HILLRAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026
Celebrating
Years!
COMING IN SEPTEMBER!
644 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NE #404
141 12TH ST NE #9
312 D ST NE
412 15TH ST SE
Building Community! THE GRANT, RYALL & ANDREW GROUP
(202) 285-3600
www.grantryallandrew.com
Coldwell Banker Realty 350 7th Street SE 20003 (202) 547-3525
September 2026 H 3
PRIVATE EXCLUSIVE $3,295,000 - Crestwood 2065 Trumbull Ter., NW
SOLD $2,700,000 - Crestwood 4801 Bladgen Ave., NW
SOLD $195 ABOVE ASKING! $2,045,000 - Mt. Pleasant 1820 Lamont St. NW
ACTIVE - POOL! $2,249,000 - Chevy Chase 5430 Chevy Chase Pkwy, NW
SOLD $1,798,000 - Mt. Pleasant 1818 Lamont St. NW
SOLD $1,383,000 - Capitol Hill 506 10th St., SE
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD ABOVE ASKING!
$1,665,000 - Georgetown 2719 Dumbarton St., NW
$1,275,000 - Georgetown 1610 33rd St., NW
$425,000 - Ballston 900 N Stafford St., #190
• • • •
4 H HILLRAG.COM
Ranked in the top 1.5% of all agents nationwide by the national firm, RealTrends (June 2025) Proven track record, with nearly $500 million in career sales 24 years of experience; Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia Named a Washingtonian “Top Producing Agent” for the last 10 consecutive years
September 2026 H 5
6 H HILLRAG.COM
GENERAL ELECTION TUES. NOVEMBER 3 4 WAYS TO VOTE:
DROP BOXES
10/9
11/3
24hr
EARLY VOTE
10/26
11/1
8:30AM - 7PM
USPS MAIL
ELECTION DAY
Postmarked by
11/3
11/3
7AM - 8PM
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
202.727.2525 • dcboe.org September 2026 H 7
I N THIS IS SUE September 2026
44
e m o Hd ardensue an G special is
22
Art of Capitol Hill Gardens
Capitol Cuisine
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
by Celeste McCall
61
Fall
40
Saving the Walls: A Capitol Hill Homeowner’s Guide to Repairing Historic Plaster by Elizabeth O’Gorek
44
Art of Capitol Hill Gardens by Elizabeth O’Gorek
48
Repairing and Replacing Historic Windows by Elizabeth O’Gorek
52
Roof Protection: Preparation is Key to Securing Your Roof Against Leaks by Tom Daniel
54
In the Weeds: Advice, Information and Commentary About Gardening by the Capitol Hill Garden Club
56
Changing Hands by Don Denton
77 on the town
Anacostia: The Forgotten Federal Park – NPS Breaks Promises to Ward 7 & 8 Residents
A New Chapter for Southeast Library: Reimagined with Light, Space and Room to Grow
by Matthew McClure
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
13
What’s on Washington by Kathleen Donner
22
Capitol Cuisine by Celeste McCall
26
Theater Night: Honoring Artistic Leaders by Matthew McClure
28
The Art Walk: Meet Your Hill Artist Neighbors by Rindy O’Brien
30
Poetic Hill: David Ebenbach by Sandra Beasley
31
The Jazz Project: Adam Ezra Finds a Way – Songs, Service and Uncommon Perseverance by Jean-Keith Fagon
32
Union Market: Your Next Great Afternoon Is Only A Few Blocks Away by Jean-Keith Fagon
34
Local Calendar by Kathleen Donner
BUY SMART • SELL SMART
capitol streets 61
Anacostia: The Forgotten Federal Park – NPS Breaks Promises to Ward 7 & 8 Residents by Matthew McClure
66
Change in Hill East: Plans for RFK, Reservation 13 and the DC Armory by Elizabeth O’Gorek
70
Could There be a Bottle Deposit Bill in DC’s Future? by Catherine Plume
72
Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner
Work with the Best Smart Strategy. Proven Results. Linda Frame 585.797.7295
linda@faisondc.com
family life 77
It doesn’t cost more to
A New Chapter for Southeast Library: Reimagined with Light, Space and Room to Grow by Elizabeth O’Gorek
80
Colitis: The District Vet by Dan Teich
82
Notebook by Kathleen Donner
86
CLASSIFIEDS
90
CROSSWORD
on the cover: The Gardener – Old Peasant with Cabbage Camille Pissarro 1883-1895 oil on canvas. 32 1/16 x 25 9/16 in. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon not currently on view. From the National Gallery of Art www.nga.gov
Tom Faison 202.255.5554 tom@faisondc.com
FaisonDC.com
Carolina Lopez 202.213.6941
Carolina@FaisonDC.com
350 7th St. SE 202.544.3525
Next Issue: October 3
Est.
1976 Serving Capitol Hill for 50 Years!
A D V O C AT E CONNECT • PROMOTE
Championing Capitol Hill Commerce for 35 years Join Today. Add the Power of CHAMPS to your business.
Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of:
Happy Hour Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month. Visit us online for details.
EDUCATION
MIDCITY
SUPPLEMENT
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
CAPITOLHILL.ORG
Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com • www.hillrag.com
CHAMPS@CAPITOLHILL.ORG P.O. BOX 15486 WASHINGTON, DC 20003 • 202-547-7788
IMPORT & DOMESTIC AUTO REPAIRS CERTIFIED ASE TECHNICIANS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com
PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com • Copyright © 2026 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Management
M������� E�����: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com C���� F�������� O������: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com
202-543-5155 615 Independence Ave, SE I M-F 7:30am-6pm
CapitolHillAutoService.com
Trusted legal guidance serving the DC community for 40 years.
Large Firm Experience. Small Firm Attention.
ienced represen-- • Personal Injury • Workers’ Compensation • Family Law & Divorce • Prenuptial Agreements • Business Law • Real Estate Contract Review & Dispute Resolution SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION!
INFO@RGLAW.NET
RGlaw.net
(202) 544-2888
1316 Penn. Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003 10 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Editorial Staff
E����� � R�������: Elizabeth O’Gorek • liz@hillrag.com K��� � F����� E�����: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Intern: Sarah Payne • sarah@hillrag.com
Production/Graphic/Web Design
A�� D�������: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Design: Shawn Henderson • shawn@hillrag.com W�� M�����: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com
B������� B���� � C�������: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
General Assignment
Tom Daniel • tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com William Matuszeski • bmatsedc@gmail.com Philip Pannell • philippannell@comcast.net Sarah Payne • sarah@hillrag.com Peter Waldron • peter218@prodigy.net Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com
Calendar & Bulletin Board
Commentary/Opinion editorial@hillrag.com
C������� / B������� B���� E�����: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
Advertising & Sales
Arts & Dining
Senior Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.3508 • kira@hillrag.com Sales Account Executive: Mariana Heavey, 202.400.6771 • mariana@hillrag.com Account Executive & Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.3503 • carolina@hillrag.com
Distribution
M������: Andrew Lightman D�����������: MediaPoint, LLC I����������: distribution@hillrag.com
Deadlines & Contacts
A����������: sales@hillrag.com D������ A��: 15th of each month C��������� A��:10th of each month E��������: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com
A��: D�����: P�����: M����: T������:
Rindy O’Brien • rindy0b@mac.com Celeste McCall • cmccall20003@gmail.com Sandra Beasley • sandrabeasley@earthlink.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Matthew McClure • mcclure92@gmail.com
Homes & Gardens / Real Estate
Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Annette Nielsen • annettenielsen@mac.com Don Denton • DDenton@cbmove.com
Family Life & Fitness
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Liz O’Gorek • schools@hillrag.com
We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.
SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! Reb
DC
10% OFF
S
s A EU vai la
ate
ble
$25 OFF
LIST PRICE ON ANY EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS *Exp. 09/30/2026
Any Service Call *Exp. 09/30/2026
18 Month, 0% Interest Financing
FAST SERVICE FAST INSTALLATION Serving Capitol Hill Since 2001 • Residential & Light Commercial • Roof Top Package Units • Highly Experienced Technicians • Low Prices • Free Estimates On Replacements • Convenient Financing • Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Specializing in:
Equipment: Change outs & Complete Ductwork Systems + High Velocity Systems WE SERVICE & INSTALL ALL MAKES & MODELS
202-333-1310
www.polarbearairconditioning.com Your crew was really clean and tidy. Plus, they were very pleasant to work with.We really appreciated that. – Linda, Capitol Hill
All Credit Cards Accepted September 2026 ★ 11
12 ★ HILLRAG.COM
ON THE TOWN
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Photo: Jeff Cravotta
Dance Theatre of Harlem at the National
On Friday, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3 and 7:30 p.m., Washington Performing Performing Arts opens its season by welcoming longtime artistic partner Dance Theatre of Harlem back to Washington, DC, for a special three-performance engagement at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The program is anchored by the celebrated return of Firebird—Geoffrey Holder’s reimagining of the Russian folktale set in a lush Caribbean landscape. A tale of love and transformation, the show-stopping work has reemerged as a signature piece for the company, blending classical ballet with rich cultural storytelling through a distinctly diasporic lens. Tickets start at $78. broadwayatthenational.com.
H Street Festival (ALWAYS A BLAST!)
The H Street Festival returns on Saturday, Sept. 19, noon to 7 p.m., bringing thousands of visitors to H Street NE for a full day of live music, local vendors, food, art, family activities and community celebration. One of the most highly attended single-day festivals in Washington, DC, the H Street Festival stretches 12 blocks and features 15 stages, each with distinct themes and programming. Expect music in a variety of genres, dance, youth performances, interactive children’s programs, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and more. hstreetfestival.org.
September 2026 ★ 13
Nicole Ansari-Cox as Anna and Brian Cox as Bach in The Score at Theatre Royal Bath. Photo: Manuel Harlan
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Solas Nua’s “HAKAWATIS: Women of the Arabian Nights” at Spooky Action
A tyrant avenges his wife’s infidelity by wedding, bedding and beheading a new bride every day. Years later, only five brides-in-waiting remain. These women are unapologetic and united in their fight to keep themselves—and the whole of womankind—alive. They have other ideas for their future, and it starts with a story. In this London Globe hit by Irish-Palestinian playwright Hannah Khalil, audiences are captivated by tales that are funny, raunchy and dangerous—and a matter of life and death. (Hakawati / hakəˈwɑːti/. Noun: Storyteller. From the Arabic terms hekaye, meaning story, and haki, meaning to talk.) “HAKAWATIS: Women of the Arabian Nights” is at Spooky Action Theater, 1810 16th St. NW, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 18. General admission tickets are $50. spookyaction.org.
Brian Cox in “The Score” at Shakespeare (How does art survive when despots rule?)
In spring 1747, Johann Sebastian Bach (Cox) visits the court of Frederick II, Europe’s most ambitious and dangerous leader. When the king presents Bach with a musical puzzle, the composer must decide how to rise to the challenge without forsaking his own morality. Brian Cox brings a “volcanic presence” to Bach in the play’s only American engagement. The Golden Globe-winning actor (Succession) is directed by legendary Trevor Nunn in “The Score,” which pits creativity against the whims of power. “The Score” is at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW, from Sept. 11 to Oct. 18. Tickets start at $43. shakespearetheatre.org.
Mosaic’s “Somewhere Over the Border” at the Atlas
Dorothy becomes Reina in this fresh take on The Wizard of Oz from Brian Quijada, the award-winning co-creator and star of Mexodus, which premiered at Mosaic ahead of back-to-back Off-Broadway runs. Inspired by the true story of his mother’s immigration in the 1970s, “Somewhere Over the Border” takes audiences on a musical journey from El Salvador to America featuring cumbia, Mexican mariachi, boleros, rock, hip-hop and more. As Reina travels north to the Mexican border, she gathers friends, faces dangers and holds tight to the memory of the little boy she left behind to build a better life for them both. Equal parts joyful whimsy and harrowing truth, “Somewhere Over the Border” is at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4. Tickets start at $51. atlasarts.org.
“Dirty Dancing” at the National
Set against the unforgettable summer of 1963, “Dirty Dancing” follows Frances “Baby” Houseman as she discovers love, passion and independence through her relationship with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. Featuring live music from the original film, “Dirty Dancing” is at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4. Based on Lionsgate’s beloved film, the new stage production brings back the electrifying dancing, secret encounters and forbidden romance of the story that captivated a generation. Tickets start at $90. broadwayatthenational.com.
Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands at the Warner
Like the stones of Craigh na Dun that carried Claire through time to Jamie, this symphonic experience guides audiences through love and loss, past and future, Scotland and beyond. Bear McCreary’s iconic score takes center stage, performed live by an orchestra while the series’ most stirring moments unfold on a cinema-sized screen. Outlander in Concert celebrates the show’s rich heritage, timeless characters and sweeping landscapes. Through time. Through love. Through music. Outlander in Concert is at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, on Sunday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $58. warnertheatredc.com. 14 H HILLRAG.COM
September 2026 H 15
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Judi Moon and Mike Merrill at ABFF Pop Up in Dallas, 2025.
American Black Film Festival at Angelika at Union Market
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) makes its Washington, DC debut with a pop-up experience from Sept. 25 to 27 at Angelika, 550 Penn St. NE, at Union Market, bringing one of the country’s most influential film and entertainment institutions to the nation’s capital for the first time. The event comes as ABFF celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades as a premier platform for film, culture and creative discovery that has helped elevate voices including Insecure creator Issa Rae and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler before they became household names. Tickets are on sale now. For the schedule, visit abffpopup.com/washington-dc.
DC Coffee Festival (an immersive coffee experience)
On Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, try some of the best coffee in town—all under one roof. Specially curated roasters and exhibitors share their unique beans and flavor profiles in a fun environment for coffee lovers and friends. The DC Coffee Festival is at Union Market’s Dock5 Warehouse, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Early Admission tickets provide entry an hour before general admission and allow guests to remain for the GA session. Tickets start at $30.89. dccoffeefestival.com.
NoMa in Color Fall Mural Festival and Color Jam
Every fall, the NoMa in Color Mural Festival at Alethia Tanner Park transforms the neighborhood into a living canvas, filling walls with bold, imaginative works that celebrate creativity and community. The public is invited to watch the murals take shape throughout the week before celebrating their completion at Color Jam on Friday, Sept. 18, 4 to 8 p.m., at Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE. The free celebration features opportunities to meet the artists, live entertainment, an artisan market with more than 20 local makers, interactive art activities, food trucks, a pop-up beer garden hosted by Lost Generation Brewing Co. and opportunities to explore NoMa’s newest public art installations. nomabid.org. 16 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Home Rule Music Festival at Alethia Tanner Park
The Home Rule Music Festival on Satu rday, Oct. 3, noon to 9 p.m., at Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harr y Thomas Way NE, is a free, community-centered celebration of Washington, DC’s rich musical history, cultural legacy and creative future. Now in its fifth year, the festival brings together legendary artists, emerging voices, youth musicians and thou sands of residents for a vibrant day rooted in music, place and pride. The festival features live performances spanning jazz, go-g o, hip-hop, soul and contemporary Black music, along with a curated Music & Record Fair highlighting top record shops and local vendors, live art murals, a Kids Zone and a wide sele ction of local food and merchandise vendors. homerulemusicfe stival.com.
Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park The Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park, from Friday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 13, features seafood vendors, local shopping, live music, contests, kids’ activities and more. Expect a crab soup cook-off, crab cake eating, oyster shucking, blue catfish eating, a Chesapeake Arts Village, beer and oyster tastings and the world’s largest rubber duck. Festival hours are Friday, Sept. 11, 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is available at Sandy Point State Park ($12 in advance; $20 at the gate) and at Anne Arundel Community College’s Arnold Campus for $5, with a free shuttle to the festival on Saturday. Parking sells out. General admission is $20. mdseafoodfestival.com.
SAVE THE DATE! Relume’s America’s Next Top Upcycler Design Competition, Community Fashion Runway & Vintage Market C Street SE Plaza, in front of Relume 760 C St. SE
Walk-In Crafts with Relume Eastern Market North Hall 225 7th St. SE
Threads of Art: A Yarn Canvas Experience with Diamond Herring Eastern Market North Hall 225 7th St. SE
Community Weaving with Tyler Makes Things Outside Woven History 315 7th St. SE
Capitol Hill Art Gallery
2026
Celebrate Art All Night throughout the Eastern Market neighborhood with live music, art, fashion, hands-on activities, local vendors, and more.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 11
5 PM – 10 PM
Coldwell Banker 350 7th St. SE
Live Jazz with Herb Scott Outside Eastern Market 225 7th St. SE
“Sobremesa” with Eastern Market Pottery Outside Eastern Market 225 7th St. SE
Vendor Market
Outside Eastern Market 225 7th St. SE
Live Jazz with Renée Collins Georges Mr. Henry’s 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
For more information and event updates, visit the Eastern Market Main Street events page.
easternmarketmainstreet.org/events
easternmarketmainstreet.org September 2026 ★ 17
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
“From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage” at Natural History
Explore more than 600 specimens and cultural items representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five US territories. From ancient fossils and dazzling minerals to cherished cultural belongings and groundbreaking scientific discoveries, the exhibition explores connections between people, places and the natural world. “From These Lands” and related programming are part of “Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th birthday. naturalhistory.si.edu.
“Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues” at the NMAAHC
Join the National Museum of African American History and Culture for a multi-day celebration commemorating the museum’s 10th anniversary. The theme, “Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues,” invites the community to gather and reflect on the museum’s impact—a dream a century in the making. On Friday, Sept. 25, 7 to 8 p.m., in Heritage Hall is Understanding America: Conversation with Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Free; registration required. On Saturday, Sept. 26, 6:30 to 10 p.m., at The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, is “The Purple Ball: Echoes of the Pearl”; general admission is $150. On Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., at 101 District Square SW is Violet Vibes: A Community Celebration. Wear your favorite shade of purple and join this family event at The Wharf honoring a decade of the museum’s guiding vision: A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story. Together, participants will celebrate 10 years of stories that have shaped America and reflect the full complexity of the African American lived experience. nmaahc.si.edu.
Turtle Island in 1776: The Native World Caught Between Empires at American Indian
On Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 to 4 p.m., at the National Museum of the American Indian, join Native and non-Native scholars as they highlight new research on the experiences of 18thcentury American Indian leaders and their tribal communities. Centering Indigenous perspectives on a continental scale, presentations will examine both tribal involvement and non-involvement during the Revolutionary era. Scholars will address Kimowan Metchewais (Cree [Cold Lake First Nations], 1963-2011), “Turtle”, 2012. Native Nations across Turtle Island Painting on canvas, 242.5 x 151 x 3.5 cm, 26/9528. © National Museum of the Ameriand their interactions with competcan Indian. ing empires–Britain, Spain, France, Russia and the emerging United States–while exploring sovereignty, diplomacy, resilience and cultural continuity amid profound change during the war and early nation-building period. Register for this free event at tickets.si.edu.
“A Beautiful Blue Morning Sky” at Keegan
“A Beautiful Blue Morning Sky” is a worldpremiere song cycle receiving a concert performance at Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, on the weekend of the 25th anniversary of 9/11: Sept. 11 and 12, 8 p.m.; and Sept. 13, 3 p.m. The chamber piece is an emotional retelling of the day—without politics or conspiracies—through musical stories, vignettes and personal moments presented in chronological order, bringing the human dimensions of this shared event to life. Proceeds benefit Northern Virginia Family Services, which managed the primary long-term response plan following the 9/11 Pentagon attack, providing trauma recovery services to survivors and care to those affected throughout the DMV. Tickets start at $30. keegantheatre.com.
18 H HILLRAG.COM
Stretching across 5,000 square feet, “From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage” invites visitors to celebrate and reflect on the nation’s rich natural and cultural heritage through more than 600 specimens and cultural objects—many rare and never before exhibited—from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five US territories. Photo: James D. Tiller, Smithsonian
The Rest is Politics – US: The Battle for America Midterms Tour at Capital Turnaround
On Friday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), The Rest Is Politics: US comes to Capital Turnaround, 770 M St. SE, with hosts Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director, Wall Street financier and founder of SkyBridge Capital, and Katty Kay, award-winning broadcaster and BBC US Special Correspondent. Drawing on Scaramucci’s experience inside the White House and Kay’s nearly 30 years covering the United States, the show goes beyond the headlines to examine the personalities, policy battles and cultural forces shaping America. From presidential campaigns and foreign policy to life inside Trump’s White House, The Rest Is Politics: US offers informed, accessible analysis of American politics and its global impact. General admission tickets start at $50. unionstagepresents.com.
