestion, he warned.
At the recommendation of the commission’s Alcohol & Cannabis Committee (ABC Committee), commissioners voted to protest the request by Philippe Chow DC at 635 Wharf St. SW for substantial changes to the operations of its two summer gardens and the adjacent Merchant Marina, on the grounds of peace, order and quiet.
East of the River Liquors is applying for premises located at The Verge, 1800 Half St. SW. The applicant possesses no lease, nor is there a placard at location. The commission voted to ask the Alcoholic Beverage And Cannabis Administration (ABCA) to postpone all hearings on the proposed Class A License until a physical location is properly placarded. The commission also appointed Mike Myers as the 6D05 representative from the ABC Committee.
The commission voted, at the behest of Commissioner Fast, to write to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation requesting prior notification of all events at DC parks within the commission’s boundaries.
The commission voted to ask the National Park Service to support the removal of paper streets platted on the city. The commission hopes the action will advance the renovation of the federal park at the tip of Buzzard Point.
The commission voted to request a detailed follow-up meeting with the DC Housing Authority on the agency’s plans for James Creek, Syphax and Greenleaf residential complexes. In particular, the commission requested to be briefed on the proposal to move residents of
the first two complexes from Section 8 to Section 9 under the terms of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD).
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on June 15 in person. Commissioners Gottlieb Simon (6D02, chair), Gail Fast (6D03), Bruce Levine (6D06, vice chair), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, treasurer) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08, secretary) attended. Marquell Washington (6DO1), Andrea Pawley (6D04) and Chearie PhelpsEl (6D05) were absent.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is on July 20 via Zoom. For more information, visit www.anc6d.org. u
Traffic Concerns About Benning Road Transfer Station Construction ANC 7D REPORT
by Sarah Payne
Members of the Benning Road Transfer Station Modernization Project advisory team
briefed commissioners on redevelopment plans for a new facility at 3200 Benning Rd. NE, including demolition, construction and temporary neighborhood road use. The proposal to use Foote Street as a temporary thruway during construction drew significant opposition from commissioners, who cit-
ed safety and damage concerns. Following the “massive fire” in 2021 that “compromised the integrity of the building,” the District plans to build a new transfer station on Benning Road to provide access to “safe, efficient and residentfriendly waste diversion activities,” reported Tanya Majette, management program analyst for the Solid Waste Management Administration, Solid Waste Disposal Division of the Department of Public Works (DPW).
Transfer stations are facilities where waste is stored, sorted and relocated. According to the project’s website, plans for the new facility include a larger tipping floor, residential drop-off area and other amenities. Currently, the District’s sole operational transfer station is located in Fort Totten. “Many challenges” face the city, with only one location, Majette said, noting long travel times for residents and highlighting that the influx of waste to a single station can overwhelm facilities and increase the susceptibility to fires.
Concurrently with the project, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) plans to repair a bridge on Anacostia Avenue. When the bridge is out of service for repairs, the project contractor will not have direct access to the work site. The project team plans to divert construction traffic to Foote Street to ensure access during that time, said Lamarr Mayo, project manager at the Department of General Services (DGS), noting that the closure is planned for fall 2026.
To ensure safety, the project team requested that DDOT designate one side of Foote Street as no parking to “prevent the likelihood that a resident or child steps into
the road from between cars,” Mayo said. The parking restrictions, he noted, would only be in e ect during work hours. “We’ll ensure our contractor establishes and enforces strict safety measures as they use this alternate route,” he added.
The project is in the “cleaning and abatement” phase in preparation for demolition, Mayo said, noting that, pending permits, demolition is scheduled to begin in August. New construction is slated to begin in summer 2027 and will take about two years to complete.
The team anticipates that construction activities will produce dust. According to Mayo, the contractor plans to use water misting to control dust and will implement site air-quality monitoring. Proposed construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The use of Foote Street, particularly for large trucks, was a signi cant concern to commissioners given the existing access limitations. “We really have one way in and one way out,” Commissioner Wright said, so residents will need “to navigate 18-wheelers or concrete trucks,” suggesting that “the residential concerns and impact have not been considered.”
Wright questioned if construction teams could access the site through the nearby Pepco facility as an alternative to the residential street. Chair Alcorn echoed her concerns and encouraged the project team to assess alternatives that would be “less impactful to the community.”
“The bridge replacement obviously is something that’s anticipated, but before that bridge is delivered, adding substantial construction truck tra c both in and out of a community that already, e ectively, has one way in and out will I think be quite negative,” Alcorn said. Mayo noted that crews only plan to use Foote Street until the bridge reopens. He added that the team “certainly can look into” using Pepco as an alternative access point.
Wright also raised concerns about how large vehicles could impact the foundations of nearby homes. “We’ve already had concerns about that in the past, and so to direct all of that tra c through Foote Street is a bit concerning,” she added.
The commission took no vote on this matter.
Visit www.dgs.dc.gov/page/ benning-road-transfer-station to learn more about the project.
Other Matters
Representatives from the Kingman Island and Heritage Island Development Project shared a pre-design update. The project will promote and improve access for both the general public and onsite educational programs, maintain the “wild feeling” of the area and preserve nature. It includes plans for large landscaping initiatives, construction of structural amenities, work with DDOT to improve access utilizing existing facilities and more.
The commission voted to: • send a letter to DDOT and Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder to oppose the removal of a roadway guardrail at the intersection of Kenilworth Avenue and 42nd St. NE; • support a two-year time extension on the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application to provide area variance relief to A Street Development
LLC to construct six attached, two-story principal dwelling units with cellar and roof deck between D Street, C Street, 15th Street and 16th Street NE;
• send a letter of support as an “a ected ANC” under zoning regulations for Blue Skye Construction and Development’s request for modi cations to enable an adjustment to the unit mix to enable more family-sized units, the reduction of ground- oor retail use, revisions to parking garage and access arrangements and potential phasing of construction based on market demand and access to nancing.
Commissioners Joshua Taborn (7D01, vice chair), Artilie Wright (7D03), Katie Murphy (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Dominic Pacheco (7D06, secretary), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10) attended the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D meeting on Tuesday, June 9. SMD 7D02 remains vacant.
ANC 7D will meet next on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Learn more about the commission and register to attend at www.7d0761. wixsite.com/anc7d-1. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. ◆
Bulletin Board
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden’s Summer Hours
The National Gallery of Art has extended hours at its Sculpture Garden. Wednesday through Saturday, through Sept. 5, the Sculpture Garden is open until 8 p.m. Admission is free and a special happy hour menu will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., except on Fridays during the Jazz in the Garden concert series. On concert days, the garden closes from 4 to 5 p.m. Gates reopen at 5 p.m. for Jazz in the Garden attendees and the concert begins at 6 p.m. Visitors attending Sculpture Garden Happy Hour may purchase refreshments from a menu featuring sandwiches, salads, snacks and sweets inside the Pavilion Cafe. Beverages include beer, wine, soft drinks and sangria. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics, but outside alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited and subject to confiscation. www.nga.gov
Air and Space Opens Five New Galleries
The National Air and Space Museum offers five new galleries for the 50th anniversary of its building on the National Mall and in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The galleries are the Flight and the Arts Center (the museum’s art gallery), “Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air,” “RTX Living in the Space Age,” “US National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe” and “TEXTRON How Things Fly.” The galleries display returning favorites such as the Hubble Space Telescope,
Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens The commemoration of the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens is on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors are invited to attend the event and explore the Civil War in DC. The annual commemoration program is free, open to all ages, and includes living history demonstrations, live period music, 19th-century children’s games and crafts, history talks and a guided walk from Fort Stevens to Battle Ground National Cemetery. Fort Stevens is near Georgia Avenue at 13th and Quackenbos streets NW. www.nps.gov/places/fort-stevens
Evening Harvest at Oxon Run
On Fridays at The Well at Oxon Run through Sept. 11, join DC Greens for open harvesting hours from 4 to 7 p.m. During Evening Harvest, community members are invited to gather fresh produce directly from their fields. Each person may harvest up to five pounds of produce per visit. As long as produce is available for harvest, all are welcome to come and pick their own. Space is limited and advanced sign-up is required. This event is open to harvesters of all ages. Attendees who are 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult 25 or older. Register at www.dcgreens.org.
Skylab, a North American P-51D Mustang and Lockheed U-2. Artifacts new to the building in Washington include an Ilyushin IL-2, Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, Cessna Skyhawk and artworks by Robert Rauschenberg in the temporary exhibition “The Ascent of Rauschenberg.” The museum’s multi-year
renovation will be finished this fall with the opening of remaining two galleries. www.airandspace.si.edu
National Arboretum’s Summer Evening
Hours Return
The National Arboretum grounds now
DC Open Doors
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. is program o ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. is program o ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. is program o ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia
serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst -time home buyer program
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages.You are not required to be a first-time homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.