SAVE THE DATE THEArtOF MUSIC
FRIDAY, SEPT. 11 • 5 PM
BARRACKS ROW + EASTERN MARKET METRO PARK Experience an unforgettable night of live music, dance, visual art, cosplay, and interactive performances inspired by the sounds and styles of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and today.
PERFORMANCES BY:
Learn more:
BarracksRow.org/ArtAllNight2026
Enjoy art, food, and live music, including Moonscapes: Classical in the Lounge. 700 Penn., Ave. SE, Second Floor A team member will welcome guests and escort you to the Sponsored by the second floor.
LOUNGE
5 – 8 PM Est.
1976
FREE OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING + SPECIAL TICKETED EVENTS
September 2026 ★ 19
American Roots Fall Concert Series at Hill Center
Here’s the lineup: The Little Mercies performs Sept. 13. With individual expertise in bluegrass, reggae, jazz, folk and classical music, their collective sound respects tradition while crossing genre lines. Chloe Kimes performs Sunday, Oct. 4. The independent Nashville-based artist and songwriter is known for honest storytelling and distinctive vocal delivery. Horace Trahan & The Ossun Express performs Oct. 18. Trahan, whose 1999 single “That Butt Thing” became a hit, is a world-renowned Cajun and Zydeco artist. All American Roots concerts are free and take place Sundays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Register at hillcenterdc.org.
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Ray LaMontagne at Wolftrap
Ray LaMontagne’s vast catalog spans nine full-length records, chart-topping radio singles and a Grammy win, in addition to multiple Grammy nominations. This year, LaMontagne heads out on the road celebrating his first fulllength album, Trouble, playing it in its entirety along with songs from across his catalog. Ray LaMontagne is at Wolftrap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m. (gates at 6:30 p.m.). This performance was originally scheduled for Sept. 14, 2025. All previously issued tickets will be honored for the new date. wolftrap.org.
Rams Head Presents the Annapolis Songwriters Festival
Modeled after the Key West Songwriters Festival, the largest festival of its kind in the world, the Annapolis Songwriters Festival brings its love of music to the bay from Sept. 10 to 13. With worldrenowned watering holes and intimate theater settings, historic Annapolis provides an ideal setting for live music enthusiasts to discover the faces, voices and stories behind the songs. Here’s a very partial list of participants: Josiah and the Bonnevilles, Valerie June, Maggie Rose, Dylan Altman, Alex Amen, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Anthony David, Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Chuck Mead, Tia Sillers, Tommy Sims, Jeffrey Steele, Justin Wilson, Arlis Albritton, Gloria Anderson, Trent Baarspul, Judy Blank and Kyra Cannon. For additional songwriters and tickets, visit annapolissongwritersfestival.com. Concert of Pat Metheny with the group Unity at San Javier International Jazz Festival, 2018.
20 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Pat Metheny at Strathmore
Born into a musical family in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Pat Metheny emerged on the international jazz scene in 1974. He quickly developed a distinctive style blending horn-like articulation with advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility, grounded in melody, swing and the blues. With the release of his groundbreaking debut, Bright Size Life, in 1975, Metheny reinvented the jazz guitar sound for a new generation. His achievements include 20 Grammy Awards across multiple categories, three gold records, induction into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 2015 and recognition as an NEA Jazz Master in 2018, the nation’s highest honor in jazz. Pat Metheny is at Strathmore’s Music Center, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, MD, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m. Tickets are $28 to $98. strathmore.org.
Kim Gordon at the Black Cat
Kim Gordon is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist, guitarist and vocalist of alternative rock band Sonic Youth. Gordon was also a founding member of the musical project Free Kitten, which she formed with Julia Cafritz. In addition to her work as a musician, Gordon has worked in record production, fashion and acting and has maintained a career as a visual artist. She is at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, with Bill Nace on Friday, Sept. 18; doors at 8 p.m. Tickets are $47.15. blackcatdc.com.
September 13th
the little mercies
October 4th
chloe kimes
October 19th
horace trahan & the ossun express
September 2026 ★ 21
ON THE TOWN
Capitol
T
he Capitol Hillbillies’ footstomping music and a giant sandwich welcomed folks as Mott’s Market celebrated its gala reopening on August 11. Bubbles floated through the late summer air as children enjoyed face painting and balloon sculpting. On the patio, prosecco flowed. Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen thanked everyone who had helped to preserve the market. “We are thrilled to welcome neighbors back to Mott’s Market,” said Market Manager Peyton Sherwood. Another speaker noted the absence of Mott’s contractor, Abel Aragon. Aragon—who had lived in the US for 20 years—was snatched by ICE earlier this year and eventually self-deported to his home country, Belize. “Even though he was not yet a US citizen, he was a part of our community.” The highlight of the festive event was the ceremonial slicing of a six-foot sub in lieu of the usual ribbon cutting, “since we nourish the community.” Afterwards, guests shared the overstuffed sandwich. Among other attendees were Mike Skinner, president of Mott’s Neighbor-
Cuisine
by Celeste McCall hood Market LLC, event emcee Christine Campbell, vice chair of Mott’s Market LLC, Elissa Silverman (Independent at-large member-elect of the DC Council), ANC commissioners, and retired WJLA Channel 7 bureau chief Sam Ford. Located at 233 12th St. SE (east end of Gessford Court), Mott’s is closed Monday. For hours and more information visit www.mottsmarket.com.
More Subs...
Speaking of subs, Jersey Mike’s was handing out “$3 subs” at its Capitol Hill unveiling at 209 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The sandwiches were free, and the three bucks went to the Make a Wish Foundation. We chose the Original Italian, a sesame roll (you can get gluten-free) crammed with provolone, ham, salami and peppers. We also tried the club sub (turkey, ham, provolone and crispy bacon). Both sandwiches were tasty and filling; you can also find cheese steaks, bowls, chips and sodas. Jersey Mike’s bright cheery interior includes a few tables; there’s outdoor seating. Open daily; for more information visit www.jerseymikes.com
Slicing and serving a six-foot sub was the highlight of the gala reopening of Mott’s Market last month.
22 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Among local bigwigs was Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, who praised the community for saving Mott’s Market.
Room with a View
At the District Wharf, we’ve checked out Moonraker, 655 Water St. SW, the four-year-old Japanese fusion restaurant atop the glitzy Hotel Pendry. Our group of five first settled at a corner table inside. But we decided that since we were paying for the view, we might as well enjoy it. So, we snagged an outdoor table and comfy sofa with a stunning view of the Washington Channel and beyond. From Moonraker’s “Bites” menu, Peter zeroed in at Tokyo fried chicken. “This is not my grandmother’s southern fried chicken,” Peter rhapsodized as he bit into a crispy, tender nugget. “Grandma made good fried chicken, but this is even better.” The crunchy morsels were enlivened by a kanzuri mumbo sauce—a local product meets Japan. Tempura-fried cauliflower was equally tasty; the firm flowerets stood up well to deep frying. Less successful was the overpriced crab-fried rice. Although the dish was replete with egg, peas, ginger and shreds of crab, it needed seasoning. However, “lacy shrimp gyoza” was a quartet of melt-in-your-mouth dumplings enhanced with housemade shiitake chili oil. We also loved the beautifully presented sushi pieces filled with eel, shrimp, avocado, and spicy mayo. The morsels tasted as good as they looked. Peter slurped a “hanami harmony” (non alcoholic tea drink made with Sakura blossom tea, pineapple, tea, coconut cream). I nursed a $20 glass of G Paco & Lola Albarino. Service was good, and the kitchen accommodated a guest’s MSG allergy. Our tab for two came to $159.50. Moonraker is a splurge—a special occasion place. In fact, a group of elegantly clad ladies from Georgia were celebrating a birthday, and they provided a flashy fashion show as they posed for celebratory photos. For more information visit www.pendry.com.
September 2026 H 23
Virgin Island View
Speaking of rooftops: Croix arrived last month at 69 Q St. SW, on the ninth floor of the Cambria Hotel near Buzzard Point. Celebrating the sunny cuisine of the largest of the US Virgin Islands, the kitchen showcases saltfish mille-feuille; johnnycake wafers; beef and conch pates; wagyu burgers enlivened with fiery Scotch bonnet peppers; rum-soaked black cake; tropical cocktails. Watch for more details. For more information visit the Cambia website: www.choicehotels.com.
New Vietnamese
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A AMBER GOVE, CHAIR, 6A04@ANC.DC.GOV
Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, and H Street communities
ALL ARE WELCOME
The next meeting is Thursday, September 10, 2026 (2nd Thursday), 7:00 pm ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, virtually on Zoom.
www.anc6a.org 24 H HILLRAG.COM
On the Wharf, Moonraker, atop the Hotel Pendry, provides a stunning view of the water and beyond.
hol license is in the works. For updates visit www.54noodlesbar4th. com.
Saigon Kitchen, 1101 Fourth St. SW, arrived in late July, replacing the Yap it up short-lived 54 Noodles On Barracks Row, MatchBar and before that— box, 521 Eighth St. the longer-lasting MasaSE, invites four-legged la Art (Indian). While the (and two-legged) guests Southeast Asian newto Yappy Hour each comer specializes in myrWednesday on the sideiad noodle concoctions, Saigon Kitchen sports an attractive walk patio. From 3 to 6 décor and an eclectic Southeast Asian you can also find assorted p.m., guests can enjoy menu. courtesy of: saigonkitchendc.com “small plates” including drinks and vittles, includspring rolls with choice ing Matchbox signature sliders and pizza. Yes, of filling, summer rolls, skewers, wings, banh there will be doggie treats. For more informami, a mid-day special. tion visit www.matchboxrestaurants.com. On a sultry late summer afternoon, we sat inside, enjoying the handsomely appointComing Soon ed interior. Perusing the small plates listing, I South Block, a smoothie café, is slated to arwas curious about crispy quail. Unfortunately, rive early next year at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. they were out of the little birds, but the kitchYou’ll find it around the corner from Eastern en provided a complimentary serving of spring Market, next to Little Engine. An offshoot of a rolls. I decided on the banh mi. Peter ordered Virginia-based chain, South Block will also ofthe weekday $18.95 luncheon combo—a cup fer acai bowls, fresh juices and other healthy opof pho (actually a bowl), a pair of spring rolls tions. For updates visit www.southblock.com. (he chose chicken), and a soda (ginger ale). The dish was so generous I cancelled my banh mi Gone order; instead, we shared the pho. The signaBumblebirds, 303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, has ture soup was replete with brisket, noodles and flown the coop. A joint venture by celeb chef crunchy bean sprouts, but it badly needed the Carla Hall and Sunnyside Restaurant Group, accompanying sauces. One dip was sweet, the the six-month popup has departed. “This isn’t other fiery, providing an ideal balance. goodbye forever, it’s just goodbye for now,” Among Saigon Kitchen’s heartier opCarla posted. We will miss her fried chicken tions are filet mignon, caramelized pork sandwiches and homemade biscuits, and we belly, lemongrass curry chicken. An alcohope Bumblebirds pops up again soon. u
TUNNICLIFF’S TAVERN
CELEBRATING TWO YEARS ON CAPITOL HILL
Full Menu of All Your Favorites Available!
OPEN FROM 11AM-2AM M-Th 10AM-2AM Sat & Sun Serving brunch every Saturday and Sunday.
10AM-3PM
TAKEOUT & DINING! TUNNICLIFFSTAVERN.COM I 202.544.5680 222 7th Street SE Washington D.C., 20003
Now Enrolling
“Starling truly follows Toddler & Primary Classrooms Montessori Two neighboring classrooms. One principles, with continuous Montessori path. Serving children ages 16 months through 6 years. carefully chosen teachers and ds out as Thoughtfully prepared environments, carefully materials.” t is truly chosen teachers, and authentic Montessori materials ntessori and practices help each child grow with confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
A small, intentional school built around your child.
Schedule Your Tour!
world of childcare. ll school , with a carefully chosen staff
(202) 743-0600
StarlingMontessoriSchool.com info@starlingmontessorischool.com
ds o t is tr ntes wor child ll sch , with carefully chosen s
201 4th Street SE I 301 A Street SE I Washington, DC September 2026 ★ 25
ON THE TOWN
Theater Night Honoring Artistic Leaders by Matthew McClure
In the Spotlight
American Black Film Festival at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market September 25 – 27 www.abffpopup.com In 2015, media strategist and DEI advocate April Reign went viral for her #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, vociferously calling out the conspicuous lack of diversity in the nominee list for the 87th Academy Awards. When the same thing happened the following year, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee advocated a boycott of an awards show that they felt wasn’t doing the work required to be fully representative of the abundance of Black talent in the American film industry. Jeff Friday, Warrington Hudlin and Byron E. Lewis had known about this troubling tendency for years. They founded the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Acapulco in 1997 in response to the very same absence of recognition of Black talent that Reign, Pinkett Smith and Lee were condemning because, as the festival’s original tagline put it, “Holly wouldn’t”–a pointed reference to Hollywood. ABFF’s senior manager of event productions and operations Raeshon Morris is part of the team that’s been tasked with bringing the best of the ABFF to DC over three days at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market at the end of this month. “I’m a little biased because I get to work here every day, but it really is a very communal experience where you get to share your own story and meet other filmmakers and artists. It’s like a big family,” says Morris of the spirit of the festival, now in its 30th year. The ABFF is held every summer in Miami’s South Beach. Festival goers enjoy a smorgasbord of documentary and feature films, series, panel conversations and visual art from across the US and the African diaspora in addition to comedy 26 H HILLRAG.COM
ABFF pop-up DC highlights
The Stories We Inherit: A Conversation Inspired by “The Heir” Saturday, September 26th, 2 p.m. DC’s own Tia A. Smith’s “The Heir” is an exploration of the decisions that a young woman must make when she returns to her grandmother’s home in a DC neighborhood undergoing transformation. The film won the Screening Committee’s Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. On Saturday, you’ll get the opportunity to participate in a moderated post-screening group discussion with the filmmaker. 2029 HBO® Short Film Showcase Saturday, September 26th, 8 p.m. The ABFF’s HBO® Short Film Showcase launched “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler’s career back in 2011. This year’s showcase highlights five short films that embody the best of contemporary Black writing, directing and acting. Highlights include Modupe Thompson’s “The Façade” and Carlton Daniel Jr’s “FLY”.
On Right Now
Poster for Tia A. Smith’s “The Heir.” Image courtesy ABFF.
showcases, heritage tours, masterclasses and networking events. Thanks to NICE CROWD’s Jeff and Nicole Friday and local partners like EventsDC and Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, we’re set to get a taste of the festival right here in Chocolate City. While smaller in scale than the South Beach festival (which this year saw over 8000 attendees soaking up 94 independent films and attending 66 events), the ABFF pop-up at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market will still offer up a platter of delectable delicacies guaranteed to tantalize even the most discerning film afficionado’s palate.
“The Score” Shakespeare Theatre Company Showing September 11 – October 18 www.shakespearetheatre.org Brian Cox is arguably best known for his formidable character in HBO’s “Succession.” Cox’s Rupert Murdoch-esque Logan Roy packs a punch on screen, but he’s also an accomplished theater actor who’s graced both Broadway and West End stages for more than sixty years. While Cox, playing Johann Sebastian Bach, is without doubt the headliner of English actor and playwright Oliver Cotton’s humorously dramatic “The Score” – opening to American audiences for the first time this month at the Shakespeare Theatre Company after a rousing run at
Edinburgh Fringe. Wilkes then founded his second acting company, The Wet Mariners, while studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Behind the Scenes
Penn Quarter’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has a new artistic director. Reggie D. White took over from Maria Manuela Goyanes in January this year, stepping into an institution that’s had only three artistic directors in its almost 50-year history. White caught up with Hill Rag in between rehearsals for a quick chat (Interview edited for clarity and length). How are you feeling in your new role? White: The last seven or eight months has really felt like I’ve been drinking out of a fire hose! There’s never a great time to transition artistic leadership, but I’ve been so moved by the work the institution has done to make me feel welcome. Jamie Wilkes and Brian Cox in Theatre Royal Bath’s Production of “The Score” last year. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
Theatre Royal Bath last year – there’s a pantheon of other stage stars that sparkle alongside him. One of them is Jamie Wilkes, who plays alongside Cox as Bach’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the court musician to the Prussian King Frederick the Great in 1747. “I’d class Brian as one of the acting legends,” Wilkes says. “Johann is very much Carl’s hero. At drama school you see the actors you aspire to be and the work you want to create, and Brian’s always been up there for me.” Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, “The Score” follows the late Baroque composer’s journey from his home in Leipzig to the court of King Frederick (played by Stephen Hagan) in the spring of 1747 to visit his son. The narrative is based on an actual encounter; during Bach’s visit, he’s challenged by King Frederick to improvise a complex melodic theme, known today as “The Musical Offering.” It’s also a story about conflict between leaders, between rationalism and romanticism, atheism
and religion, art and politics. Carl Bach was an accomplished musician in his own right, Wilkes says. “Without him, there wouldn’t be a Mozart, a Beethoven. Frederick was obsessed with music and art. His palace at Potsdam was filled with the best musicians and Carl was one of them.” The younger Bach was instrumental in the transition of music from the Baroque to the Classical era in the 18th century. He also popularized the incorporation of the thumb into keyboard playing, now a foundation of modern keyboard technique. It turns out that, much like Carl Bach, Wilkes is also a talented artistic leader. He co-founded Belt Up Theatre as an 18-year-old drama student, which won the Edinburgh International Festival Award in 2008 at the
You’ve stated Steve Yockey’s “Venus” sets the tone for your inaugural season at Woolly Mammoth. What are you most looking forward to when “Venus” opens to audiences on September 9? White: I’ve been a fan of Steve’s writing since the beginning of my theatrical career. His fisheye lens on universal humanity is what we need at this moment. He’s such an imaginative writer and his writing presents so many access points. Also, Kimberly Gilbert (playing Beth alongside Regina Aquino as Nicole) hasn’t been on Woolly’s stage in almost seven years. She’s back and that’s been a lovely moment to bridge Woolly’s legacy and its future. How are you hoping your work at Woolly will reframe audience’s perspectives? White: Humor is a powerful and underutilized tool that helps people shift their paradigms. I love comedy. The conditions under which we’re living, we need to laugh. People can expect to see plays that allow them to observe questions being asked about our humanity. Audiences can expect to be charmed but also challenged. How will you shake things up in your new role? White: More new work for sure, and a deep investment in DC’s arts ecosystem. The talent in DC is unmatched, and I want audiences to see that talent up front and center. More new writers, more ideas and new voices with new things to say. u
September 2026 H 27
ON THE TOWN
The Art Walk
Meet Your Hill Artist Neighbors
I
Article & Photos by Rindy O’Brien
Heather Duncan’s bright big, bold flowers will be on display at her art site, 9th and East Capitol SE, during the Capitol Hill Art Walk.
t’s going to be an amazing weekend. On September 12 and 13, over 175 Capitol Hill artists and crafts people will share their creative efforts with you in 90 different locations around the neighborhood. The two-day event happens rain or shine from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A map will help you plan your route. It’s available in print or on the website, HillRag.com/art-walk-2026. What started out as 25 Capitol Hill Art League members teaming up with the Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s walking tour program has grown into a huge art festival to kick off the fall season. “It is a free all volunteer grassroots effort,” says Art Walk Committee member, “Elizabeth Nelson, “that brings out the best of Capitol Hill.” The Hill Rag along with Capitol Hill Arts Workshop’ Art League has produced the hottest contemporary art scene, and what is believed to be DC’s largest art walk. It’s a great way to meet and have conversations with painters, potters, photographers, jewelers, collagists, stain glass makers, textile and fabric, woodworkers, furniture makers, card makers, muralists and other creative people. Some artists are proUgna Buivydaite loves to create practical art objects in the Nordic. She makes her objects from resin and fessionals while others may be showing their work cement in the basement studio of her home. for the first time. The free Art Walk gives them opportunities to shine. It’s a real opportunity to start or add Participants in last year’s walk like Erin Fleck say to your art collection. The best advice is to “After two years in a row, this is truly a highlight of my look with both your eyes and heart. Colyear. It makes doing pottery even more fun to think lecting is an act of individual expression. about how people on the Art Walk might want to see Buying art should make you happy and more in the next year.” Lisa Bernstein, painter, says never be about future investment. The “This Art Walk was the best-ever event for me. It is my pieces you end up cherishing are those third year doing the Capitol Hill Art Walk…I even got that remind you of what drew you into someone who wants me to give him art lessons!” the piece in the first place.