DC4ME
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst -time home buyer program.
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst -time home buyer program
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District governmentbased instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/ borrower’s employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
DC4ME VA Loan Product
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
COVID-19
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
The DC4ME VA Loan Product is a VA mortgage product offered by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA). In addition to the traditional VA benefits, like no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance, this product includes 3% assistance, funded by DCHFA, that can be used toward eligible closing costs or prepaid items. This makes the DC4ME VA Loan Product one of the most affordable and accessible loan options for qualified militaryconnected borrowers.
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
HomeAdvantage DC
COVID-19
COVID-19
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
makes homeownership in Washington, D.C. more accessible by offering eligible buyers below-market mortgage financing with flexible assistance options. The program provides qualified homebuyers with a choice of financing structures, including options with and without down payment assistance, to support the purchase of a home in the District of Columbia. Qualified home buyers may be eligible for financing with or without down payment assistance, depending on their needs.
www.DCHFA.org
to apply to any of DCHFA’s
District.
Farmers Market Opens at
The Stacks
Buzzard Point’s Farmers Market at The Stacks in the Corso, 101 V St. SW, is open on Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. The market includes fresh summer produce, flowers and meats. It also features corn, tomatoes, squash, peaches, peppers and watermelon from Taylor’s Produce. Open to the public. www.thestacks.com
open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., every weekday through Friday, Aug. 28. The New York Avenue Gate closes at 2 p.m. The R Street Gate closes at 8 p.m. The Arboretum closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Last admittance is at 4:30 p.m. The New York Avenue Gate closes at 4:30 p.m. The R Street Gate closes at 5 p.m. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. Access to restrooms and water after 4:30 p.m. is at Arbor House, the Grove Parking Lot or the Asian Collections Parking Lot. www. usna.usda.gov
Films at the Stone
Films at the Stone is the only summer film series at a memorial on the National Mall. The films are screened at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and display the best of human strength, love and courage. Here’s the remaining lineup: Friday, July 17, 8 p.m., “Wicked: for Good”; Friday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m., “Michael.” Come early, pack a picnic and
bring blankets or low-profile lawn chairs. Films will be screened on the lawn adjacent to the bookstore at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, 1964 Independence Ave. SW. Guests are encouraged to use public transportation. There is limited and handicapped parking on Ohio Drive and in front of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. www.filmsatthestone.org
Weekly Chair Yoga and Mat Yoga at SW Library
On Saturdays in the large meeting room on the first floor, join Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW, for weekly yoga classes. Chair yoga is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mat yoga begins at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats. www.dclibrary.org
Calling All Artists: Capitol Hill Art Walk
On Sept. 12 and 13, noon to 4 p.m., local artists and artisans will display (and sell) their work in their own micro-gal-
leries in Capitol Hill home-studios, on porches or in yards. The Capitol Hill Art Walk is presented by the Capitol Hill Art League (a program of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop) and co-sponsored by the Hill Rag and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society. Artists are not required to live in the neighborhood but their set-up location must be on the Hill. Any art or craft piece may be displayed and sold. No fees or commissions are taken. It is up to the artists to price and market their art. The registration deadline is Aug. 10. For details and an evolving list of participants, visit www.HillRag. com/Art-Walk-2026.
We the Woolly: Remixing 250
Taking place at Woolly Mammoth’s home at 641 D St. NW, equidistant from both the Capitol and the White House, We the Woolly: Remixing 250 transforms the theatre into a cultural hub where artists, neighbors, families, activists, and audiences come together to envision the future of the nation’s capital—and the country itself. This series celebrates the diversity, creativity, and resilience of DC and its people with live music, dance, spoken word, circus arts, interdisciplinary performance, community conversations, and family-friendly programming. Here’s the lineup: July 1, 6 to 8 p.m., Line Dancing with DMV City Slickerz and District Daiquiri; July 10 to 12, 7 to 8 p.m., New York Circus Project; July 15, 6 to 8 p.m., Native American Dance; July 17, 6 to 8 p.m., Record Fair with HR Records + Jamal Gray of Mezzanine Records; July 19, 3 to 5 p.m., Spit Dat Presents: American Spitstory; July 22, 6 to 8 p.m., Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington--Potomac Fever & Pop-Up Market; July 23, 6 to 8 p.m., Rumpus Room Kids Dance Party; July 25, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Playwriting Workshop and 5 to 6 p.m., Playwright Slam; July 29, 6 to 8 p.m., Orquesta Manplesa; and July 31, 6 to 8 p.m., The Funset at Woolly. All events are free and open to the public. woollymammoth.net.
Full Passport Services Available at MLK Library
There is a walk-in Passport Acceptance Office on the second floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. It is open Tuesday to Thursday, 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Photos may be taken on-site. All applicants must be present. Free printing, copying and scanning are available. Read more about fees and forms at www.dclibrary.org/passports.
Ivy City (Pet) Adoption Center Opens
Brandywine Valley SPCA has announced the opening of the new Ivy City Adoption Center, 1516 Okie St. NE. Shelter hours are: Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Services at this facility are dog and cat adoptions, volunteering, fostering, shelter skip days and behavior assist. www.bvspca.org
Plan a Summer Picnic at the Arboretum
A picnic at the National Arboretum won runner-up for best date activity in the Washington City Paper’s “Best of DC” competition in 2025. The Arboretum has been a finalist in the category since 2022. When planning your picnic, make sure you are following the US National Arboretum’s guidelines: Picnic only in the National Grove of State Trees picnic area. Barbecues, fires and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Playing ball, flying kites, swimming, wading, fishing, skating, skiing, sledding and other sports activities are prohibited. Pets must be leashed at all times and must be controlled so that they do not enter garden beds. Owners must clean up after their pets. Visitors are welcome to pack their own picnics to enjoy on the grounds, or to visit on a Friday evening and grab dinner from a local food truck during Food Truck Fridays. www.usna.usda.gov
Jazzy Sundays in Anacostia
On Sundays, from July 12 through Aug. 30, at 1234 Marion Barry Ave. SE, the Anacostia BID and DCity Smokehouse present Jazzy Sundays. DCity Smokehouse will serve smoky bites and barbecue favorites from its food truck, while the bar keeps the good vibes flowing all afternoon. Come hungry, stay for the music and enjoy the perfect Sunday soundtrack. www.anacostiabid.org
Metro-Library Joint Development at St. Elizabeths East
On June 10, Mayor Bowser joined the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, DC Public Library and community members to celebrate the Congress Heights Metro Station re-
development. The project will deliver a 23,000-square-foot full-service library as well as a reconfigured bus loop that will improve access across the St. Elizabeths East campus and support future development.
DC Water Urges Water Conservation During Regional Drought Watch
Dry conditions, above-average temperatures and below-normal water levels in the Potomac River have triggered a drought watch. Customers can reduce water use with a few simple steps. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Keep showers short to reduce water use. Inspect faucets, toilets, hoses and irrigation systems for leaks and repair them promptly. Wait until dishwashers are full before running a cycle instead of washing dishes by hand. Wash only full loads of laundry whenever possible. Water plants and lawns only when needed and during cooler morning or evening hours. Reduce outdoor water use during dry conditions. www.dcwater.com/resources/ emergencies/drought
The District Running
Collective’s District 19 Is
Back
District 19 on Sunday, Oct. 4, is an unsanctioned road and trail run experience that will weave through all corners and quadrants of the District. All courses will start and end at the same location and there will be course markers along the way to guide you. Choose your distance: 19 miles; 19k and 5k. www.districtrunningcollective.com
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
In the Weeds
by the Capitol Hill Garden Club
I’m not really looking forward to slaving away in my garden this summer. What can I do now to ensure a lazy August?
Think of July as an opportunity to work smarter, not harder. A little effort now can mean fewer hours watering, weeding and rescuing stressed plants when temperatures soar.
One of the best investments you can make is applying mulch. A two- to threeinch layer of shredded hardwood mulch, pine bark or leaf compost around trees, shrubs and perennial beds helps the soil retain moisture and stay cooler. Mulch also suppresses weeds, reducing one of the most time-consuming summer chores. Be sure to keep mulch a few inches away from stems and trunks to prevent rot.
Watering is another area where a little preparation pays dividends. Rather than relying on daily hand watering, consider installing a soaker hose or drip irrigation system. These systems deliver water directly to plant roots, where it is needed most, while minimizing evaporation. Even a simple timer attached to an outdoor faucet can automate the process and keep plants healthy during vacations or busy weeks.