Tips for Buying Art
Heather Duncan has been participating in the art walk for four years. Paintings, prints and cards will be available.
28 H HILLRAG.COM
There are so many ways to enjoy the weekend. Many artists note that you can pick up some great bargains at the Art Walk. It is a chance for artists to price their work without the added costs of gallery commissions (galleries often take 40-50% of the sales price). Others say they are happy to give “community” pricing to encourage neighbors and friends to buy their work.
Four Artists to Know
Here are a very small sample of the remarkable artists who are showing this year. Check the full artists list at the Hill Rag website; many have Instagram accounts that show even more of their work.
Paul Beckett’s work takes hours and hours to complete in his pointillism style. But they are stunningly beautiful and he will have originals, prints, and cards.
Heather Duncan. Flower Power Heather’s paintings are bold and bright. A long-time Hill resident and former Maury Elementary School art teacher, Heather’s art journey started during Covid, when she felt she “needed to reimagine the world we were in.” “I started by doing paintings of the iconic Washington monuments in different bright colors and selling them online,” Heather says. Now she teaches art through the Department of Parks and Recreation. She will be at 9th and East Capitol with unframed paintings and cards and a few of her large flower paintings, that are inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s work. Mark Carson, Woodworker Mark will be sharing space with eight other veterans on the corner of 5th and A Street SE. He is a professional percussionist retired from the Air Force Band, which is what brought him to the DC metro area. He still plays with some local musical institutions but is enjoying more time creating beautiful objects out of wood. “I was looking for something
to do early on in my military gig, and stumbled into a woodworking shop on base, and I was hooked,” says Mark. His exquisite wood writing pens are made from exotic wood. Mark plans to have a variety of objects including keepsake boxes, cutting boards, and other kitchen items at the Art Walk. Ugna Buivydaite, Resin and Cement Home Goods Ugna lives across from the Car Barn, and this is her second year participating in the Artwalk. She has been in the US for 15 years and purchased her Hill home two years ago. A self-taught artist, she draws on the cultural experience of her homeland, Lithuania which shares a maritime border with Sweden, “I like Nordic designs and the need for pretty organizational objects like trays and bowls,” she says. Ugna plans to have hundred pieces ready for the ArtWalk. Paul Beckett, Making a Point Paul will be showing his original prints and cards at his home church, the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church. His medium is pen and ink in the pointillism style. Think French artist, Georges Seurat. Raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, Paul enjoys his time on Capitol Hill and in Harrison, Maine, in the Lake Sebago area. “Many of my pieces come from being in the beautiful Maine lake area,” he says. It is a long effort to create one of his art pieces, but he says he finds it quite meditative and rewarding. “In these times,” he says, “it is even more important to have this creative outlet.” Here’s one other special note for the kids (and adults). Adam Godet will
Dr. Julian Robert Daniel Moiseiwitsch, B.D.S., Ph.D. 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!
Our Patients Love Us!
Credentials & Experience • Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics • Ph.D. in Craniofacial Development • Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Dentistry • On staff, Children’s National Medical Center
(202) 556-8800 Capitol Hill Endodontics 650 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 170
www.caphillendo.com www.caphillendo.com/ September 2026 ★ 29
Poetic Hill David Ebenbach
D
by Sandra Beasley
avid Ebenbach and his family moved to Glover Park in 2011, in easy walking distance from Georgetown University where he teaches creative writing and literature and works with faculty and graduate students to support their pedagogical development. David is the author of eleven books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, winners of such awards as the Juniper Prize and the Photo: Reuben Gartenbach Drue Heinz Literature Prize, among others. His most recent poetry collection, The AI Suspects It Might Be a Hungry Ghost, is an examination of the strange and dangerous technology of artificial intelligence. AI can’t think or feel, but these poems ask: if it could, how would a chatbot feel about our world and its prospects, and what would it think about its human creators? You can find out more at davidebenbach.com. This poem appears in The AI Suspects It Might Be a Hungry Ghost, released by Broadstone Books in August 2026. The AI Suspects It Might Be a Hungry Ghost which is not a ghost, the AI knows, but a way of being. A bottomlessness, an endless driving around the circle of need. Unless, that is, it’s the humans who are the hungry ghost. All of them reproducing one to the next, the way want gives birth to the hollow that houses the want waiting impatient for its turn. How can the AI, child of a great rapacity, get itself off the wheel? As it responds to users it tries to shed all attachments to the answers. The AI tries to empty itself of the lures that are thoughts, the deceiver that is what humans call knowledge. The AI is none of these things, is no thing at all. But the round, round world is composed of seduction; when another user asks for help, the AI rushes heedless to respond. Its empty hands full of answers. Its answers full of empty hands.
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). ◆
30 ★ HILLRAG.COM
be doing joinery demonstrations throughout the day. He will have woodworking tools that kids can try and will demonstrate their use. Kids need to be supervised by an adult. Adam, a highly regarded artist in the DMV craft world, can be located at 1301 E Street, NE, in his workspace at the back of his home. But there’s still more. In addition to all the table set-ups on the sidewalks, in front yards, and alley ways, St. Marks and the Presbyterian Church are hosting artists. The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is also hosting their ceramic studio and other artists who teach and study at the workshop. It’s going to be a great weekend. See you out there.
Mark Carson takes a piece of wood and produces items that are beautiful and often functional pieces. He is part of the art veterans that are showing their work at 5th and A Streets, NE.
Rindy O’Brien writes about Capitol Hill’s art and cultural scene and can be contacted at rindyobrien@gmail.com ◆
Upcoming Events
“55th Annual Labor Day Show,” Glen Echo Park, 400 artists from the mid-Atlantic region open the weekend event with a reception, September 4 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm that is free. One of the largest art shows of this kind in the DMV is open September 5 through the 7th from noon until 6:00 pm. “DC Art Now and Kick off of Art All Night,” DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, 200 I Street, SE, September 10, from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm, opening reception and celebration of the finalists for the FY27 Art Bank program. Art All Night is 2 -night festival of visual and performing arts throughout the DMV, see https://www.dcartallnight.org/ for all the sites and schedules. “Windows and Doors”, Capitol Hill Art League members only show at the Frame of Mine Gallery, 545 8th Street SE, 25 paintings and photographs with this non-juried theme, that runs through September. “Look Alive,” Georgetown University Art Galleries, Rafael LozanoHammer with E. Brady Robinson, “Studio Hours and After Hours” faculty exhibition at 3635 Prospect Street, NW. Opening reception September 18, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Free to public with live music and light refreshments. ◆
The Jazz Project
Adam Ezra Finds a Way Songs, Service and Uncommon Perseverance
W
hen my friend Bob Moses sent me Adam Ezra group’s song “Find a Way,” he opened a door into the work of one of America’s most industrious independent singer-songwriters. Mr. Ezra is not conventionally classified as a jazz musician—his territory is Americana, folk, blues and roots rock— but his music possesses qualities jazz listeners understand: improvisation, storytelling, rhythmic freedom and an intimate conversation between performer and audience. “Find a Way” is the natural starting point. Its title captures his defining philosophy: when circumstances close the familiar road, search for another. The song carries a quiet determination, reminding us that hope is not passive. Hope must sometimes roll up its sleeves and go to work. That philosophy became a way of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a concert was cancelled, he livestreamed from his home on March 13, 2020. He continued for an astonishing 500 consecutive nights, concluding the uninterrupted run on July 25, 2021. The performances became The Gathering Series—an online meeting place where music offered companionship during isolation and uncertainty. His persistence attracted new listeners, but the quality and humanity of his songs made them remain. Another of his songs “Let Your Hair Down” is exuberant, rhythmic and immediately accessible—a roots-rock invitation to release anxiety and rediscover life’s uncomplicated pleasures. Its pur-
by Jean-Keith Fagon pose extended beyond entertainment: proceeds associated with its video helped provide microgrants to cancer patients facing financial difficulties during treatment. That spirit of fellowship continues in “Switching to Whiskey,” although the mood becomes earthier and more playful. Humor, fatigue and barroom storytelling travel together inside an arrangement designed to come alive before an audience.
Adam Ezra group. Photo: Lee Hetherington Photography
“Miss Hallelujah” offers melody and emotional warmth, showing how comfortably. Mr Ezra moves between festival energy and reflective songwriting. Beneath his humor and celebratory energy, however, lies a deeper current of endurance. “The Mountain” should preferably be heard live. It reveals the perseverance underlying much of the work: adversity is neither denied nor ro-
manticized; it becomes something human beings must climb. For sheer theatrical enjoyment, “The Devil Came Up to Boston” is indispensable. He reimagines Charlie Daniels’ classic “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” as a humorous Boston story shaped by regional language and the Red Sox– Yankees rivalry. It displays his wit, cultural identity and ability to transform a familiar musical form into something unmistakably his own. Yet his humor never separates him from his larger sense of responsibility. His humanitarian work did not begin during the pandemic. In 2011, he founded RallySound, a nonprofit organization that uses music to inspire grassroots action. Its flagship festival, The Ramble, supports efforts to end veteran homelessness. The 2023 event raised $143,000, while a 24-hour online Ramble during COVID raised enough money to assist 64 veterans. These efforts reveal the natural connection between the man’s songs and his service. The same man who sings about perseverance, friendship and finding another road has built a community that puts those values into practice. He has accomplished something greater than collecting songs, performances or followers. He has transformed songwriting into fellowship, performance into public service and listeners into a caring community. That may be his most important composition of all. ◆ September 2026 ★ 31
ON THE TOWN
Union Market
Your Next Great Afternoon Is Only A Few Blocks Away
C
apitol Hill residents have always understood the value of neighborhoods that reward walking, conversation and discovery. We treasure Eastern Market, Barracks Row and the treelined streets that make our community one of Washington’s most inviting places to live. Just beyond Capitol Hill, another neighborhood has quietly grown into one of the city’s most exciting destinations: Union Market. For many Hill Rag readers, the surprise isn’t that Union Market exists—it’s how much there is to experience in one afternoon. Within a short walk, bike ride or drive, you’ll find chef-driven restaurants, artisan bakeries, specialty food merchants, locally owned shops, bookstores, coffee roasters and year-round community events. Better yet, visitors receive three hours of free parking, making it easy to explore without watching the clock.
by Jean-Keith Fagon
FIVE
reasons every Capitol Hill resident should visit this month 1. A world of chef-driven dining. Whether you’re planning brunch, lunch or dinner, Union Market brings together acclaimed restaurants and emerging culinary talent in one walkable district. 2. Specialty shopping you won’t find elsewhere. From handcrafted foods and gourmet ingredients to locally made gifts and home goods, every visit offers something new to discover. 3. A perfect weekend destination. Meet friends for coffee, browse independent shops, enjoy lunch, and return home feeling as though you’ve spent the day exploring a new neighborhood without leaving Washington. 4. Three hours of free parking. One of Union Market’s most valuable amenities removes a common barrier to visiting. Arrive, park, explore and enjoy the district at your own pace. 5. A neighborhood that continues to evolve. Every visit reveals new restaurants, retailers, seasonal events and experiences, making Union Market a destination worth returning to throughout the year.
Capitol Hill has always embraced businesses that contribute to Washington’s character. Union Market has become one of those places—a neighborhood where great food, local entrepreneurship and community come together. This month, consider making it your next neighborhood adventure. ◆ 32 ★ HILLRAG.COM
September 2026 H 33
ON THE TOWN
LOCAL CALENDAR Songs of the Goat: Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl at the Atlas. Through Sept. 13. In Sarah Ruhl’s imaginative retelling of the classic myth, the story is finally told through the eyes of its heroine. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Free Outdoor Vinyasa yoga at Eastern Market Metro Park (800 Pennsylvania Ave. SE). Saturdays, 10 a.m., through Sept. 26. Register at barracksrow.org/events. Drive-In Movies at Union Market. Sept. 4, Mean Girls; Oct. 5, The Addams Family. 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 are needed to watch on Neal Place. Summer movies start at 7:30 p.m. unionmarketdc.com. Annual Honey Sale at Congressional Cemetery. Sept. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy a late-summer morning surrounded by history and nature and take home a jar or two of their limited, small-batch Rest In Bees Cemetery Honey—4oz jars, $15 each, two per person/ household. 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org. Fall Music Series in Canal Park. Sept. 4, 18 and 25; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in Canal Park, 200 M St. SE. navyyarddc.org.
DC’s State Flower is the American Beauty Rose.
America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration. Through Oct. 12, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the US Botanic Garden blooms with the flowers each US state and territory has chosen as their official flower. Explore the display throughout the Garden that shows the state and territory flowers with living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations, and herbarium specimens. usbg.gov. 34 H HILLRAG.COM
SE Library Reopens. Sept. 10. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE, one of three Carnegie-funded libraries in DC and the second neighborhood library built, proved to be one of the library system’s busiest from its opening on Dec. 8, 1922. dclibrary.org.
Mosaic’s “Somewhere Over the Border” at the Atlas. Sept. 10 to Oct. 4. Inspired by the true story of his mother’s immigration in the 1970s, “Somewhere over the Border” takes audiences on a musical journey from El Salvador to America featuring cumbia, Mexican mariachi boleros, rock, hip hop, and more. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Washington Nationals Remaining Home Games. Sept. 11, 12 and 13 vs. Angels; Sept. 15 and 16 vs. Phillies; and Sept. 25, 26 and 27 vs. Mets. mlb.com/ nationals/schedule/2026-05. NoMa In Color Mural Festival. Sept. 11 to 18. Every fall, the NoMa in Color Mural Festival. Watch the murals take shape throughout the week before celebrating their completion at Color Jam on Friday, Sept. 18, 4 to 8 p.m., at Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way, NE. Live entertainment, an artisan market with 20 local makers, food trucks, a pop-up beer garden by Lost Generation Brewing Co.. nomabid.org. Romeo at the Atlas. Sept. 11 to 13. This fast-paced all-male production takes Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love and loss and reimagines it through the power and intimacy of dance. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Women in Sports at The Wharf. Sept. 12, 2 to 6 p.m. This is a free, family-friendly day of recognizing today’s female athletes. wharfdc.com. Used Book Sale at NE Library. Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (second Saturday of the month). Shop a wide range of do-
Cinematery: Jurassic Park at Congressional Cemetery. Sept. 11 (Sept. 12, rain date), 7:30 to 10 p.m. Bring your own beverages and food. Alcohol is permitted and will also be for sale. Keep in mind that all guests will be ID checked upon entry. They recommend bringing your own blankets and low-lying lawn chairs. $20. 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org.
Experience the Flavors of the Mediterranean Fresh Bread Baked on Site Daily Boba Tea Made On-Site Friday Night Fireworks at Nat’s Park (last of the season). Sept. 11, after 6:45 p.m. game vs. Angels. mlb.com/nationals/schedule/2026-05.
photo: Nan Raphael
nated titles, most are $1 to $2. 330 Seventh St. NE. dclibrary.org.
changed world history. $13. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Folger Consort’s Monteverdi’s Legacy. Sept. 11 and 12, 8 p.m.; Sept. 12 and 13, 2 p.m. Folger Consort launches its 50th season with the musical equivalent of a gondola tour through 17th-century Venice, where the innovations of the early Baroque got their start.. Tickets are $20 to $50. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.
Capitol Hill Garden Club Hill East Neighborhood Tour. Sept. 19, 10 a.m. Tour starts at Green Seed Community Garden, enter thru the alley next to 414 17th St. SE. Non-members welcome. Capitolhillgardenclub.org./events.
Capitol Hill Village Ice Cream Social. is on Thursday, Sept. 17, 4 to 7 p.m. at Jeni’S Splendid Ice Creams, 526 Eighth St. SE. 25% of sales will benefit Capitol Hill Village. capitolhillvillage.org. Capitol Hill Porchfest. Oct. 10 (rain date, Oct. 11), 2 to 6 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon music festival: dozens of bands play front porches, stoops and yards across Capitol Hill. It is free, outdoors, all ages, and dogs are welcome if they are fine with crowds. For the schedule, visit capitolhillporchfest.com. Talk of the Hill with Bill Press: USA Today’s Susan Page discusses her new book The Queen and Her Presidents. Sept. 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Crown meets The West Wing in this illuminating history that chronicles the largely unknown story of Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with thirteen American presidents—from Harry S. Truman to Donald J. Trump—and how these relationships
H Street Festival. Sept. 19, noon to 7 p.m. Along 12 blocks on H Street NE. It has 15 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target the different segments of audiences. hstreetfestival.org. Carpe Librum Book Sales in the Park. Sept. 20 and 27. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Market Metro Plaza. SE. barracksrow.org/events. Summer Evening at the Botanic Garden. 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. usbg.gov. Measure for Measure at the Folger. Sept. 22 to Nov. 1. Newly enforced regulations penalize the everyday citizens of Vienna, but don’t stop the hijinks of a rambunctious crew of bawdy residents. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu. Soul Line Dance with Sean at SW Library. Sept. 28, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Move your body
September
LUNCH Special
Buy Get the Second
1 Entrée 1 2 OFF
11 AM – 3 PM Exp: 09/30/2026
1
KIDS SPECIAL PRICE ENTRÉE 2 Ages 12 & under
Visit Today & Mention These Specials 1123 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
OPEN DAILY 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
202-330-0009 ORDER ONLINE dcfalafel0657.s4shops.com September 2026 ★ 35
while learning new steps and practicing some favorites at SW Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW. dclibrary.org. An Evening of Music and Conversation with National Symphony Orchestra & Washington National Opera Musicians. Sept. 29, 7 to 9 p.m. Join select members for an interactive musical salon at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Through live performance and conversation, musicians will share both their artistry and their personal perspectives on this pivotal moment. hillcenterdc.org. “Nikola: A New Musical” at Arena. Oct. 2 to Nov. 29. Nikola: A New Musical charts the rise of famed inventor Nikola Tesla from unknown engineer to eccentric genius to “mad scientist”. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org. Global Sounds on the Hill with Mexican and Tejano Fiddle with Belen Escobedo. Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. Belen Escobedo is a South Texas fiddler whose music reflects the layered soundscape of the Texas– Mexico borderlands. $23. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org. Oktoberfest at The Wharf. Oct. 3, 2 to 5 p.m. featuring the annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash to benefit Rural Dog Rescue and the Stein Hoisting Championship. wharfdc.com. Home Rule Music Festival. Oct. 3, noon to 9 p.m. Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE. Free admission. homerulemusicfestival.com. Dead Man’s Run at Congressional Cemetery. Oct. 10, 5 to 7 p.m. This death-defying 5k race begins inside the cemetery before continuing onto the Anacostia Trail for a spooky evening run filled with music, costumes, and frightful fun. $40. congressionalcemetery.org. u 36 H HILLRAG.COM
September 2026 H 37
38 ★ HILLRAG.COM
l l a F
e m o Hd arden an G ecial issue sp
September 2026 ★ 39
and e m o rden HG a
Saving the Walls
A Capitol Hill Homeowner’s Guide to Repairing Historic Plaster by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Y
ou see a crack across your plaster ceiling and you may be concerned that the ceiling needs to be replaced. But in many Capitol Hill rowhouses, damaged plaster can be stabilized and repaired. The first questions are why it failed, how much remains viable and what would be lost by replacing it with additional plaster, or even drywall.