July is also an excellent time to deadhead spent flowers. Removing faded blooms from annuals and many perennials encourages additional flowering and keeps beds looking tidy. While you’re at it, cut back any spring-blooming perennials that have become leggy or unattractive. Many will produce fresh foliage and look much better through late summer.
Take a close look at any plants that consistently struggle during heat waves. If certain plants struggle every summer, consider replacing them with heat-loving native perennials such as purple coneflower, black-
eyed Susan, mountain mint and smooth aster, which thrive in Washington’s climate while supporting local pollinators.
July is also the ideal time to support plants before they flop. Tall perennials such as coneflowers, asters and black-eyed Susans can quickly become top-heavy after summer storms. Adding stakes, cages or discreet supports now is much easier than trying to rescue plants after they have collapsed.
For vegetable gardeners, succession planting can keep the harvest coming while reducing empty space that invites weeds. Consider sowing another round of bush beans, cucumbers or basil. It’s also time to begin planning for fall crops such as kale, spinach, lettuce and radishes. Starting these crops now can provide fresh harvests well into autumn.
Don’t forget to spend a few minutes observing your garden. Take note of areas that dry out quickly, plants that attract pollinators and spots that seem to require constant attention. These observations can guide improvements and help create a more resilient, lower-maintenance landscape.
Finally, give yourself permission to relax. Gardens are living spaces, not museum exhibits. A few weeds, a fading flower or an overgrown corner are signs of a garden that is alive and evolving. By taking a few proactive steps in July, you’ll spend less time working and more time enjoying your garden during August’s hottest days.
After all, the best summer gardens are not necessarily the ones that require the most effort. They’re the ones that allow us to sit in the shade, watch the butterflies and appreciate the season’s beauty.
Want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants? Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@gmail.com.For more information go to the Capitol Hill Garden Club website at www.capitolhillgardenclub.org. u
GARDENS
Black Eyed Susans
Indian Blanket
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.
CONDO
727 Massachusetts Ave NE
7BR/2.5BA/ ENGLISH BASEMENT
$1,899,000
GRAND SEMI-DETACHED VICTORIAN BUILT IN 1900, perfectly positioned between Stanton Park and Lincoln Park. Five original mantels, soaring ceilings, leaded glass doors, extraordinary millwork, rare semi-detached side light, and gracious entertaining rooms throughout 3,600 SF. Three-bedroom English basement — ideal for rental income, guests, or multigenerational living. Two blocks to Pascual, steps to Eastern Market, Walk score 90, Bike score 99.
647 E St NE
4BR/3.5BA/Parking
$2,049,000
CRAFTSMAN CLASSIC. COMPELLING NEW PRICE. A landmark 1914 Arts & Crafts home, completely renovated in 2026 by Capitol Hill’s Pitch Pine Building Company, now freshly priced for a discerning buyer. Over 2,800 SF across four levels — open kitchen w/ island and custom oak cabinetry, Turkish spa-style owner’s bath, four bedrooms, private rear parking courtyard, bonus loft w/ skylights, and a secret bookcase passage. Steps to Union Station, Stanton Park, and Lincoln Park.
DUPONT CIRCLE
HILLCREST
FAMILY LIFE
Delmarva’s Dog-Friendly Beaches Fun
Avacation to the Delaware beaches this summer can be fun and relaxing for both you and your canine companion. Plenty of ocean and bay beaches allow furry friends to join you. My two doodles Gianni and Dante I have explored several and are looking forward to visiting all on this list. No matter what beach you bring your dog to owners are expected to keep dogs under control and clean up after them.
Broadkill Beach
Our hands-down favorite. It’s worth the 30-minute drive from my home in Lewes. The drive north down Route 1 is easy. When you turn onto Route 16, the road heading to Broadkill is like traveling back in time. It’s one lane in either direction. The wildlife and pools of water are stunning to see on either side of the road through Prime Hook Natural Wildlife Refuge. A large tidal wetland ecosystem is visible across the expansive marshlands. The Refuge spans more than 20,000 acres of protected freshwater and saltwater marshes along the Delaware Bay. My boys and I go there often. The bay water is calm, and the beach is so much less crowded than those in Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey. It’s touted as one of the most dog-friendly beaches on the bay. Dogs are allowed year-round.
for You and Your Dog
by Pattie Cinelli
Cape Henlopen State Park
Broadkill is not the only beach that allows dogs during summer days. Cape Henlopen State Park, on more than 5,000 acres in Sussex County, welcomes pets on their trails and most of their beaches. In 1682, William Penn made the beaches of Cape Henlopen one the first public lands established in what became the United States.
Areas of Conquest Road, which is on the ocean side of Cape Henlopen, are good beaches to bring your pooch. Beach access is off Gordons Pond Road between Lewes and Rehoboth. It’s less crowded than the main resort beaches. Dogs are allowed on leash during the summer with no restrictions.
We visited Herring Point this summer where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay. On a gorgeous June day, we ventured onto the Point which was crowded with teens playing beach ball games, children swimming in a very cold ocean (no lifeguard) and dogs of all shapes and sizes. A pass (which can be purchased in the park office) is required to get into the park. Both dogs and sunbathers co-mingle amicably during the day. If you would like to get out of the sun, the park offers shaded trails to explore with your dog.
Whiskey Beach is a local nickname for a stretch in Cape Henlopen State Park near the southern end
of the Gordon Pond’s area, between Lewes and Rehoboth. It’s accessed from the Gordon Pond trail/ parking areas and is not an officially signed beach on most maps. Whiskey Beach is on the ocean side, south of the main Cape Henlopen swimming beach and north of Rehoboth. The name come from local history involving rumrunners during Prohibition. Finding it can be tricky. If you come from Lewes, drive into the state park, head toward the Gordon’s Pond area or trail access and walk or bike south along the shoreline/trail toward Rehoboth. It also tends to be less crowded that the main beaches.
Dewey Beach
Another favorite of ours is Dewey Beach where the Doodle Romp takes place each year. The beach is big and beautiful, and people are friendly to both humans and dogs. Dog-walking hours are restricted to early morning or evening. Taking the boys for a dip in the ocean before it gets too hot or after the sun drops (before and after lifeguards are on duty) works well. Dewey also requires a dog license you can pick up at the Dewey police station. It’s inexpensive and can cover a day, week or lifetime.
Slaughter Beach
Slaughter Beach is considered one of the more dogfriendly beaches on the Delaware Bay. The town
Pattie with Gianni and Dante at Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park.
SERVICES
• Mat & Reformer
• Private or Duo Sessions
• All Levels of Experience
MAT PILATES-ALL LEVELS
Monday – 7PM Friday – 10AM
side those hours, dogs are permitted if they are leashed.
1310 PENN. AVE. SE • 202.629.4455 JADEFITNESSDC.COM
of Slaughter Beach, on the southwest shore of Delaware Bay, has a population of 218 according to the 2020 census. It’s about 30 minutes north of Lewes. In the spring and early summer horseshoe crabs come ashore to spawn. Wave action ips them over where they are left to die in the hot sun which is how the area was named (slaughter of the crabs).
Fowler Beach
Fowler Beach is also about 30-40 minutes north of the beach towns. It’s a remote bay beach where dogs are permitted and is part of the area managed by the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. During shorebird nesting season, access is restricted. Dog rules can change to protect wildlife. Be sure to check before visiting. However, if the beach is restricted, Prime Hook has many refuge trails that allow leashed dogs.
Lewes Beaches
In 2021 the city of Lewes o cially renamed its two beaches known simply as “Beach 1” and “Beach 2” as Savannah Beach and Johnnie Walker Beach (closer to the ferry terminal). Both have the same dog rules. Dogs are not allowed on either beach between 8:00 am and 6:30 pm. Out-
Fenwick Island State Park
Ocean-swimming beaches in Fenwick Island State Park and Cape Henlopen’s designated bathing beaches restrict dogs from May 1 to Sept. 30.
Bethany Beach
Dogs are prohibited from the beach and boardwalk in Bethany from May 13 through Sept. 30 and must be leashed at all times.
Whether you prefer the calm waters of Broadkill Beach, the wideopen stretches of Cape Henlopen or the quiet solitude of Fowler Beach, Delmarva offers plenty of places where dogs can splash, sni , dig and explore. Every beach has its own personality, and part of the fun is discovering which ones best suit you and your four-legged companion. Gianni, Dante and I still have a few more shores to explore. It’s so much fun to discover new shorelines and create new adventures with my two enthusiastic best friends.
Pattie Cinelli and her doodles have fun discovering beaches for them to romp. Email her at: tmiss44@aol.com.
Gianni swimming at Dewey Beach.
Pattie Cinelli is a writer and holistic fitness professional who focuses on how to get and stay well and thrive.