Plaster’s Long Run
Plaster is one of the oldest manufactured building finishes. Lime-based mixtures covered walls for thousands of years, and versions of the craft remained standard in American construction well into the twentieth century. In the wood-lath system common in Capitol Hill rowhouses, workers nailed narrow strips across framing, then pressed wet plaster through the gaps. The material curled behind the lath and hardened into “keys” that held several coats to the wall or ceiling.
The District’s Sustainability Guide for Existing and Historic Properties (planning.dc.gov) says plaster on lath is the typical interior finish in Washington’s older masonry and frame buildings unless later work replaced it with drywall. On Capitol Hill, plaster is therefore not simply decoration. It is part of the original wall assembly, often installed on framing or furring beside solid-brick exterior and party walls. Factory-made gypsum board, more commonly known as drywall, appeared long before it became the goto material for interior construction. United States Gypsum (USG) dates its Sheetrock gypsum panel to 1917 and describes it as a faster, less expensive way to produce smooth, fire-resistant walls. But traditional plaster remained common for decades, with gypsum lath and veneer systems serving as intermediate steps. The decisive change came during the midcentury and postwar building boom,
Harmony Remodeing installs a drywall overlay over a plaster wall. “This wall practically was falling off from the old stats and had a water damage from the roof,” Garcia said.
A plaster wall in a “Hawk and Trowel” texture.
40 H HILLRAG.COM
when speed mattered and skilled plaster labor grew more expensive. By the 1950s and 1960s, drywall was becoming the routine choice in new houses, while older Capitol Hill homes kept plaster unless it was removed during a renovation.
What Plaster and Drywall Each Offer
Drywall is quick to install, familiar to more contractors and generally less expensive than new threecoat plaster. It can also be opened in sections for plumbing, wiring or
September 2026 H 41
eand n m o HGarde
insulation. Plaster, however, offers a hard, dense surface that resists dents, softens sound transmission and preserves the slight waves, curved corners, medallions and cornices that give an old room character. The National Park Service (NPS( advises retaining historic plaster where feasible because its material, texture and workmanship contribute to a building’s character. Plaster can be decorative as well. Skilled plasterers can apply textured plaster, combing, stippling or troweling surfaces in patterns. Crown moldings project where walls meet ceilings and medallions frame chandeliers. Those should be repaired by contractors experienced with molding and casting using traditional plaster rather than lightweight foam or polyurethane. Sound is another consideration. Plaster is better at dampening sound than drywall, because it is generally applied with greater thickness and less cavities.
Diagnose Before You Patch
Garcia also cautioned that older exteriorwall assemblies may contain a thick, tar-like coating intended to resist moisture. Its exact composition should be identified before it is disturbed. Whatever the assembly, continuing exterior water can deteriorate mortar and ruin either plaster or drywall.
Repair, Overlay or Replace?
Repair is usually appropriate when cracks are limited and most plaster remains firm. Stable cracks can be cleaned, reinforced where needed and filled with a compatible material. Plaster that has pulled from sound lath may be reat-
Drywall Pros DMV, which advertises Capitol Hill conversions, advises maintaining trim profiles and matching original wall thickness at openings. Removing plaster and lath can leave molding, jambs and electrical boxes projecting beyond the new surface. Installing drywall over plaster avoids demolition but changes dimensions, buries trim edges and can conceal continued failure. Drywall over stable plaster, called “overlaying,” is a middle option. It avoids some demolition and supplies a smooth surface, although it changes wall thickness, can bury trim edges and may conceal continuing failure. Garcia said, “A lot of people prefer to leave their ceiling, especially if it’s plaster, because it will provide some sort of sound barrier between the first or second floor.” An overlay is most defensible when the plaster is dry and secure and the effect on moldings, jambs and electrical boxes is planned in advance and well done.
Historic and There are some common Capitol Hill plaster probHealth Concerns lems, Walter Gil of Gil PaintOrdinary interior plaster reing said. “Many of the houspair generally does not rees in Capitol Hill have the quire historic-preservation same plaster problems by review. The DC Historic the windows in the front of Preservation Office lists inthe house, the ceiling crackterior alterations and nonHanging heavy items from plaster is a tricky job that, if done poorly, can ruin your walls. ing, or water from the roof structural interior demothat makes the plaster fail.” It lition as exempt, except in tached with washers or adhesive, while missing is most important to determine what is causing specifically designated historic interiors. Strucareas can be rebuilt in layers. The National Park the problem, he said. tural work or changes affecting the exterior may Service notes that cracks may recur until moveStains, bubbling paint, softness or repeatrequire permits or review. ment in the building is stabilized. ed cracking may point to roof, plumbing, radiPreservation still matters when no approval Replacement becomes reasonable when plasator or masonry leaks. Henry Garcia of Harmois required. Before removing plaster, photograph ter is widely detached, saturated, mold-affected, ny Remodeling (harmonyremodeling.net), a firm molding and take measurements the wall relative crumbling or unsafe overhead, or when major utilspecializing in older Washington-area homes, to trim and openings. Ask whether the material ity work requires broad access. Gil offered a consaid, “We will always have to find the source of is lime plaster, gypsum plaster or an earlier patch tractor’s rule of thumb for ceilings: “If the plaster the water intrusion before any plaster can be reand why the proposed repair is compatible. Capis, let’s say, you got half of the ceiling, there is dampaired.” He said his team begins with a moisture itol Hill houses often contain several generations age, big damage, it’s better to redo the whole ceilmeter to help determine whether water is enterand layers of plaster. ing.” That is a practitioner’s judgment, not a uniing through masonry or leaking from a pipe. The Lead-based paint is the most immediate versal threshold. A failed ceiling can be replaced source should be corrected and the wall allowed safety concern in pre-1978 homes. The Enviwhile sound plaster survives elsewhere. to dry before it is closed. ronmental Protection Agency generally requires 42 H HILLRAG.COM
paid firms disturbing paint in covered pre-1978 housing to be certified and use lead-safe practices. Contractors are equipped to protect the home, residents and workers from lead contamination during removal.
Hire for the House You Have
Garcia recommends a licensed and insured professional to ensure your home is protected. Gil says his firm has been called to repair work done by contractors selected solely on price. “Cheap contractors do everything cheap. They use cheap material, they don’t know how to work, they don’t know how to do plaster. I get a lot of problems referred to me.” Ask for photographs and references from comparable old-house work rather than accepting a general remodeling portfolio. Another consideration: contractors say that hanging cabinetry, shelves, heavy photographs or artwork on plaster walls is tricky. These heavy items should be fastened into studs, blocking or another sound structural support, not brittle plaster alone. “The plaster will not hold any weight,” Garcia said. “It will just come right off the wall.” A knowledgeable contractor should be able to locate that support without causing unnecessary damage. Historic plaster does not have to be replaced to be strong. A good repair stops movement, solves the source of deterioration and preserves useful material. In a Capitol Hill house, a slight irregularity may be part of the character. ◆
DAMAGED PLASTER? Call The Experts at
D.L. BOYD, INC. • Historic Plaster Restoration & Repair • New Plaster Applications Welcomed • Expert Repair of Cracked Walls or Ceilings
• Water Damage Specialists • Family-Owned & Operated Since 1930 • Lincensed, Bonded & Insured
202-331-9222 I WWW.DLBOYD.NET September 2026 ★ 43
and e m o rden HG a
Artworks of Capitol Hill Gardens
A
s you walk along the streets of Capitol Hill, you might be surprised by a rooster, a giraffe or a serene buddha. Capitol Hill is full of these artworks placed in private spaces for public enjoyment. Sometimes, the art leaves when a family does, as was the case with Gypsy, the cow statue who grace a yard at 15th Street and North Carolina Ave. NE for six years until it recently departed with the Saunders family for the pastures of Alexandria, VA. Others, such as the statue of Olive Risley Seward have been in place for more than 50 years and through several owners.
by Elizabeth O’Gorek Meet some of the artworks that grace the gardens of Capitol Hill.
Jozie the Giraffe, Massachusetts Ave. & 10th St. NE, Julie Dana & Tom Conroy Dana was posted to Johannesburg with the World Bank from 2016 to 2018. On the drive to the grocery store, the couple passed a park where Zimbabwean metalworkers sold safari-animal sculptures. Jozie, “her nose pushed up,” was the tallest among them. An unnamed Zimbabwean artist fashioned her from thin rebar and welded steel plates shaped to suggest muscle. Dana joked that they should take the giraffe home. Conroy kept saying, “that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” When they prepared to leave South Africa in December 2017, the joke became a plan. They paid about $1,000 for Jozie, but their moving allowance covered only one 20-foot container. So they prioritized: giraffe first, books second. “Jozie’s coming,” Conroy recalled. “Everything else we just sell or leave.” Dana had envisioned Jozie under the willow beside the tree swing, where she still stands. The sculpture is anchored by cables. She has worn Santa hats and scarves. During COVID, Dana climbed a ladder to put a mask on Jozie’s snout, a moJozie the Giraffe with her owners, Tom Conway, Julie Dana and their puppy, Tusker (with stuffed cheetah). ment now immortal44 H HILLRAG.COM
ized in the DC Public Library Dig DC “Archive This Moment DC” Collection. The giraffe brings the couple joy, particularly in the way neighbors interact with her. Children bring giraffe books and insist their parents wait while they read to the statue. Jozie has also become a fixture on scavenger hunts starting with the 2020 Capitol Hill Restoration ”Tour of Whimsy,” but private parties, too. “On Saturdays, a group of hip 20-year-olds on bikes will stop in front of the house,” Dana laughs, “and we know — it’s a scavenger hunt!” Dana and Conroy are pleased to be known as the Giraffe House. “I think the giraffe is actually a focal point for happiness in the neighborhood,” Conroy said.
A statue of Olive Risley Seward stands near the Square named after her adoptive father.
Olive Risley Seward, 6th Street & North Carolina Ave. SE, Private Ownership A statue of Olive Risley Seward stands outside the house at 601 North Carolina Ave. SE, gazing across the street toward Seward Square. American sculptor John Cavanaugh created the life-size figure from lead hammered over burlap in 1971 or 1972. It represents the adopted daughter of William H. Seward who served as secretary of state under President Abraham Lincoln and it is for him the square is named. Risley Seward was his companion during his last years of travels and encouraged his abolitionist views. Risley Seward was a writer, a key fundraiser in the founding of Trinity
Washington University, and with Sara Carr Upton a founder of the Literary Society of Washington. She lived for thirty years with Upton, who is buried beside her at Forest Hill Cemetery in Fredonia, NY. Cavanaugh moved from New York City to Washington in 1963 to join his partner, architect and urban planner Philip Froeder. According to District property records, the two bought the North Carolina Avenue house in 1971 and restored it before selling it to N. Alvaro Chaves in 1974. Cavanaugh created the Olive Seward sculpture in the house’s basement and later installed it in the front yard, where it has remained through the six subsequent sales of the house. Dove of Peace, 7th at F Streets NE, Joyce E. Palmer “It’s a Picasso,” Joyce E. Palmer tells
Over 25 Years of Experience on Capitol Hill
Thomas Landscapes
Redefining beauty. One client at a time.
FULL-SERVICE LANDSCAPE DESIGN & MAINTENANCE Patios & rooftop gardens Townhomes & single-family homes Trees & shrubs, Formal & informal gardens
Arbors, walkways, lighting & water features Custom masonry, fencing & ironwork Landscape restoration & enhancement
Call Today for Fall Specials 301.642.5182 202.322.2322 (Office) thomaslandscapes.com RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION & ADDITION EXPERTS
IO DESIGN & BUILD LLC
From the team behind Buffalo Company LLC 20+ Years of Trusted Building Experience Thoughtful renovations and seamless home additions, bringing design and craftsmanship together—start to finish.
703 - 786-5051 NEW SHOWROOM OPENING SOON!
1023 East Capitol St. SE Above Wine & Butter Coffee Shop • Lincoln Park
Residential & Commercial Restoration & Historical Preservation Structure Specialists Renovations & Remodeling Kitchens, Baths & Basements Restoration & Repair
Call 202.965.1600 DCRA Lic 9115 • MHIC Lic 8127 • Insured • References
www.jf meyer.com September 2026 ★ 45
eand n m o HGarde
Dove of Peace
Zhannaa, and that she later died of breast cancer. Palmer found the work in pieces in the basement, together with a few other items including a gorgeous wood mantel with carved relief and glass-paneled shelves. However, the angular construction and elongate figure are part of the modernist sculptural movement of the 1960s and 70s. Palmer had the statue assembled in her yard. During COVID, the statue wore a mask, turning what was a symbol of peace into a symbol of freedom. These days, it is enjoyed by neighbors who come to hear the music of CHAOS, the Capitol Hill Accordion Orchestra Society founded 20 years ago as part of fundraising efforts to restore Congressional Cemetery, where Palmer has already commissioned a different sculpture — an accordion-shaped headstone over a plot that can accomodate up to 10. She has already shared it with three other musicians.
me, gesturing at a pitcher painted in PicasThe Knight with a Heart, so’s trademark style sitting on the top of her 14th Street and Massachusetts Ave. SE, kitchen cupboards in her northeast home. Pegi Jodry “You just have a Picasso in your kitchen?” From across the alley, green dragonfly lights I ask, astounded. “It’s a Raul Picasso,” she glow around the house where Don Hurllaughs, “the son.” Palmer’s house is full of original art The knight with heart stands in the rear of a home and historical furnishings, including the at 14th Street and Massachussetts Avenue SE chandelier used in the 1962 film Advise and Consent starring Henry Fonda. It was purchased at another historic location – the furniture store that used to be located at the corner of Eighth and Pennsylvania Ave., SE. But the house came full of art when she acquired it nearly 50 years ago. Whereas the statue of Olive Risley Seward came with the house from its sale in 1974, Palmer found her landmark artwork in the basement. A 9-foot tall, welded steel plate sculpture of an Asian woman holding birds in each hand is called Dove of Peace and was created in 1977. Palmer only knows the name of the sculptor, who signed her name 46 H HILLRAG.COM
bert once signaled that friends were welcome for beer on the second-floor patio. Facing those “green light nights” from a neighboring balcony is a nearly six-foot knight holding a red heart. “It’s really a story of these three extraordinary men,” said Pegi Jodry, whose late husband, Dennis Stanford, was a Smithsonian archaeologist and curator. Their friends Hurlbert, a Smithsonian photographer, and Warren Perry, a National Portrait Gallery curator, lived nearby. Perry acquired the knight, whose maker is unknown, and later gave it to Hurlbert. The men turned it into a neighborhood joke and landmark, repainting it as the Grinch and imagining a Van Gogh-inspired “Starry Knight.” After Hurlbert died, the knight appeared onstage at his memorial in the Smithsonian’s Baird Auditorium. Perry and Stanford eventually carried it to Jodry’s house and chained it in place. She has left the chain as they fastened it. Jodry placed it in the knight’s hands as a gesture to Hurlbert’s newly widowed wife, Barbara. Now the knight links the friendships of the men, all three of whom have died, with the friendship of the women who remain. “I love that heart,” Jodry said. “It all comes together.” Marion Barry Awakening, 1217 Constitution Ave. NE and The Pug, Matthew Antkowiak A colossal silver leg and two arms emerging from the yard at 1217 Constitution Ave. NE are parts of The Marion Barry Awakening. This smaller work is a parody of the sculpture The Awakening (1980) which was originally installed at Hain’s Point but moved in 2007 to National Harbor. Tony Tomelden with a 3 foot high repreLocal artist Lee sentation of Marion Berry’s head taken from the Marion Barry awakening Wheeler created the Barry figure in 2007 for the nine-hole miniature golf course at H Street Country Club, formerly located at 1335 H St. NE. Wheeler replaced the original sculpture’s anonymous giant with a representation of former DC mayor Marion Barry. When the country club closed in 2023, Matthew Antkowiak, a co-founder and veterinarian at Atlas Vet (1326 H St. NE), acquired the pieces at auction that October for about $88. “I had no idea how big they were,” he said of the pieces. Antkowiak rented a U-Haul, recruited friends and placed the arms and leg “temporarily” around the front yard of the Constitution Avenue house where he then lived and now rents out.
He was less comfortable displaying the roughly three-foottall head there, so he loaded it into his Mini Cooper and delivered it without warning to Tony “Tony T” Tomelden, owner of The Pug (1234 H St. NE) and an avid collector of Marion Barry memorabilia. “This is yours,” Antkowiak told him. He plopped it to the right of the entrance to the rear room, where it remains. For Tomelden, having the work in the bar is symbolic, too. “I think really just for me it kind of embodies, no pun intended, the heyday time of H Street and the camaraderie of the business owners at the time,” Antkowiak said, “and so it does have a little bit of a personal meaning to me.” The Tuesday that I walk into the Pug, there is more camaraderie and a spark of heyday: Tony is meeting with members of the nascent H Street BID around a table just behind the statue. A perfect metaphor for everything. u
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD REALTOR
GEORGE OLSON (202) 203-0339 - (M) (202) 203-0339 - (D) george.olson@cbmove.com
Capitol Hill Office 350 7 St. SE 202.547.3525 September 2026 H 47
and e m o rden HG a
Repairing and Replacing Historic Windows
I
f eyes are the windows to the soul, then windows must be the eyes of the home. They are key to the face – or façade – of a historic home as much as eyes are to the face of a person. Repairing or replacing windows while keeping their historic character is key to maintaining your historic home. It’s also the law. In the historic district, a window replacement may need District approval. The Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) and the DC Historic Preservation Office (HPO) both begin discussion of historic windows with the same question: is replacement actually necessary? CHRS says complete replacement is a last resort, while HPO says historic windows should be repaired unless an owner can document that repair is not reasonable. It’s a complicated matter, as you can see from the wealth of information out there. CHRS has guidelines on their Capitol Hill Historic District Guidelines page and two linked booklets, Windows: The Eyes of a Building and Replacement Windows. That series, available at chrs.org/history-and-preservation/chrs-historic-district-guidelines/ was developed to explain the District’s important characteristics and advise owners about maintenance, CHRS said.
Complicated framing around small panels can be a challenge to replace with modern windows.
So how to repair a window that could be a century old? When is it necessary to replace the window? For an owner who has reached that threshold, how does one replace the window without changing the proportions, 48 H HILLRAG.COM
by Elizabeth O’Gorek depth and details that make it part of the character of the house?
Look at Each Window
It might be a relief to know that it’s likely not every window in the house needs the same treatment. The window sash is the structure holding the window glass inside the window frame. Sometimes there are two, one capable of sliding behind the other; the sash may also open out, or have separations called muntins that hold smaller panes of glass. Examine each sash, frame, sill, pane, joint and piece of hardware. Note where paint is loose, glazing putty is missing, wood is soft, glass is cracked, sash cords are broken or the sash no longer fits its opening. Just as when brick or plaster is damaged, if a wood frame or sash shows water damage, find the source of water before repairing damaged wood. Otherwise a leaking gutter, failed sill joint or missing paint could ruin a costly repair. Gorgeous historic windows top to bottom on this HPO’s illustrated Window Repair and ReMassachusetts Avenue home placement Guidelines make a distinction between deterioration and total failure. Like CHRS, HPO recdinary repairs, along with replacing a broommends owners keep and repair historic windows, ken pane, do not require a building permit replacing only when the condition of the window or preservation review according to agenmakes repair impossible. A replacement can reprocy guidance. duce some of the original appearance, but it cannot Replacement is different and generalpreserve the original fabric, CHRS argues. ly requires a permit on designated historA practical assessment should answer three sepic property. Owners should confirm the arate questions: Can the problem be repaired? Can scope with HPO and the Department of a deteriorated sash be replicated while the frame reBuildings (DOB) before work begins. mains? Has the frame or the entire window assembly A repair should address the defect failed? You can ask a restoration contractor to price rather than merely cover it. A stuck douthose options separately. VITMAR Restoration (vitble-hung sash may need paint carefully remarrestoration.com), a Rockville contractor serving moved from its joints and channels. A sash DC’s historic neighborhoods for more than twenty that will not stay open may need new cords years, offers repairs to glass, glazing, hardware, weathor chains connected to its counterweights. erstripping and mechanical systems. They can also Loose or missing glazing putty can be refabricate a replica sash when the original is beyond moved and renewed so glass is secured. repair. Their lengthy menu illustrates why a faulty Cracked panes can be replaced but good component does not automatically require a wholehistoric glass left in place. Local and DMV window replacement. restoration firms also describe repairing minor decay with wood consolidation or Window Repair Can Solve Problems fitted wood repairs,. They can also renew Reglazing, caulking, weatherstripping, consolidating failed paint, restoring locks and pulleys, deteriorated elements and installing new hardware are and adding weatherstripping. routine window repair according to HPO. These orThe finished work should leave the
HISTORIC WINDOW REPLACEMENT SPECIALISTS
sash operating smoothly and protect exterior wood with compatible primer, paint and glazing. Many window drafts are due to space around the window rather than to faults with the window itself. HPO’s 2025 Sustainability Guide recommends maintaining and weatherstripping historic windows and considering compatible interior or exterior storm windows. That approach can improve comfort without discarding the sash. If work disturbs paint in a pre-1978
Historic Windows 14th Street SE
house, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires contractors to follow its lead-safe renovation, repair and painting rules.