John Mann’s great-great-grandfather George Beckert arrived on Capitol Hill from his native Germany in 1844 looking for a new life. Beckert realized his dream, opening a brewery and beer garden at 13th and D Streets SE, where the Safeway market and aptly-named Beckert’s Park apartments now stand. Read John Mann’s oral history at CapitolHillHistory.org. Help preserve Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.
Photo by Lis Wackman
Meet the Wheelwomen at American History
Meet a cyclist pursuing life, liberty and happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women. The half-hour Meet the Wheelwomen is on multiple days and times throughout July at the American History Museum, 1 West. www.americanhistory.si.edu
“Spirit of ’76” Jubilee: America 250 at the Capitol Visitor Center
On July 2 to 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with three days of family-friendly events, interactive experiences and patriotic fun at the US Capitol Visitor Center. Activities include hands-on crafts and storytelling, interactive mapping, historic object encounters, curatorled tours of the special “Spirit of ’76” exhibit and live presentations. Free and open to the public. www.visitthecapitol.gov
It’s Go Kart Time!
The Go Kart Track, 4300 Kenilworth Ave., Bladensburg, Maryland, is open Monday to Friday, 3 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drivers must be at least eight years old and 54 inches tall to drive a single kart by themselves, and must be at least 16 years old to drive a double kart with a passenger. Passengers must be at least three years old and 36 inches to ride in a double kart. www.gokarttrack.com
“We Sing America”: Planet Word Celebrates the 4th of July
The Smithsonian American Art Museum Arcade
On Saturday, July 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., experience the creative world of gaming at the SAAM Arcade. A daylong celebration of video games as an artistic medium is at the American Art Museum at Eighth and G streets NW. The Indie Showcase highlights games by women in the field of video game development. This is a special opportunity to play games and talk with the designers and coders who created them. Triforce Quartet will perform, and console and classic arcade games will be available all day courtesy of MAGFest. The first 90 minutes are designated quiet hours, with reduced noise to ensure that a portion of the program is sensory-friendly. Headphones will be available to borrow all day. www.americanart.si.edu
July 4, from 1 to 2:30 pm., pack a picnic, grab a blanket and head to Franklin Park, between 13th and 14th and I and K streets NW, for a free, all-ages community sing-along by Planet Word. DC’s own Nolan Williams Jr. will lead the crowd in a celebration of the songs and voices that have shaped America. Emceed by Esther Ciammachilli, WAMU’s “Morning Edition” host, this singalong features NEWorks “Voices of America.” www.planetwordmuseum.org
Kids’ Summer Movies on the Big Screen
Here’s the lineup: “Young Washington,” July 3 and 4; “The Patriot,” July 4 and 5; “Kung Fu Panda,” July 5 and 12; and “Superman”, July 10, 11 and 12. Kids’ summer movies are at the Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE, one and a half blocks south of Eastern Market Metro station. There is a public parking lot underneath the highway on Eighth Street between I Street and Virginia Avenue SE. All tickets, for everyone, are $8. www.themiracletheatre.com
Photo: Norwood Photography
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Little Growers Volunteer Days with the Honeycomb Project
DC Greens’ The Honeycomb Project believes kids are at the forefront of social change, and they’re bringing that mission to The Well all season long. Families volunteer through parent and child groups, with farm tasks that engage even the youngest volunteers. Little Growers Volunteer Days at The Well at Oxon Run, 300 Valley Ave. SE, are on Saturdays, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 12 and Oct. 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. All ages are welcome. This activity is best for ages ve+. www.dcgreens.org
Groovy Nate in Concert at Hill Center
Groovy Nate is a multidimensional performance and teaching artist who creates educational shows and workshops using funky grooves played on his loop station, electric guitar and exotic musical instruments, laced with puppet skits, comedy and creative play. Groovy Nate is at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, on Friday, July 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. www.hillcenterdc.org
Children’s Garden at the Botanic Garden
When children use their imaginations to relate to their surroundings, they also develop a lifelong affection for the natural world. In the Children’s Garden, kids play, discover and awaken their curiosity. Shaded seating is available throughout the garden. The Children’s Garden is open seasonally through October. The US Botanic Garden, at the southwest base of the Capitol grounds, is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.usbg.gov
Explore the outdoors with exciting nature hikes, treasure hunts, field trips, and creative challenges.
Create masterpieces in art, science, theater, dance, and crafts while discovering new talents.