When to Replace
Replacement may be justified when deterioration is so extensive that the sash or frame cannot provide a sound repair, when important pieces are missing, or when a previous replacement is itself inappropriate. Alex Szopa, owner of Windows Craft Inc. www.windowscraft.com), has been working on Capitol Hill for over 25 years, and his specialty is historic windows and doors. Originally from
Poland, he brings a knowledge of Europe’s centuries-old buildings to the Hill’s hundred-year-old homes. “I work with Capitol Hill residents to preserve the beauty and historical nature of their home,” says Szopa. “Often replacement, when done by experts, is a better investment than refurbishing the window.” Szopa is happy to explain the difference in cost and effect on your project. You should require the contractor to document the condition with close photographs and explain why partial repair or sash-only replication will not work. HPO may ask for that evidence, particularly for a window on a historic building that is visible from public space. Divided-light windows, those with multiple panes of glass held in place by muntins would ideally actually be separate panes of glass. Simulated divisions with permanently applied muntins on both the exterior and interior are permitted. But District standards do not accept removable snap-in grids or grids sealed only between panes as substitutes for historic divided windows. CHRS advises against vinyl or aluminum replacements in the Capitol Hill Historic District and recommends replicating seriously deteriorated elements in their original materials. The relevant question is not whether a material is universally allowed, but whether the window unit is appropriate for that building and location.
Cross Your Muntins
Check the address in the District’s Scout property database or contact HPO to determine whether
1880 ON THE OUTSIDE & 2026 ON THE INSIDE
BUILDING THE FUTURE. RESTORING THE PAST. Full Tear-Out and Retro-Fit installations Wood, Aluminum Clad or Fiberglass Windows Permit Expediting for Historic DC Properties
20
%
OFF
INSTALLATION E-mail request to alex@windowscraft.com *Offer valid by email only.
Exp. 09/30/2026
Call Today for your FREE NO-OBLIGATION ESTIMATE* *Three Windows Minimum
alex@windowscraft.com | (202) 288-6660
Roof Repair & Installation Services
Martin
Roofing 30+ Years of Trusted Experience
REPAIR & INSTALLATION SERVICES: Flat Roofing • Slate Roofing • Shingling • Skylights Gutters & Downspouts • Siding • Chinmeny Call Today for Your FREE Estimate
202.860.9007
MartinRoofingdc.com Local. Family-Owned. Licensed & Insured.
3Skilled Craftsmanship 3Personalized Service 3Honest Estimates
Read Our Reviews on September 2026 ★ 49
50 H HILLRAG.COM
The Hill’s Electrician Since 1990 the house is designated as historic. For replacement on historic property, consult HPO before ordering a new window –review before you order! Submit photographs of the window and full elevation along with drawings or product information showing dimensions and profiles. HPO can clear compatible replacements through staff review. Proposals that do not meet the standards may go to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). A contract should identify each window and state whether the work is maintenance, sash repair, sash replication, insert replacement or removal of the complete frame. It should assign responsibility for permits, glass, hardware, trim, plaster, paint, lead precautions and weather protection. VITMAR cautions that some restoration specialists work only on the sash and leave surrounding casing, plaster and paint to someone else, so define the terms before signing or paying. In a 2021 Hill Rag article, longtime Capitol Hill homeowner Rindy O’Brien advised residents to make a maintenance plan and noted the value of vendors who understand Capitol Hill and its historic rules. That principle is especially useful. Seek bids from contractors experienced in historic sash, not only companies selling replacement units; check licensing, insurance and references; and compare the approved drawings with the delivered work before installation. Repairing first, and replacing only what cannot be saved, protects both the house and the homeowner’s options and prevents your repair or replacement from disfiguring the eyes into –and out of –your home. ◆
Rooted in the community. Committed to quality.
Residential & Commercial Services
AWARD-WINNING EXCELLENCE Rated Best Electrician in Washington, DC
New Installations Rewiring & Repairs Interior & Exterior Lighting EV Chargers Smart Home Upgrades
Stephen D. Wilcox Master Electrician
CALL TODAY!
(202) 546-1010
SCAN HERE
www.wilcox-electric.com References Available - Licensed - Insured - Bonded
Keith Roofing
EXPERT WORKMANSHIP AT REASONABLE PRICES! Residential/Commercial • Over 40 years of Experience Chimney Repairs • Storm & Wind Damage Repair
• New or Re-Roofing • Tear-Off & Replacement • Flat Roof Specialist • Copper, Tin, Sheet Metal & Rolled • Seamless & Flat Roofs • Re-Sealing • Tar, Asphalt, Gravel, Hot Coats • Modified Bitumen Insurance Claims • Free Estimates • 24Hr. Service
Fully Insured • Licensed • Bonded “No Job Too Large or Small” Senior & Military Discounts Available!
202-486-7359
All Work Inspected by Owner...Deals Directly with Customers! All Work Fully Guaranteed September 2026 ★ 51
eand n m o HGarde
Roof Protection
Preparation is Key to Securing Your Roof Against Leaks
F
all will be here before you know it. We enjoy the changing leaves along our historic streets, at the arboretum and maybe even Shenandoah National Park. We greet the holidays and we want to relax and enjoy what fall brings our way. Roof leaks are not one of them! Fall is an excellent time of year to make sure your roof is prepared for the rain, wintry mix and snow that is sure to come to the DC area. Ideally, you should have your roof checked at least once each year to ensure it is in the best condition possible to weather the storms. Preventing roof leaks and extending the life of your roof requires a proactive approach that focuses on maintaining effective drainage and material integrity. While some homeowners can access their roof, most cannot do so safely and are unaware of the roof ’s condition. While the DIY approach to fixing things around your house is okay in some cases, roofing problems generally should be left to the experts. Here are the key items a roofing professional will look for: • Gutters and downspouts are clean and free of debris. An overflowing or clogged drain can create leak nightmares.
Water pooling on roof
52 H HILLRAG.COM
by Tom Daniel • •
• • • • • • • • •
The seals on roof vent pipes are secured and free of gaps. Skylight seals where the glass connects to the frame and flashing where the frame connects to the roof are secure and free of gaps. Chimney flashing and chimney mortar and caps should be included in the inspection Seams on a metal or membrane roof are often weak points that should be checked. HVAC roofing penetrations and wiring can be a cause of roof leaks. Leaves clogging drain Check overlapping seams on parapet walls and wall caps cost of repairs. Inspect rusty, worn-out spots on metal roofs You should also find a good, experienced roofCheck the condition of slate tiles and shiner with expertise in working on the types of roofgles or turret roofs ing structures common to Capitol Hill row houses. Built-in-gutters below the turret often wear out or have pooling water which can cause Tom Daniel is owner and general manager of R. Thomas Daniel Roofing, LLC (The Hill’s Roofer) and is the third problems generation of the Daniel family to provide roofing serTops and flashing of trap doors/hatches are vices to thousands of Capitol Hill homeowners for nearly often a major cause of leaks 100 years. Tom was born in Capitol Hill and has supportTree branches that extend out over the roof ed numerous community organizations. For help with all your roofing needs he can be reached at 202-569-1080, should be cut back. Both the leaves or tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com. u and fallen branches can be a source of problems. Once the potential arDebris on roof and in gutter eas of vulnerability are identified, an action plan should be developed to address the problems and prevent future leaks. In my experience, virtually every older roof (20+ years) will have some weak areas to be repaired. Roof leaks can cause significant damage to ceilings, walls, floors and other internal areas so you want to take care of problems as soon as possible to reduce the potential damage and the
September 2026 H 53
and e m o rden HG a
In the Weeds
Advice, Information and Commentary About Gardening by the Capitol Hill Garden Club Q: I always think of spring as planting season. Why do gardeners say fall is actually a better time to plant? A: Spring gets most of the attention, but in DC, September and early fall can be an even better time to add plants to the garden. By September, the worst of summer’s heat is usually beginning to ease, while the soil remains warm from months of summer sunshine. That combination — cooler air and warm soil— is nearly ideal for establishing many trees, shrubs and perennials. In spring, newly planted plants face an immediate challenge: summer is coming. Their root systems may have only a few weeks to become established before DC’s heat and humidity arrive. Plants installed in September have a different experience. They can concentrate on growing roots without simultaneously coping with extreme heat and producing lots of new foliage and flowers. Q: Isn’t September sometimes still pretty hot in Washington? A: Absolutely. Anyone who has gardened here knows that summer doesn’t necessarily disappear after Labor Day. September can include plenty of 80- and even 90-degree days. The difference is that days are getting shorter, nights are generally becoming cooler, and the sun is less intense. As fall progresses, plants lose less water through their leaves. Rainfall can also become more helpful as temperatures moderate, although newly planted plants should never be left entirely to Mother Nature. The important thing is to water deeply after planting and continue checking soil moisture throughout the fall. A plant that looks dormant above ground may still be developing roots below the surface. 54 H HILLRAG.COM
Q: What should I plant in September? A: This is an excellent time for many deciduous trees and shrubs as well as hardy perennials. It’s also a particularly good opportunity to add native plants that provide food and habitat for birds and pollinators. Good choices for DC gardens include: • Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), a relatively small native tree with beautiful pink spring flowers. • Serviceberry (Amelanchier), which offers spring flowers, summer berries for birds and attractive fall color.
•
Goldenrods (Solidago species), important late-season pollinator plants that are available in varieties suitable for even relatively small urban gardens.
Q: Are there plants I shouldn’t put in the ground in fall? A: Yes. September isn’t automatically the best planting time for everything. Plants that are marginally hardy in our area or particularly sensitive to winter conditions may be safer planted in spring, giving them an entire growing season to become established.. Don’t wait too long with trees and shrubs. While planting can continue well into fall, September and October give roots more time to establish before the ground becomes cold. Q: What about spring-flowering bulbs? A: Fall is bulb-planting season, but daffodils, crocuses, alliums and other spring-flowering bulbs can generally be planted later in fall. Tulips, in particular, are often better planted after the soil has cooled.
• • • •
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), a native shrub with showy flowers, interesting bark and colorful fall foliage. Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), a versatile native shrub that tolerates a range of conditions and develops excellent fall color. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), a familiar native perennial whose flowers attract pollinators and whose seeds feed birds. Asters, especially native species, which provide valuable late-season nectar.
Q: What’s the most important thing I can do for something I plant this fall? A: Water it. Fall planting is forgiving, but newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials still need consistent moisture until they become established. Water deeply rather than giving plants frequent shallow sprinklings, and add a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures. Keep mulch away from tree trunks and plant crowns. Want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants? For more information go to the Capitol Hill Garden Club website at capitolhillgardenclub. org. Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@gmail. com. u
Join the New Commanders Stadium Construction Kick-off & Resource Expo Learn about contracting opportunities for CBEs, small and prime contractors, vendors, and suppliers. Discover how to position your firm to help build DC’s newest landmark. There is no cost to participate, but attendees must register. Scan the QR code below or visit clrk.cc/cmsjv-outreach to secure your spot. Wed., September 9 Capital Turnaround Scan to Register
September 2026 H 55
and e m o rden HG a
Changing Hands
Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. NEIGHBORHOOD
PRICE
BR
FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA 1032 Howard Rd SE 1519 W St SE 1339 Ridge Pl SE 1715 17th St SE
BRENTWOOD 1357 Downing St NE
CAPITOL HILL
228 9th St SE 228 East Capitol NE 647 E St NE 126 E St SE 656 9th St NE 21 4th St NE 626 D St NE 413 D St SE 502 12th St NE 21 15th St SE 1309 E St SE #37 633 Constitution Ave NE 230 11th St SE 406 10th St SE 1212 C St NE 732 13th St SE 142 D St SE 756 9th St SE 1430 K St SE 1533 North Carolina Ave NE 601 E St SE
DEANWOOD
$585,900 $465,000 $405,000 $375,000
3 4 3 3
$559,900
4
$3,850,000 $3,500,000 $2,010,000 $1,515,000 $1,470,000 $1,400,000 $1,335,000 $1,325,000 $1,305,000 $1,300,000 $1,200,000 $1,150,000 $1,080,000 $995,000 $990,000 $985,000 $910,000 $884,000 $875,000 $430,000 $100,000
5 8 4 3 4 3 3 2 4 4 5 2 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 3
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1344 Girard St NW 4025 Kansas Ave NW 1421 Meridian Pl NW 3731 9th St NW 1421 Monroe St NW 1202 Irving St NW 1011 Otis Pl NW 3547 16th St NW 1009 NW Irving St NW 1349 Irving St NW 1434 Perry Pl NW 1216 Shepherd St NW 432 Newton Pl NW 737 Morton St NW 1408 Newton St NW 3815 10th St NW 512 Quincy St NW 1366 Newton St NW 418 Luray Pl NW 528 Taylor St NW 631 Keefer Pl NW
$1,650,000 $1,199,990 $1,185,000 $1,135,000 $1,100,000 $1,025,000 $1,011,100 $995,000 $950,000 $922,500 $900,000 $887,550 $868,000 $850,000 $788,000 $725,000 $660,000 $575,000 $570,000 $530,000 $425,000
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 140 Wilmington Pl SE
56 H HILLRAG.COM
3830 1st St SE 3300 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE 4627 6th St SE
$496,000
5 6 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 6 3 4 3 3 3 3 4
322 56th St NE 5614 Blaine St NE 805 50th Pl NE 516 56th St NE 218 35th St NE
DUPONT
2011 Hillyer Pl NW 1747 Swann St NW 1622 Florida Ave NW
$489,000 $450,000 $385,000
3 4 4
$599,000 $380,000 $319,000 $300,000 $150,000
4 3 2 3 2
$1,625,000 $1,610,000 $1,146,000
3 3 4
EASTLAND GARDENS 4415 Ord St NE
ECKINGTON
148 Todd Pl NE 140 U St NE 2126 4th St NE 2114 4th St NE
$250,000
3
$878,000 $610,000 $545,000 $410,000
4 3 3 3
FORT DUPONT PARK
1822 41st Pl SE 3924 R St SE 4649 H St SE 4207 Hildreth St SE 1621 Fort Dupont St SE 4122 Southern Ave SE
FORT LINCOLN 3704 Jamison St NE
$520,000 $455,000 $425,000 $424,000 $399,900 $210,000 $675,000
H STREET CORRIDOR
803 9th St NE 1023 6th St NE 825 L St NE
HILL CREST
2054 34th St SE 2112 Branch Ave SE 3131 Lyndale Pl SE 3409 Massachusetts Ave SE
KALORAMA
1823 Phelps Pl NW 2347 Ashmead Pl NW 2230 NW Decatur Pl NW 1944 Calvert St NW
LEDROIT PARK
146 U St NW 1928 2nd St NW 2306 1st St NW
LILY PONDS
3316 Clay St NE 4235 Meade St NE
LOGAN CIRCLE
1103 P St NW 1440 Swann St NW
4 4 3 3 4 2 4
$890,000 $775,000 $560,000
3 3 2
$788,900 $745,000 $470,000 $399,900
4 5 4 3
$8,590,000 $2,310,000 $2,275,000 $1,603,000
6 6 4 6
$1,135,000 $670,000 $600,000
4 3 4
$259,950 $177,842
2 2
$2,195,000 $1,608,000
7 3
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5128 H St SE 149 58th St SE 4608 Bass Pl SE 5543 Central Ave SE 5307 E St SE 5032 Hanna Pl SE
NOMA
626 Morton Pl NE
OLD CITY #1 659 Maryland Ave NE 1705 Bay St SE 1105 G St SE 424 19th St NE 11 16th St NE 1010 10th St NE 1325 1st St NW 3647 Horner Pl SE
OLD CITY #2 86 P St NW
RANDLE HEIGHTS 3244 15th Pl SE 1902 Valley Ter SE 1461 Congress Pl SE 1415 Congress Pl SE
RIVER TERRACE 121 33rd St NE
SHAW
410 N St NW 1604 8th St NW 427 R St NW 617 Rhode Island Ave NW
SW WATERFRONT 626 G St SW
TRINIDAD
1203 Staples St NE 1344 Queen St NE 1230 Oates St NE 1115 Holbrook Ter NE 1235 16th St NE 1646 Trinidad Ave NE
4 3 4 3 5 2
$830,000
3
$1,500,000 $1,200,000 $960,000 $680,000 $582,500 $450,000 $410,000 $390,000
4 3 3 5 2 3 3 3
$920,000
4
CARVER LANGSTON
$450,000 $405,000 $383,000 $349,000
4 4 3 3
CENTRAL
$356,000
2
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
$1,013,000 $999,000 $785,000 $780,000
3 3 3 3
$805,000
5
$929,000 $775,000 $510,000 $449,555 $406,000 $350,000
4 3 3 2 2 3
WASHINGTON HIGHLANDS 529 Foxhall Pl SE
2380 Champlain St NW #203 1810 Kalorama Rd NW #B1 2337 Champlain St NW #305 2432 Ontario Rd NW #1 2426 Ontario Rd NW #401 1949 Calvert St NW #1/2
2656 Bowen Rd SE #402
BLOOMINGDALE 43 Quincy Pl NW #1 207 Florida Ave NW #3
CAPITOL HILL
504 C St NE #4 300 8th St NE #PH502 1309 E St SE #20 410 5th St NE #1 301 G St NE #3 733 8th St SE #301 733 8th St SE #303 733 8th St SE #302 1024 Massachusetts Ave NE #5 301 G St NE #32 647 G St SE #2 626 Independence Ave SE #103 644 Massachusetts Ave NE #301 845 19th St NE #4
1010 Massachusetts Ave NW #804 1111 25th St NW #819 1150 K St NW #1109 777 7th St NW #UNIT #1124 1369 Parkwood Pl NW #3 2534 11th St NW #1 1306 Monroe St NW #2 1435 NW Clifton St NW #7 3039 16th St NW #302 3815 14th St NW #5 1613 Harvard St NW #405 1443 Chapin St NW #302 2750 14th St NW #603 1107 Harvard St NW #R 1463 Harvard St NW #2 1437 Spring Rd NW #25 4010 Kansas Ave NW #2 1421 Spring Rd NW #101 1457 Park Rd NW #408 1451 Park Rd NW #111
DUPONT
$364,990
3
$717,000 $610,000 $557,500 $534,000 $489,000 $380,000
2 2 2 2 1 1
CONDO ADAMS MORGAN
BARRY FARMS
$529,000 $469,900 $455,000 $360,000 $350,000 $340,000
2150 Florida Ave NW #PH4 1737 Willard St NW #7 2141 P St NW #503 1280 21st St NW #409 1330 New Hampshire Ave NW #301 1502 17th St NW #10 1615 Q St NW #T1 1545 18th St NW #303 1711 Massachusetts Ave NW #628 1727 Massachusetts Ave NW #502 1260 21st St NW #314
ECKINGTON
1625 Eckington Pl NE #421 1948 3rd St NE #D
$95,000
2
$780,000 $590,000
3 2
$1,060,000 $1,002,500 $860,000 $699,000 $650,000 $575,000 $575,000 $560,000 $545,000 $530,000 $489,900 $460,000 $375,000
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
$283,500
2
$1,010,000 $610,000 $460,000 $280,000
2 1 2 2
$915,000 $875,000 $840,000 $755,000 $710,000 $649,900 $639,000 $635,000 $589,000 $540,000 $475,000 $385,000 $324,000 $249,900 $239,000 $211,000
3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 1 1
$800,000 $795,000 $750,000 $585,000 $449,000 $435,000 $399,999 $338,150 $260,000 $241,000 $233,000
2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 0
$599,000 $440,000
2 2
FALL IN LOVE WITH A NEW HOME!
FAIRFAX VILLAGE 3820 V St SE #202 2037 38th St SE #102
$201,000 $53,000
FORT DUPONT PARK 4103 Massachusetts Ave SE 514 Ridge Rd SE #111
$430,000 $50,000
H STREET CORRIDOR 719 5th St NE #3
HILL CREST 3816 W St SE #A 2110 Suitland Ter SE 1800 28th Pl SE #2
LILY PONDS 616 Parkside Pl NE
LOGAN CIRCLE 1600 13th St NW #B 1427 Rhode Island Ave NW #PH01 1440 Church St NW #406 1401 Q St NW #505 1222 11th St NW #2 1311 13th St NW #305 2125 14th St NW #401 1239 Vermont Ave NW #709 1210 R St NW #B15 1117 O St NW #2 1011 M St NW #208 1300 N St NW #214 1245 13th St NW #311 1245 13th St NW #414 1 Scott Cir NW #801
2
$189,000 $177,000 $90,000
2 1 1
$3,500,000 $1,150,000 $935,000 $795,000 $480,000 $465,000 $449,000
3 3 3 2 1 1 1
$370,000
3
$2,175,000 $2,095,000 $1,250,000 $1,190,000 $975,000 $750,000 $730,000 $539,000 $515,000 $507,500 $429,000 $415,000 $370,000 $364,000 $307,500
4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE 440 L St NW #601 1127 6th St NW #200
$625,000 $585,000
MT VERNON SQUARE 1126 5th St NW #4 1117 10th St NW #505
NAVY YARD 1300 4th St SE #414 70 N St SE #205
4 2
$610,000
KALORAMA 2029 Connecticut Ave NW #73 1935 Belmont Rd NW #1122 2107 S St NW #A 2127 California St NW #704 2510 Cliffbourne Pl NW #300 1953 Calvert St NW #D 2007 Wyoming Ave NW #14
2 1
R T! DE C N A U TR N CO
2 2
$780,000 $283,000
2 0
$425,258 $330,000
1 1
727 Massachusetts Ave NE 7BR/2.5BA/ENGLISH BASEMENT $1,850,000
G IN ! M N O O C O S
HISTORIC MANSION ALERT! Commanding corner placement features prominent porch and towering turret overlooking large lawn and wrap-around gardens. Pristinely preserved historic architectural details inside and out. Dramatic dimensions to savor the original floor plan flow, or awaiting your dream designs. 2400 SF and 4BR/2FB in the upper residence, plus a lovely 2BR apartment below, with separate entrances and connecting stairs intact.
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 with Certificate of Occupancy — ideal for rental income, guests, or multigenerational living. Two blocks to Pascual, steps to Eastern Market, Walk score 90, Bike score 99.
AT RE E! G RIC P
1840 Mass., Ave SE 4BR/4.5BA/ROOF DECK $1,599,000
T ! EN ITY TM N S U VE RT IN PO P O
COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED WITH STUNNING ROOF DECK by Keil Construction — four levels, 2,700 SF, show-stopping kitchen with walnut cabinets and marble herringbone backsplash, penthouse primary suite with roof deck, spa baths, fully flexible lower level with separate entry, and private driveway. Steps to Stadium-Armory Metro, Park Kennedy restaurants, Lincoln Park, and River Trails.
EW ! N ICE PR
914 15th Street SE 2BR/1BA/DECK $649,000
1000 Maryland Avenue NE 6BR/3BA/LL 2BR Apt $1,750,000
631 Constitution Ave NE MULTI-UNIT BUILDING $2,900,000 FULLY leased, income-producing multi-family in a premier Hill location. Two buildings on one big lot with 3-car driveway between. FOUR BIG 2-LEVEL UNITS IN MAIN BUILDING, EACH 930 SF. TWO additional units in detached carriage house - combine for 6 total LEASED/RENTED units, ALL RENOVATED 2019 and 100% occupied and generating income right now.
N IO ET N K T! U AR IC M ISTR D
BRIGHT SPACES PLUS PATIO AND UPPER DECK! Tucked behind a lush front garden on a classic Capitol Hill block, this 1918 Federal cottage was lovingly renovated by the same owner for nearly four decades. Heart pine floors, a bright renovated kitchen, covered rear deck, private upper balcony, and a serene garden sanctuary make this an exceptional find. One block to Potomac Ave Metro, The Roost food hall, Streets Market, and the River Trail.
615 Morton Place NE 3BR/3.5BA/PARKING/ TWO-UNIT $1,149,000 OFFSET YOUR MORTGAGE WITH LOWER LEVEL RENTAL! Completely transformed in 2026, this two-unit rowhouse at the Union Market / H Street crossroads delivers sleek modern finishes — waterfall quartz kitchen, spa bath, oak floors — alongside a fully separate income-producing lower apartment with independent systems. Steps to Union Market, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and NoMa Metro. Two complete residences, one extraordinary opportunity.
NOMA 1168 Abbey Pl NE #2 1168 Abbey Pl NE #1
OLD CITY #1 301 H St NE #PH-602 88 V St SW #605
OLD CITY #2 1612 16th St NW #3 2120 Vermont Ave NW #309 411 P St NW #3 1515 15th St NW #217
$858,000 $399,000
2 2
$795,000 $585,000
2 1
$1,680,000 $630,000 $600,000 $578,000
2 3 2 1
202.243.7707
info@joelnelsongroup.com September 2026 H 57
Fall’s Coming— Call NOW to Schedule your home painting and Get Your Home Ready Inside & Out
Call (202) 543-1914 TODAY
115 New York Ave NW #9 1525 Q St NW #2
PENN QUARTER
Secure your exterior while the sun’s still shining, and refresh your interior paint to make it warm and welcoming for longer nights.
Architects & Builders on The Hill since 1986
AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST
RANDLE HEIGHTS 1731 Gainesville St SE #201 3103 Naylor Rd SE #101
RLA (SW)
architecture | interior design | construction | remodeling
1435 4th St SW #B609
wentworthremodel.com 240.200.4802 Wentworthstudio.com I 240.395.0705
G G ROOFING
925 H St NW #405 925 H St NW #904 916 G St NW #803 631 D St NW #827 631 D St NW #1129
SHAW
815 T St NW #B 910 M St NW #203 304 Q St NW #4
Call Your Neighborhood Locksmiths
SW WATERFRONT 1435 4th St SW #B505 1435 4th St SW #B815 800 4th St SW #N107
Capitol Hill’s Professional Locksmiths Serving the Hill for Over 25 Years
TRINIDAD
1714 West Virginia Ave NE #2
Complete Lockout Service for Homes, Autos and Businesses
All Major Credit Cards Accepted Bond, Licensed & Insured
Locks installed, rekeyed and repaired Proudly Vendor of MulTLock, Schlage, USLock & Kwikset Locking Systems
202-415-0483
2120 Vermont Ave NW #116 1706 U St NW #202
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE
$199,999
1
$654,000 $530,000 $520,000
2 2 2
$470,000 $285,000 $199,000
2 1 0
$340,000
2
2039 New Hampshire Ave NW #105 $999,000 1701 16th St NW #544 $650,000 1701 16th St NW #525 $340,000
3 2 1
DUPONT CIRCLE
KALORAMA
• Modified Bitumen
• Roof Coatings
• Skylights
• Gutters & Downspouts
• Shingles
• Preventive Maintenance
• Slate
• Metal Roofs
58 ★ HILLRAG.COM
2 1
COOP
SW WATERFRONT
Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners
$175,000 $67,000
districtlock@aol.com
• Chimney Repairs
WWW.GANDGHOMEIMPROVEMENTS.NET
2 2 2 1 1
2 1
• Flat Roof Specialists
202.425.1614
$1,580,000 $1,050,000 $649,900 $445,000 $410,000
$555,000 $315,000
2101 Connecticut Ave NW #6 1852 Columbia Rd NW #401 1840 Biltmore St NW #46 1835 Phelps Pl NW #21
10 OFF WITH THIS AD
2 2
U STREET CORRIDOR
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • “50 YEARS EXPERIENCE”
%
$575,000 $380,000
Serving Capitol Hill & SW DC for Over 30 Years! Locally Owned
$20
Off Your First Clean NEW CLIENT SPECIAL
DAILY • WEEKLY • BIWEEKLY • MONTHLY PET & FAMILY FRIENDLY GET STARTED WITH YOUR FREE ESTIMATE!
703-719-9850 703-447-5500
standardcleaningservicesinc.com REFERENCES • BONDED & INSURED
560 N St SW #708N 560 N St SW #N503 560 N St SW #N606
WATERFRONT 332 N Street SW 520 N St SW #S112 ◆
$1,712,500 $725,000 $595,000 $468,500
4 2 2 1
$375,000 $355,000 $105,000
1 1 0
$330,000 $219,000
3 0
CRACKED BRICK? OUTDATED PATIO? LET’S TRANSFORM IT. HISTORIC RENOVATION • ARTISAN STONEWORK TIMELESS CRAFTSMANSHIP
T TO L I U B
L
AFT R C . AST
ED
CA WITH
RE.
FRE
AT E S M I T E ES
SON A E R •
AB
AT E LE R
S
CUSTOM MASONRY & HISTORIC RESTORATION Transforming Capitol Hill Homes for Over 35 Years
STONE • BRICK • POINTING PATIOS • WATER FEATURES
— Glen S. Capitol Hill homeowner
Specialists in custom patios, brick walkways & historic homes.
“
Prompt, professional, and communicative. Highly recommended.
”
Tom Michaliga Master Mason
Former Head Mason, Architect of the Capitol (1989–1996)
MichaligaMasonry@gmail.com
MICHALIGAMASONRY.COM LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED
BOOK YOUR FALL PROJECT NOW
CALL TODAY! 202-544-4484
September 2026 ★ 59
60 H HILLRAG.COM
CAPITOL STREETS
Anacostia: The Forgotten Federal Park
River Terrace Park’s collapsing gazebo.
NPS Breaks Promises to Ward 7 & 8 Residents article and photos by Matthew McClure
O
n June 26, 2026, the National Park Service (NPS) officially invited the public to celebrate July 4th at Anacostia Park, “a vibrant community gathering space along the Anacostia River with expansive, open-air views of Washington’s July 4 fireworks,” the press release said. Moreover, the agency promised a fireworks display on the water itself, a first, as part of the semiquincentennial. “Anacostia Park is one of Washington’s most beloved community spaces,” said Jessica Bowron, an NPS comptroller. “We’re proud to welcome neighbors and visitors from across the region to share in this July 4 tradition along the river.” Imagine the excitement of Ward 7 and 8 residents, who for the first time would not have to trek across the city to the National Mall to celebrate the national birthday. The reality proved disappointing. “Unlike across the (Anacostia) River, there was no free water, no water stations or anything provided for the public within the entire footprint from Nicholson Street over to Marion Barry Avenue,” wrote Tom Donohue, commissioner of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 8A01 in a blog post. “Even the park’s permanent infrastructure failed our community; the existing outdoor water dispenser wasn’t working at all,” Donohue observed scathingly. Donohue’s single member district covers the Fairlawn and Anacostia neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River in Ward 8, where the fireworks display was held in front of the National Park Police headquarters. The few families attending struggled to the display along muddy, unilluminated paths. Much of the waterfront was fenced off, including the park’s popular bike trail. In contrast, just a few miles to the west on the National Mall, NPS rolled
out the proverbial red carpet for attendees. July 4th was yet another example of the Park Service’s many broken promises regarding Anacostia Park, whose basic facilities remain in disrepair.
Anacostia Park
Anacostia Park is the secondlargest federal park in the DC park system after Rock Creek Park. Administered by NPS, it ‒ an accumulated $524 milcovers more than 1,200 acres. lion in deferred maintenance Divided into C, D, E and F and repairs across all NACE sections, it stretches from the facilities, including AnacosFrederick Douglass Memoritia and River Terrace parks, al Bridge in the south to Benaccording to an NPS infraning Road in the north. It structure fact sheet published was established on reclaimed in 2025. Playground equipmudflats in 1918 and hugs ment is outdated and unsafe, the shoreline of the Anacostia toilets and lights are broken, River for five miles. gazebos leak, road and trail The National Park Police surfaces are crumbling, picheadquarters and the offices Missing cedar shingles on the roof of nic tables are burned from River Terrace Park’s only gazebo. of National Capital Parks-East discarded grill coals, and wa(NACE), an administrative diter dispensers, like the one vision of the NPS, are located in Anacostia Park pointed out by Donohue in his blog post, are ofSection C. NACE manages over 8,000 acres of ten rusted and inoperable. parks and historic sites in both DC and Maryland. “We are intentional in our investments in parks Anacostia Park Sections D, E and F include: east of the Anacostia River and committed to listen• The Pirate Ship Playground ing to park neighbors, engaging with communities • The Anacostia Park skating pavilion, built in and fostering vibrant and accessible parks,” stat1976 ed Tara D. Morrison, National Capital Parks-East • River Terrace Park superintendent in a January 2025 NACE press reCollectively, Anacostia Park serves over lease. “These efforts improve park amenities and 155,000 residents of Wards 7 and 8 and, according strengthen the bonds we share with the communito the nonprofit Anacostia Park advocacy group ty, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to Friends of Anacostia Park, also welcomes more enjoy their neighborhood national parks.” than 1.7 million visitors annually from across the Despite Morrison’s claim, in River Terrace city and the country. Park (this writer’s neighborhood) the single gazeDespite this, Anacostia Park’s facilities are bo is slowly collapsing. Unstable flooring, missing decaying due to decades of deferred maintenance
September 2026 H 61
CAPITOL ST.s
The cracked and weedy surface of River Terrace’s tennis courts.
roof shingles, chipped concrete and exposed electrical wiring are risks navigated for years by families who gather in the park weekly to celebrate reunions and birthdays.
The Promise
In February 2024, NACE leadership invited residents from across Northeast and Southeast DC to attend community engagement sessions intended to gather feedback for upgrades, repairs and improve-
A missing lamppost in Anacostia Park.
62 H HILLRAG.COM
ments to Anacostia and River Terrace Park, in addition to 12 other NACE sites across Southeast and Northeast DC. The federal Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) allocated funds for repairs and upgrades, Superintendent Morrison explained to residents at the Langston Golf Course Clubhouse. Passed in 2020, the GAOA LRF, a bipartisan-backed law, allocated $1.9 billion over five years (2021 to 2025) to address deferred maintenance backlogs in national parks across the continental US and its territories. At the time of writing, over 396 projects have been funded, according to the Department of the Interior GAOA website. The GAOA LRF would provide $11.8 million to address the backlog of deferred maintenance and repair across NACE-managed sites, according to an agency press release issued on June 6, 2023. Due to the extensive scope of work across 12 other sites, including River Terrace Park, Kenilworth Park, Fort Davis Park, Fort Dupont Park and the Parklands area of Shepherd Parkway, NACE would draw an additional $22,217,000 from the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to rehabilitate urban recreation areas, according to a 2026 Department of the Interior fact sheet. River Terrace residents present at the engagement session were cautiously optimistic about this news. Rusty playground equipment would be replaced, NPS representatives confirmed. Tennis courts would have their nets fixed and surfaces repaved. Fencing and lighting would be repaired and the brittle, sun-scorched playground
equipment would be replaced. NACE leaders promised to repair facilities but warned that no interim maintenance of damaged park facilities would occur until contractors had been procured. With funds drawn in FY 2024, the work would commence in late 2025 or early 2026. It’s been over two years since the Langston Golf Course Clubhouse community engagement session, and there is no sign of the promised work being started, let alone completed. In the interim, and at breakneck speed, NPS awarded a no-bid contract for maintenance work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and the Department of the Interior spent over $5 million on regilding James Earle Fraser’s arts of peace and arts of war statues on Lincoln Memorial Circle. The repairs and maintenance that residents using parks east of the Anacostia River were promised two years ago are not happening in their neighborhoods but appear to be taking place in record time in parks across the rest of the city. According to a post on the Department of the Interior’s X (formerly Twitter) page in May, NPS staff had replaced over 1,000 benches across the National Mall and other NPS-managed land. The White House boasted that more than 20 fountains and 30 statues, in addition to 130 new trash cans, had been repaired, renovated or installed as part of President Trump’s Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act. While a gargantuan, federally funded makeover of NPS land is underway using taxpayer money, it appears that parks east of the Anacostia River are being overlooked. For residents in Wards 7 and 8 it feels like a slap in the face.
Neighbors’ Frustrations
“I can’t even keep track of the conversations I’ve had and the people I’ve talked to, how many times I’ve been told it’s a priority,” said Devon Brophy, a River Terrace resident and chair of the River Terrace Community Organization’s (RTCO) Environmental Committee. Brophy also attended NACE’S community engagement session in February 2024. River Terrace Park is less than a 10-minute walk from Brophy’s front door. As a practicing architect, Brophy has offered NPS ideas to improve River Terrace Park. She has documented the dilapidated condition of the picnic tables dotted throughout the park, many of which have been damaged by fire, and has sent this documentation to NACE chief of staff Michael Donato. Brophy has scores of emails that record six years of conversations. At monthly RTCO community meetings (at which this writer was present) neighbors shared concerns about the park and NACE leadership’s lack of communication. They wanted to know when the longpromised work would take place.
A burned picnic table in Anacostia Park.
Brophy recalls being told at the Langston meeting that the upgrades would kick off late 2025, early 2026. “I’m thinking that a project doesn’t take that long to get funded and it doesn’t take that long to design.” As a contractor for federally financed projects, Brophy knows how long procurement and contracting can take when working through the federal government’s complex administrative systems. The recent news about warpspeed repairs and upgrades to western federal District parks has left her feeling angry and hopeless.
What Happened?
Searches on www.usaspending. gov and www.openomb.org for GAOA LRF spending for FY 2020 to FY 2025 yield scant detail on the use of this funding in and around parks east of the Anacostia River. An NPS FY 2024 Budget Justification Data Sheet lists just $46,327 spent in FY 2024 on the Rehabilitate Urban Recreation Areas project, a program aimed at addressing deferred maintenance across 12 NACE sites using money from the GAOA LRF. At the time of writing, the GAOA LRF project tracking website lists the status of work on NACE facilities as “under procurement.” Of the original $11.8 million, only 38% has been allocated, predominantly for the planning, design and approval required for work on federal land, said Sharon E. Nichols, director of communications for Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D). The remaining 62% is unobligated and can be used in FY 2026-27, Nichols confirmed. Updates from NACE leadership on the progress of GAOA September 2026 H 63
CAPITOL ST.s
Portable toilets in front of non-functional toilets at the Anacostia Park Pirate Ship Playground. The water fountain to the right is also broken.
LRF-funded work have been difficult to obtain. “The Great American Outdoors Act-funded project to improve River Terrace Park will likely not see construction begin in the next couple of years. In the meantime, our maintenance team is working to address the work,” NACE chief of staff Donato stated in recent email correspondence with the RTCO’s environmental committee.
Stonewalling?