Full Day: 8:0 0 AM – 5:00 PM
Half Day: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Half Day: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
This summer, let your child unleash their imagination, explore new adventures, and create unforgettable memories! At Polite Piggy’s, we believe that fun is not just an activity — it’s an experience, and it starts with you!
Be…The Fun! Embrace your inner adventurer, make new friends, and enjoy endless laughter through games, performances, music, and wacky competitions!
CROSSWORD
Movies, stars and characters
by Myles Mellor
83. Strike caller
1. Gemstone
Identical sets 11. Sch. in Stillwater
Cyberhandle 16. Northern Cal.city 19. Sharpen
21. Sci-fi film
23. Main character of 21 across 25. Inflated self-image
26. Shades
27. Speed
28. Notorious London gangster
29. Cut again
32. Verdon of “Damn Yankees”
34. Salt Lake City-based grp.
35. Miniature
36. Company delegates, for short
38. Stein contents
40. Clothed, as a monk
43. N. American deer
46. Loses ones cool
48. John Hancock, for short
49. 2003 Civil War movie
51. Star in 49 across
55. “Vanilla ___” (2001 Tom Cruise film)
56. Initial stage
57. Sensitive subject, to some
59. To happen again
61. __ Love You..62’ McCartney song
62. Wood incision
64. Lively dance
65. Read
69. Jeans name
73. Nevada’s second-largest county
74. Charge
75. Soldier’s protection
77. Bibliography abbr.
78. Due process
81. Too trustful
82. Cardinals’ team letters
86. Off-roader’s purchase, for short
89. Space thriller
92. One of the main characters in
89 across
95. Actress, Lupino
96. Mimicry
97. Pass
98. Aphorism
102. Law and Order network
103. Explosives
104. Graff of “Mr. Belvedere”
105. Admiral’s org.
107. Teenage problem
110. Red-orange dye
114. Prefix with store
115. Pray, in Calais
116. Put up, as a picture
118. “Cant” or “hallow” ending
119. Coen Brothers classic
121. One of the main characters in 119 across
126. Crystal ball user
127. Ones at the helm
128. Bank profit source
129. Prefix with lateral
130. Bygone auto
131. Maine’s state animal
Down:
1. Jerusalem artichoke, e.g.
2. ___ orange
3. River to the Rio Grande
4. Deluge refuge
5. Ugly spot
6. Bel ___ cheese
7. TV alien
8. Thanks for the loan
9. Pit viper
10. Turned sideways
11. Electric resistance measure
12. Bulb setting
13. Locked up
15. Cry from Homer Simpson
16. My goodness!
17. Discarded debris
18. “__ the rampart’s...
20. Safari sighting
22. Yanks
24. Learned and smart, in rebus puzzles
30. Desert-like
31. Clean, as a floor
33. Bedevil
35. Cats
37. Devout
39. Floral necklace
41. Tempe sch.
42. Open, say
43. Loos
44. Excellent
45. Layer
46. E.R. personnel
47. Sat down at Wendy’s
50. Of service
51. Sudden pull
52. Kind of jet
53. Rights org.
54. Wimp
58. Hair substance
60. Stadium cheer
63. Big sheet
65. Japanese honorific
66. Rugged rock
67. Mideast chief
68. It’s super, in the sky
70. Site for crafty entrepreneurs
71. Large vessel
72. Brat-like
76. Restore to life
79. Aragorn’s love in “The Lord of the Rings”
80. Fortune
83. New York city
84. Pikes Peak, for one, abbr.
85. FedEx dely.
86. Nile biter
87. Thanks, for short
88. Contend for superiority
90. Suffix with chlor-
91. Old salt
93. Police alert
94. Remove scars
98. Earnest requests
99. Remorse
100. Wild donkey
101. Glass tube
103. Lean
104. Global finance group
106. Yes or no follower
108. Barbarian
109. Namesakes of Bert Bobbsey’s twin
111. Peachy-keen
112. An emperor and a pianist
113. Wrestling’s ___ the Giant
115. Cribwear
117. High school exam
120. Dwarf in ‘’The Hobbit’’ 122. Age abbr.
123. General in gray
124. Masterpiece
125. ___ system (blood classification)
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
308 5th Street SE
4000
Listing Agents: Don Denton (202) 256-1353
Chuck Burger (202) 258-5316
Perfect
Listing Agent: Don Denton (202) 256-1353
1330 Massachusetts Ave. SE Spacious Park location. Cozy patio and parking!