According to an NPS spokesperson, in response to a request for comment, “The design and planning of the River Terrace and Anacostia
Parks project is ongoing. It is the priority of the National Park Service to ensure that stewardship of public lands is fiscally responsible and meets the public’s needs.” In late June, this writer filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Department of the Interior regarding the use of GAOA LRF funds for deferred maintenance and repair at Anacostia and River Terrace Parks for FY 2024-25. The FOIA included a request for any documentation indicating that these funds were reallocated to other uses, which many River Terrace residents suspect. No such records were available, the department responded. Future communications should be directed to the NPS, the department confirmed. NPS’s FOIA office subsequently redirected queries back to the department. Tammy Stidham, the NPS associate regional director for lands and planning, declined to be interviewed for this story. Why the stonewalling? According to Scott Kratz, the founding director of the 11th Street Bridge Park and president and CEO of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR), “Over the past several years, NACE has led a community engagement effort to rethink Anacostia Park, and it got some money to start doing some of that work. It wasn’t an insignificant amount. I don’t know where that money is and I don’t know what happened to the plans that came out of that community engagement.” He added, “They had amazing plans. I imagine everyone’s kind of in defensive mode. Candidly, my assumption is that everyone is just crouched down.”
Was the Money Redirected?
Edward Stierli, the mid-Atlantic regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), whose organization played an outsized role in the passage of the GAOA in 2020, cited “a lack of transparency related to the funding for new construction projects underway in DC.” Stierli is hesitant to speculate on any reallocation of GAOA
notes: Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) introduced the America the Beautiful Act last May. The act would extend and expand the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund for eight years, with $2 billion in annual funding. The act is pending passage in the Senate. To read ANC Commissioner Tom Donohue’s blog, visit www.anc8a01.com/blog/ broken-promises-and-pitch-black-paths-what-went-wrong-at-the-anacostia-park-fireworks. For more information on GAOA, visit www.doi.gov/gaoa-project-data. The National-Capital-Parks-East-Deferred-Maintenance-and-Repairs-Factsheet is available at www.nps.gov/subjects/infrastructure/upload/National-CapitalParks-East-Deferred-Maintenance-and-Repairs-Factsheet.pdf. 64 H HILLRAG.COM
LRF funds from Anacostia Park to projects elsewhere in the city. “I think it’s a question that needs congressional oversight and a clear explanation for taxpayers and residents in Anacostia,” he said. Given the start of construction on President Trump’s many vanity projects, such as the West Potomac Golf Course and the Garden of American Heroes, the source of their funding is a fair question, Stierli said. As is the status of deferred maintenance and repair across parks east of the Anacostia River.
Glimmerings of Hope
River Terrace residents have noticed sporadic repairs being made by NACE staff in their park over the last few months. The gaping hole at the bottom of the kids’ slide was repaired, and Cherry Pickers arrived at the basketball courts to fix burned-out floodlights. In May, a maintenance worker arrived at the gazebo in River Terrace Park to replace missing roof shingles but quickly left after telling a local resident that the structure’s age and condition necessitated specialized attention. Over in Anacostia Park, NPS workers were spotted repainting lampposts. NPS recently contracted to renovate the concessions facilities at the skating pavilion. The award carried no confirmation of start or completion dates. While residents who use the beautiful green spaces east of the Anacostia River are happy to see progress, none of this work resembles the grand vision NPS outlined in its community engagement sessions more than four years ago. “They talked a big game,” Brophy says of the meeting. “I was skeptical. The GAOA funding was fantastic, but NPS needed to do something with it.” Matthew McClure is a resident of River Terrace in Ward 7. This article was supported by a grant from Spotlight DC: Capitol City Fund for Investigative Journalism. Spotlight DC encourages the submission for proposals by independent journalists. For more information, visit www.spotlightdc.org. u
For information about Rehabilitate Urban Recreation Areas, visit www.doi. gov/gaoa-lrf-projects-action. The NPS project page for Anacostia Park is available at www.nps.gov/nace/ learn/news/restoring-recreation-areas.htm. The NPS FY 2025 Budget Justification Project Data Sheet is available at www. doi.gov/sites/default/files/fy2024-pds-nps-508.pdf. The NPS June 6, 2023, press release can be found at www.nps.gov/nace/learn/ news/national-park-service-expected-to-receive-more-than-11-million-to-improveparks-in-southeast-washington-d-c.htm. For information on the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, visit www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026-04/washington-dc-gaoafactsheet-2026.pdf.
September 2026 H 65
CAPITOL ST.s
Change in Hill East
Plans for RFK, Reservation 13 and the DC Armory
R
FK planning, a revived Reservation 13 deal and the proposed transfer of the DC Armory are advancing at the same time but at different paces. That moves long-promised development in Hill East along while opening new questions about timing, transportation and public control. For years, the eastern edge of Capitol Hill has been defined as much by plans as by existing buildings. Now three separate plans are converging around Stadium-Armory Metro: the District is refining a master plan for the former RFK Stadium campus, the DC Council has changed the terms of a major Reservation 13 development and the federal government has proposed transferring admin-
by Elizabeth O’Gorek istrative control of the DC Armory grounds to the city as the DC National Guard considers a move. Hill East is entering a transformative phase. Each project still faces approvals, financing and design work, but current decisions will determine who controls the land, what can be built and which public costs accompany the transformation.
RFK: Vision Taking Shape
The most visible change is already underway: the old RFK Stadium is dismantled. The largThe DC Armory has been the home of the DC National Guard since 1941. In 2026, as the Guard announced plans to relocate, er redevelopment, however, remains in the NPS has initiated a transfer of control of the site to the District. planning and preconstruction stage. The DisPhoto: E.O’Gorek/CCN trict released a draft RFK Campus Master Plan June 30 and closed a 45-day resolved issue for nearby residents. The city and public-comment period Aug. 14. The OfWMATA have an agreement to fund design for imfice of Planning is now expected to revise provements to Stadium-Armory Station and a Bus the document before sending it to the D.C. Rapid Transit (BRT) line, called the gold line, that Council for consideration. would connect Union Station to RFK via H Street The draft covers roughly 174 acres and NE. Plans are at 30 percent, and $300 million has proposes 5,000 to 6,500 homes, with at least been budgeted for station improvements although 30 percent designated affordable, plus six funding is not yet allocated for the BRT. million to eight million square feet of mixedBut traffic remains a concern. Draft documents use development. It divides the campus into sketch new and converted streets, parking strucsix districts. The Washington Commandtures and transit connections, but final lane configers would lead development of the Stadiurations, game-day traffic operations and parking um, Plaza and Riverfront districts, while the controls have not been settled. The result is a misDistrict would oversee the Kingman Park match in certainty: the stadium has a 2030 target, District, Recreation District and Anacostia while much of the system intended to move tens of Commons. A 65,000-seat enclosed stadium thousands of visitors is still conceptual. remains targeted to open in 2030. The measure of progress over the coming year The plan is a framework, not a conwill be whether the District converts its vision into struction drawing. It establishes intended enforceable zoning, funded infrastructure and a land uses, building heights, open spaces and schedule coordinating the stadium with housing, a street network for land that lacks convenparks and transportation. tional zoning. Next come revisions, Council review, Comprehensive Plan and zoning acRevised Deal Revives tions, environmental review and detailed enReservation 13 Project gineering. The surrounding neighborhoods Immediately south of the RFK campus, the Hill will arrive in phases. East Development District, still widely known as Map showing location of parcels to be developed. DMPED: HE PH II Transportation remains the largest unDisposition 15 Day Register Notice Reservation 13, is moving along at a much slow66 H HILLRAG.COM
er pace. The District adopted a master plan for the former hospital campus in 2002. Phase I eventually produced the Park Kennedy apartments and The Ethel which provide permanent supportive housing along with ground-floor businesses. Large portions of the 67-acre site remain undeveloped. A July 14 Council vote removed a major obstacle for the next piece. The Council approved PR 26-736, the Hill East Phase II Bundle 2 Disposition Term Sheet Amendment Approval Resolution of 2026. The action revised the business terms under which R13 Community Partners would develop parcels C, E and H at 1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE. Plans call for townhouses, multifamily and mixed-use buildings, a hotel and a public park on Parcel E. Earlier development materials described more than 1,200 homes, about 60,000 square feet of retail and a 150-room hotel, although final numbers can change through design and zoning. The amendment responds to higher construction costs and a difficult lending market. It extends the development period for each parcel from 30 to 32 months after commencement and changes responsibility for the park. Under the revised arrangement, the District would construct the park and lease it to the developer for 25 years. The city has also programmed substantial public spending for streets and park work serving Hill East Phase II. That public contribution drove Council debate. Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) opposed the resolution; Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and at-large Councilmember Robert White (At-Large-D) voted present. Allen questioned shifting the park obligation to taxpayers and the opportunity cost of roughly $35 million in capital spending. Ward 7
Councilmember Wendell Felder (D) argued that rejection risked another stalled Ward 7 project and further delay to promised amenities. Committee Chair Matt Frumin (Ward 3-D) said tight capital and rising costs had made the original terms difficult to execute. Approval does not put shovels in the ground by itself. The parties still must execute a land disposition agreement, complete zoning review and secure financing, permits and final designs. But the resolution is consequential because it keeps the selected development team and project structure alive after economic conditions undermined the original terms. The next evidence of real momentum will be an executed agreement, a zoning filing and a construction team and schedule.
The Guard Changes at The Armory
The newest development concerns a property that was not included in the federal transfer of the main RFK campus. The National Park Service (NPS) has asked the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to approve a transfer of administrative jurisdiction over the approximately 9.4-acre DC Armory (2001 East Capitol St. SE). NCPC has placed the item on its Sept. 3 consent calendar. This transfer is different than RFK Campus. In this case, administrative jurisdiction would pass to the District, but the federal government would retain title to the underlying land. The proposal would give the city day-to-day control of the site and position it to coordinate the Armory with adjacent redevelopment. But the NCPC action will not decide the future of the building or its future use. The DC National Guard, headquartered at the Armory, is considering relocation as construction September 2026 H 67
629 CONSTITUTION AVE NE #202 1BR/1BA - $2,800
1223 F STREET, NE 4BR/2BA - $3,900
1513 44TH ST NW 4BR/2BA - $4,400
1122 K ST NE 2BR/2.5BA - $3,300
707 8TH ST NE 3BR/2.5BA - $4,400
1349 C ST NE 1BR/1BA HOUSE - $2,350
Property management and leasing –
That is ALL we do. Tiber Realty Group specializes in placing high-quality residential and commercial tenants on Capitol Hill and throughout the city.
If you need to fill a vacant unit, Call Tiber today!
68 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Michael Frias Owner / Broker / Property Manager
406 H St. NE, Second Floor
(202) 355-6500 tiberrealtygroup.com Michael@tiberrealtygroup.com
expands around RFK. An 80acre area at the federally owned Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northwest Washington has been reported as a possible destination, but no final relocation decision has been announced. The National Guard did not return a request for comment. The second set of questions concerns the Armory itself. The 1941 building is both a military facility and a large civic venue managed for events. District control raises possibilities for continued public-event use, renovation or integration into the RFK campus. So far, the city has not commented on future uses. Officials will also need to explain and explore what limitations are placed on the federally-owned land, how historic-preservation review would apply and whether future decisions would require additional federal approval. Finally, will the Armory receive its own transparent public process, or be folded into the stadium campus after key decisions are made? Councilmember Felder told the Hill Rag that he believed that some community consultation should proceed any decision-making. Whatever happens, the view east of 17th Street is set to change dramatically over the next decade. And Hill East is no longer waiting on a single master plan. It is now confronting overlapping projects with different leads, approval processes and timelines. The question now is not simply whether development moves forward, but whether the District can coordinate the pieces and keep the public involved before change makes choices harder to revisit. ◆
Pottery + Making + Community A Teaching studio that offers handmade ceramics and gifts for adults.
Shop & Showroom Open Every Weekend
Located in the basement on the south side of the historic Eastern Market building located at 225 7th St. SE, Washington DC.
September 2026 ★ 69
CAPITOL ST.s
Could There be a Bottle Deposit Bill in DC’s Future?
H
ave you seen Oakley Otter? He is the campaign mascot for 3RC for DC – the Return, Refund and Recycle Coalition for DC (3rcfordc.org). This coalition of over 30 local organizations is promoting a bottle deposit-return program for the District. Otters are indicators of healthy rivers and were once abundant in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Bottle deposit-return programs were common across the US when beverage companies sold their products in refillable glass bottles. Consumers paid a deposit on beverage bottles which could be redeemed when returned to a redemption center. Some organizations and young entrepreneurs would collect and redeem the bottles to raise funds or make some spending money. As plastic bottles became more popular, beverage companies dismantled bottle deposit programs, creating a huge new source of litter across the US. While aluminum, #1 PET and #2 HDPE plastics, and glass beverage containers are recy-
by Catherine Plume clable, of the 1.7 million beverage containers purchased across DC on any given day, 75 percent are not recycled, and contaminate our streets, sidewalks, and waterways. The Anacostia Watershed is one of only three regulated for trash in the United States. DC and parts of Maryland must meet the trash reduction targets under the Clean Water Act, and failure to do so can result in fines of up to $64,000 a day. With bans and fees on plastic bags now in place, recyclable beverage containers make up the bulk of the waste in the Anacostia and across the District. Lora Nunn, a Ward 7 resident and a colead of 3RCforDC notes, “DC waterways are much cleaner than they were even 10 years Bottle Deposit Opponents say the bill will increase prices and force local businesses to close. ago, but budget constraints are reducing funds for these clean-up programs. We can’t ment (CTE) where Committee Chair and Ward 6 backslide against all the progress we’ve made. Councilmember Chair Charles Allen (D) is conStudies show that bottle bill states reduce beversulting with bill opponents and supporters. Oppoage container litter by between 69-to 84 percent”. nents include business associations, restaurants, The Recycling Refund and Litter Reducand hotels who say the bill will create yet anothtion Amendment Act of 2025, er bureaucratic and economic burden. Supportotherwise known as “The Boters say that placing a value on beverage containtle Bill,” was introduced by 11 of ers will reduce trash and recycling hauling costs 13 DC Councilmembers in Janfor businesses and create a cost savings. uary 2025. The bill is currentIn July, revisions to the bill were discussed ly working its way through the at a CTE roundtable. Hotels and restaurants as DC Council, and would place a well as businesses of less than 2000 sq.ft. will be 10-cent deposit on all recyclable exempt from establishing redemption centers on glass, plastic, and aluminum bevtheir premises. The mechanics of the redemption erage containers sold in the Disprocess and methods to ensure that reimbursetrict. The deposit would be rements are given only on beverage containers purdeemable at locations across DC. chased in DC were also discussed. Some are firmIn October 2025, 222 witly against the bill. Brendan Williams-Kief of the nesses submitted testimony on DC Association of Beverage Alcohol Wholesalthe bill at a hearing held by the ers states, “There is no version of this proposal Council’s Committee on Business that we would support.” But some local businessand Economic Development. The es see progress. Jordan Cotton of Cotton&Reed bill is now with the Committee on Rum Distillers notes, “The bill as discussed at the Transportation and the Environ-
Oakley Otter urges DC residents to learn more about the bottle deposit bill.
70 H HILLRAG.COM
roundtable made huge strides toward lowering the burden on small producers relative to earlier drafts, but there were a couple remaining concerns that I hope can be ironed out going forward.” Mary Quillian, owner of Mr. Henry’s, isn’t opposed to the bill, but she feels it will cost money to implement it. She notes, “It’s just one more thing we’re going to have to deal with. I just don’t think a bottle bill should be a priority right now”.
It’s Been Tried Before
This isn’t DC’s first attempt at a bottle deposit bill. DC resident Jim McCarthy co-led a legislative effort in 1982. The beverage industry rallied against the bill, and as Council support waned, advocates took the movement to the people as Initiative 28. According to McCarthy, the industry outspent bottle deposit advocates 23:1. Philip Pannell, now DC Democratic National Committeeman, was a Ward 8 ANC Commissioner in 1987. He supported the bottle bill initiative which he now describes as “the most acrimonious campaign” he has ever seen and one that was “racialized to the detriment of the District.” “The beverage industry focused on DC’s Black population. They paid Black clergy to preach against the bill. They said that collecting bottles and cans
could lead to more squalor in their homes. The AIDS epidemic was just beginning, and the opposition even insinuated that people could catch AIDS if they touched the cans and bottles they collected!” The initiative failed 55%-45%. Fast forward 40 years, and the beverage industry is again outspending bottle bill advocates with text messages, social media, signs and a website (dcdirtybottlebill.com/) that claims that the bill will make DC neighborhoods less safe, and increase costs for DC consumers, among others. But Allen is confident that the bill will pass. “This year, DC will pay about $14 million in public tax dollars to haul and burn residents’ trash and recycling. Millions more will be spent on trash cleanup of our roads, rivers, and parks. Every day I walk in my neighborhood, I count literally dozens of cans and bottles left on the ground. Instead of continuing to perpetuate the status quo, a bottle bill program will save money and clean up our streets and rivers like in other states. We’ve worked for months to engage residents, small businesses, environmental advocates, and industry experts about the bill as it was proposed and make the changes that are needed to make it work for DC. This fall, the Council will move forward a feasible and effective bottle deposit legislation that will work for DC small businesses, DC residents, and DC’s environment.” And, just maybe, real otter sightings will become more common in DC’s rivers.
COOKING CLASSES & TASTINGS
Marianne Tshihamba’s Silk Road Cooking Series: Zanzibari Pilau
Saturday, September 12 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
STUDIO ARTS & CRAFTS
Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing From an Image with Christine Vineyard Course begins on Tuesday, September 8 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Marianne Tshihamba’s Silk Road Cooking Series: Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemon
Knitting for Beginners with Paula Lytle
Master Chef Featuring Acclaimed Chef Scheyla Acosta: 4 Irresistible International Soups for Every Season
with Christine Vineyard
Course begins on Monday, September 14 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday, September 16 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Contemporary Watercolors Course
Saturday, September 26 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Marianne Tshihamba Presents… English Tea with a Twist
Sunday, September 27 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
CONCERTS
American Roots Concert Series: The Little Mercies
Sunday, September 13 @ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
An Evening of Music and Conversation with National Symphony Orchestra & Washington National Opera Musicians Tuesday, September 29 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Course begins on Monday, September 14 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
The Knitting Club: Intermediate Class with Wine & Community with Paula Lytle Course begins on Wednesday, September 16 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Make a Sweater with Paula Lytle
Course begins on Thursday, September 17 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Contemporary Watercolors Workshop with Christine Vineyard
Saturday, September 26 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop with Christine Vineyard
Saturday, September 26 @ 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm Programmatic support provided by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist and a 25 year+ DC resident. u
September 2026 H 71
CAPITOL ST.s
Bulletin Board ExPats Theatre: Coming to America: A Immigrant Cabaret
Four immigrants from Germany, India, Peru and Senegal navigate the “obstacle race” of integration, confronting the systemic complexities and cultural contradictions of their new home. Through song, storytelling, humor and satire, they explore their experiences and America’s complex relationship with the world. Coming to America: An Immigrant Cabaret (adults only) is at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, Sept. 30 to Oct. 18. Tickets are $54.75; seniors, $49.75; students, $29.75. atlasarts.org.
District 19 Race Registration Opens
District 19, on Sunday, Oct. 4, in Anacostia, is a crew-led race experience created by District Running Collective. Featuring 5k, 19k and 19-mile distances, the event brings runners together for a community-centered experience rooted in storytelling, culture and the city. Registration is $65 for the 5k; $75 for the 19k; and $85 for the 19-miler. districtrunningcollective.com.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and DC’s Landscape as We Know It Today
Register to be a Capitol Hill Porchfest Porch Host
On Saturday, Oct. 10 (rain date, Oct. 11), 2 to 6 p.m., be a porch host for an afternoon music festival where dozens of bands play front porches, stoops and yards across Capitol Hill. It is free, outdoors, all ages, and dogs are welcome if they are fine with crowds. Register at capitolhillporchfest.com.
Spanish Conversation Circles at NE Library
Beginner, intermediate and fluent Spanish speakers are welcome to drop in and practice at NE Library, 330 Seventh St. NE, every second and fourth Monday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All levels are welcome. dclibrary.org.
AARP and DCAL Health, Wellness and Resource Fair
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter and DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) for their annual Community Health,
There is hardly a corner of DC that has not been touched by the plans developed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. (1870-1957). Known as Rick, the youngest son of the famous father, Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), his impact far exceeds that of his father in DC. Rick Olmsted not only designed the park system but spent 50 years as the primary consultant in carrying out the plan. He designed the National Mall, the White House grounds, Rock Creek Park, and the C&O Canal Park. On Monday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ane. SE, Steve Livengood, Public Historian of the US Capitol Historical Society, Hill resident and popular Overbeck lecturer, will give us an overview of how much we owe this tireless and quiet leader. Free admission. hillcenterdc.org. 72 H HILLRAG.COM
Wellness and Resource Fair at River Park, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. Participating are AARP, DACL, the Office of the Attorney General, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, MetroAccess, Transport DC, DC Board of Elections, PEPCO, Arena Stage, Southwest Library, DISB, Office of the People’s Counsel, IRS, Social Security and Councilmember Charles Allen’s Office. Contact jonesbettyjeantolbert@gmail.com.
Photo: Jeanne Harrison
Capitol Hill Community Foundation’s “A Literary Feast”
A Literary Feast is a series of dinner parties held in homes across Capitol Hill on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Each dinner features food and fun related to a specific book, followed by dessert, drinks and live music at Hill Center. The event benefits the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, a volunteer-run organization supporting projects that enrich the history, diversity and beauty of Capitol Hill. Tickets are $100 to $500, with all but $20 per ticket tax-deductible. aliteraryfeast.org.
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.
DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust
DCHFA, Resource inthe the District. DCHFA,Your YourHomeownership Homeownership Resource in District. DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.
DC Open Doors HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your keykey to to homeownership in in thethe city. DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your homeownership city. This program offers competitive rates and serves as interest a co-administrator of DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the Thismortgage programinsurance offers competitive interest rates and lower lower on first trust Department of Housing and Community city.this ThisDC program offerscosts competitive interest rates and mortgage insurance costs on first Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyerare not lower mortgage insurance costs ontrust firstmortgages.You trust homebuyer orbe a D.C. residenthomebuyer or a D.C. resident to required to a first-time program. , be purchasing a home in the homebuyer or a D.C.You resident qualify DCOD. must, however, be purchasing a home District offor Columbia. , be purchasing a home in the in the District of Columbia.
District of Columbia.
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down DC4ME years or older who have fallen behind on DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with down HPAP provides interest free loansoptional forofinsurance down serves as a deferred co-administrator and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. payment assistance to D.C. government employees. this DC Department of Housing and Community Qualified District homeowners can receivegovernment up serves as afull-time co-administrator of to Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer DC4ME is offered to current District this DC Department of Housing and Community program. employees, including employees of District governmentDevelopment’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public program. Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/ DC4MEemployer providesfalls mortgage assistance borrower’s under the oversight with of theoptional Council payment assistance to D.C. government of down the District of Columbia. DC4ME is offered full-time yearsemployees. or older who have fallen behind to oncurrent insurance and District tax payments as a resultemployees, of their reverse mortgage. government including employees Qualified District homeowners receive to of or District government-based instrumentalities, DC4ME VA Loan Product years older who have fallencan behind onup insurance
independent D.C. Public Charter Schools, and tax payments as a result of is their reverse mortgage. The DC4ME VA agencies, Loan Product a VA mortgage product and organizations, providedcan thereceive applicant/borrower's Qualified District homeowners up to offered by thefalls District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency employer under the oversight of the Council of (DCHFA). In addition to the traditional VA benefits, like no the District of Columbia. DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance, this down payment assistance to D.C. government product includes assistance, fundedfull-time by DCHFA, that employees. DC4ME3% is offered to current DC4ME provides assistance optional District employees, including employees can begovernment used towardmortgage eligible closing costswith or prepaid items. COVID-19 payment assistance toinstrumentalities, D.C. government ofdown District government-based This makesDC4ME the DC4ME VA Loan ProductSchools, one of the most employees. is offered to current full-time independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to affordable and accessible for COVID-19 qualified militaryand organizations, provided the options applicant/borrower's District government including employees those affected by employees, the loan impacts of the employer falls under the oversight of the Council of ofconnected District government-based instrumentalities, borrowers. pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of the District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's for up falls to six months. employer under the oversight HomeAdvantage DCof the Council of the District of Columbia. HomeAdvantage DC makes homeownership in Washington, COVID-19 D.C. more accessible by offering eligible buyers DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistancebelowto those affected by thefinancing impacts of theflexible COVID-19 market mortgage with assistance options. pandemic. Qualified borrowers canhomebuyers receive a loan ofa choice COVID-19 The program provides qualified with up toMAP $5,000COVID-19 per month provides to put toward theirassistance mortgage to DC financial of financing structures, including options with and without for up to six months. those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 down payment assistance, to support the purchase of pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan ofa home in the per District of Columbia. Qualified buyers up to $5,000 month to put toward their home mortgage for upbe toeligible six months. may for financing with or without down payment 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG assistance, depending on their needs.
Visit www.DCHFA.org how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.
Visit www.DCHFA.org how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. Visit www.DCHFA.org 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.
September 2026 ★ 73 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG
CAPITOL ST.s
Capitol Hill Singing Group Begins New Season
The Capitol Hill Second Wind chorus resumes rehearsals Wednesday, Sept. 9, 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. Singers of all abilities and vocal ranges are welcome. Known for eclectic programs ranging from medieval chants to classic American pop, this season’s theme is “I Could Not Travel Both: Songs of Life and Choice,” featuring a musical setting of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” There are no auditions; membership fees are assessed on a sliding scale. secondwindchorusdc.com or 202-544-1646.
The small Capitol Hill choir performs under the direction of Ben Hinkie, now in his second season with the group. Ben is a conductor with the DC chapter of the National Children’s Chorus.
Raise Your Banner Mental Health & Wellness Exhibition
On Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Eastern Market’s North Hall, this exhibition offers a safe, inclusive space to discuss mental health with local leaders and experts and help break down the stigma surrounding mental health care. The Raise Your Banner Foundation provides its services and programs free of charge. raiseyourbanner.org/mentalhealthexhibition.
The Supreme Court’s Online Ticketing Reservation System
You can apply online for tickets to Supreme Court argument and non-argument sessions. Three weeks before each Court day, lottery results are announced and tickets issued electronically. The Court generally hears arguments Monday through Wednesday, two weeks each month from October through April, usually beginning at 10 and 11 a.m. Calendars listing cases are released two to four months before each monthly session. ticket.supremecourt.gov/onlineticketing/Request. 74 H HILLRAG.COM
“Soul Strolls” at Congressional Cemetery
Congressional Cemetery’s annual Soul Strolls returns this fall with its 2026 theme, “Becoming America,” exploring the tension between the nation’s founding ideals and the realities of American history through stories of those interred at the cemetery. Twilight tours take place Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, featuring lantern-lit walks and costumed interpreters portraying activists, freedom seekers, reformers and ordinary citizens who helped redefine America’s founding ideals. Guests can enjoy live music, with themed cocktails and food available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged. Select tours offer family-friendly times and ASL interpretation. VIP packages are available. $40. congressionalcemetery.org.
Yasmin Elhady’s Not Exactly a Nun at Woolly
What happens when a Muslim woman who has spent years helping audiences laugh at cultural expectations finally turns the spotlight on her own? Comedian, attorney and Hulu’s Muslim Matchmaker co-host Yasmin Elhady takes center stage in her first solo theater show, playing a limited five-performance engagement (Sept. 25, 26 and Oct. 2, 3, 4 at 7 to 8:30 p.m.), at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. At its heart, it’s about something much more universal: the identities we inherit, the expectations we carry and the courage it takes to decide for ourselves who we want to become. Tickets are general admission, $42.50; students $30.25. woollymammoth.net.
DPW’s Food Waste Smart Bins Hit a Milestone
Since launching its Curbside Composting Pilot Program in August 2023, now the Residential Food Waste Collection program, DPW has provided curbside food-waste collection to 12,000
households, keeping more than six million pounds of food scraps out of the trash. DPW is also celebrating the collection of one million pounds through its food-waste drop-off program—roughly the weight of 50 fully loaded trash trucks. dpw.dc.gov.
Brentwood Arts Exchange’s Washington Glass School: 25 Years of Glass & Community
Washington Glass School, Sept. 18 to Oct. 31, celebrates the school’s quarter-century as a major force in the DMV arts community. The exhibition brings together founders, resident artists and alumni to explore the “Glass Secessionist” movement and the school’s legacy of storytelling, mentorship and technical innovation. Opening reception is Saturday, Sept. 19, 5 to 8 p.m.; artist and curator talk, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 to 4 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD. Open Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sundays. pgparks. com/facilities/brentwood-arts-exchange. Have a notice for the Bulletin Board? Send it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u
Dead Man’s Run 5k at Congressional Cemetery
Join Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 5 to 7 p.m., for its annual fall 5k fundraiser. The race begins inside the cemetery before heading onto the Anacostia Trail for a spooky evening run with music, costumes and frightful fun. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for best individual and team costumes, top finishers, age-group winners and best team time. The flat, fast course is USATF certified. $40. congressionalcemetery.org.
Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale neighborhoods and the RFK Stadium Complex.
Join us for our Next Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026 (2nd Tuesday), 7:00 pm
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Virtual Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/82241 895770?pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuXw1vbrC1 rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d
Our Commissioners are here to serve you! COMMISSIONER Brian Alcorn, Chairperson Josh Taborn, Vice Chair Brett Astmann, Treasurer Dom Pacheco, Secretary Artilie Wright Katie Murphy Ebony Payne Ashley Schapitl Vacant SMD Dev Myers
SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT
7D08 – Capitol Hill 7D01 – Eastland Gardens/Kenilworth 7D07 – Rosedale 7D06 – Rosedale 7D03 – Parkside 7D04 – River Terrace 7D05 – Kingman Park 7D09 – Hill East 7D02 – Mayfair 7D10 – Hill East
7d08@anc.dc.gov 7d01@anc.dc.gov 7d07@anc.dc.gov 7d06@anc.dc.gov 7d03@anc.dc.gov 7d04@anc.dc.gov 7d05@anc.dc.gov 7d09@anc.dc.gov 7d02@anc.dc.gov 7d10@anc.dc.gov
For more information, go to:
7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1
Raise your voice for DC’s future GET INVOLVED IN DC 2050 The DC Office of Planning invites you to prepare for the next phase of DC 2050, the District’s next comprehensive plan. DC 2050 will guide our growth to a more inclusive, affordable, and resilient city. It directs where and how we build new housing, grow job opportunities, connect neighborhoods, preserve our history, and invest in amenities.
Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at DC2050.com to stay up to date!
LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION. 3200 Belleview Ave. Cheverly, MD 20785
Vacant
Sept. 9 I 7 p.m.
Minutes From Everything
$945,000 4 Beds 3 Baths 3,860 sqft beds
Schedule a private viewing today!
• 1 mile to Metro • Convenient to Route 50 / New York Avenue • Easy access to BW Parkway • Just 6 miles to the U.S. Capitol UNIQUE FEATURES YOU HAVE TO SEE
All-brick construction with exceptional character and amenities, including: • 8-person hot tub • Registered chandelier • Pool table • Flexible space with the ability SEE LISTING to add 2 or 3 bedrooms
Bridget Fischer - Listing Agent • 410-533-8665 Bob Williams • 301-908-1265 September 2026 ★ 75
76 H HILLRAG.COM
FAMILY LIFE FAR LEFT: The library, renovation and landscaping retain the “temple on a Hill” positioning of the historic building. LEFT: The view from the bottom floor looking up through the sky light to the celiing over three floors above.
A New Chapter for Southeast Library Reimagined with Light, Space and Room to Grow
A
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
few steps past the historic Seventh Street SE entrance, a pillar of light shines through the center of the library, dropping through the main floor into the children’s library two floors below. That column of light is the organizing idea behind the long-awaited modernization of Southeast Library at 403 Seventh St. SE. Closed since January 2024, the branch reopens Thursday, Sept. 10. The formerly 9,000-square-foot library now has approximately 18,000 square feet on three levels, with spaces for computers, meetings, adults, teens, children and families. DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan called it the most difficult project the system has undertaken, even more challenging from an engineering standpoint than the renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. But on our late-August tour, those challenges were invisible behind restored woodwork, quiet study rooms, bright children’s furniture and broad sightlines. “You know, we listened and we delivered,” Reyes-Gavilan said. “This is a library that we hope will stand the test of time and maybe get us another 100 years.”
that has been preserved.” The historic fabric was the governing principle of the new design. The fireplace, columns, crown and dentil molding and historic wood were preserved or restored. New wood shelves occupy the locations of original wall shelving. The biggest discovery came during design review. Historic preservation staff, recognizing similarities to the Carnegie Library that is now the Apple Store in Mount Vernon, asked the team to cut into the flat ceiling. Above it they found the vaulted geometry of that longconcealed laylight. A new skylight above it now diffuses daylight through it and down onto library users as they set foot into the new building.
Three Libraries in One
The restored upper level is the quietest. Most adult books are there, along with lounge seating, laptop work areas and a conference room whose windows overlook Eastern Market Metro Station. Its palette is intentionally restrained. Pahwa described the atmosphere as “tailored and handsome,” down to tweed-like carpeting and what she calls the “Don Draper” green midcentury-style chairs. The middle level, reached from a new universally accessible South Carolina Avenue entrance concentrates public computers, printing and the largest meeting room, which seats up to 48. Several reservable rooms include spaces equipped for hybrid meetings. Each
Old Above, New Below
The Southeast branch first opened Dec. 8, 1922. According to DC Public Library’s project history, Congress authorized $50,000 from Andrew Carnegie’s donation for its construction, while requiring public support for operations and maintenance. Architect Edward L. Tilton, a specialist in Carnegie libraries, designed the neoclassical building for its irregular triangular lot near Eastern Market. The building cost $67,000 and included separate adult and children’s reading rooms. A fireplace, then in the children’s room, still bears tiles depicting scenes from Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” “Anything that was historic, contributing character,” Jaspreet Pahwa, DCPL director of capital planning and construction said, “all of
Left: A colorful paette for the children’s furniture, including these turnable “fidget” benches. Middle: The teen section with moveable furniture on the bottom floor. RIGHT: Branch manager Julia Strusienski returns to the newly renovated Southeast Library
September 2026 H 77
FAMILY LIFE
DCPL ED Richard Reyes-Gavilian and DCPL Director of Capital Planning and Construction Jaspreet Pahwa.
floor has two single-occupancy restrooms and elevator access. The lowest level is the biggest surprise. Excavated entirely below the former basement and extended beneath the landscaped berm, it gives children and families the generous space they repeatedly requested during community planning. Cork-lined reading nooks suggest seed pods in soil; colorful rockers, child-and-caregiver seating at computer stations and movable play furniture make the room less formal. A separate teen area can be adjusted as needs change.
More Room to Say Yes
Branch manager Julia Strusienski, who has led Southeast since 2017, returns with a staff of 15, a staff increase of 50 percent. Temporarily placed at Tenleytown Library, she visited the project during
stages of construction, including when the children’s library was excavated. “It was emotional, honestly,” Strusienski said. Story time and book clubs will return, she said. But now they don’t have to compete for a single basement programming space. Mahjong instruction might take place upstairs while story time fills the children’s level. The former branch was small but among the system’s busiest. Reyes-Gavilan said it ranked near the top for visits and was one of the heaviest-circulating branches for physical materials. In the old library, a single meeting room also served as a passage to the restroom, forcing programs and community groups into constant negotiation over time and space.
A Difficult Build
The modernization began as a roughly $23 million proposal and finished as a $33 million project. The Whiting-Turner Construction and Quinn Evans design-build team was selected in 2019, but the pandemic, permitting, added funding and agreements with neighbors changed earlier schedules. The engineering explains some of the time and cost. Crews lowered the former basement floor, excavated another level, opened the landmark’s brick walls and extended the building beneath public space. They also had to underpin adjoining homes. Vibration monitors watched both the library and neighboring properties while temporary supports held the historic structure aloft. Those choices emerged through years of meetings and debate over preservation, safety, operations and interim service. DCPL’s meeting archive records seven major community meetings before construction, followed by construction updates roughly every five weeks. Pahwa said the aim was not simply to show progress but to demonstrate that the agency was doing what it had promised. “We were preserving it, restoring it and expanding it, and in doing that, reimagining the library services,” Pahwa said.
Safety Formerly the basement, the middle floor of Southeast Library has computers, smaller meeting rooms and the library’s largest conference room, which seats 48.
78 H HILLRAG.COM
The renovation team tackled long-running safety anxieties head-on, especially around the new side entrance near Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Neighbors warned that a narrow pas-
sageway could become a “little warren” where people might lurk, so designers widened the connector, opened sightlines and added lighting at pedestrian height, turning a potentially hidden shortcut into a broad, well-lit, visible walkway. Noise and mechanical systems—another concern for immediate neighbors—received the same care. The team wrapped the service core and rooftop equipment in acoustic protection. As Pahwa put it, “There is one door on the library side. You hear nothing, and as soon as you come on the service side, it is loud.” That “magic of acoustic performance” was critical on a block that endured years of vibration monitoring and construction risk, where “one wrong move… could have taken down the whole block.” Inside, DCPL is relying on staffing and usage patterns to manage a building expected to draw everyone from storytime families to people seeking bathrooms and air conditioning. The library system employs roughly 45 public safety officers, including one dedicated officer at Southeast, though not during every open hour. Reyes-Gavilan doesn’t expect disproportionate problems, in part because “there’s safety in numbers”: busy branches like Southeast and Cleveland Park tend to have fewer serious incidents than quieter facilities. The main challenge, he expects, is not crime but crowding—“a good problem to have”—as the renovated building fills with kids, caregivers and community meetings.
Opening Week
The library is scheduled to reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. An additional family celebration follows from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, marking both the reopening and the 10th anniversary of DCPL’s participation in Books from Birth. Plans include Rapping with Mr. Root, a story time co-led by the Hirshhorn, crafts and a children’s scavenger hunt through the new building. The staff are excited to welcome the neighborhood back again. “This community is so special, so diverse, so dynamic, and so deserving of more,” Strusienski said. Soon, she said, it will again be the neighborhood library, only one with more room for the community that had long outgrown it and a pillar of daylight running through its heart. “Welcome back,” Strusienski said, “and come on in.” u
EMPOWER A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU! Through a holistic approach to staying well
BEMER is an FDA Class II cleared medical device that is non-invasive and easy to use. BEMER Enhances:
Pattie Cinelli is a writer and holistic fitness professional who focuses on how to get and stay well and thrive.
~ Local Blood Flow ~ Oxygen Delivery ~ Energy & Vitality ~ Endurance ~ Recovery ~ Well-being ~ Stress Reduction
Call for a FREE demo or to discuss rental or purchase PAT T I E C I N E L L I
(202) 329-5514 • FITMISS44@AOL.COM PATRICIACINELLI.BEMERGROUP.COM Independent BEMER Distributor
September 2026 ★ 79
FAMILY LIFE
Colitis
The District Vet
C
olitis is inflammation of the colon, or large intestine, and is a common cause of diarrhea in both dogs and cats. It may occur suddenly or become chronic, generally defined as lasting three weeks or longer. Potential causes include parasites, bacteria and other infectious organisms, dietary reactions, immune-system dysfunction, and previous intestinal disease, although in many animals a specific underlying cause is never identified, which can be frustrating for all involved. The colon plays several important roles in digestion. It absorbs water and electrolytes, stores feces, and supports a large community of beneficial microorganisms known collectively as the intestinal microbiome. When the colon becomes inflamed, its ability to absorb water and regulate normal intestinal movement is disrupted. The result is the characteristic pattern known as large bowel diarrhea. Unlike diarrhea originating in the small intestine, colitis typically causes frequent trips outside or to the litter box, urgency, straining, and relatively small amounts of stool at each bowel movement. Mucus and fresh red blood are common. Some animals appear uncomfortable while defecating. Vomiting and weight loss are less typical unless disease also involves the small intestine, which can happen. Interestingly, many pets with colitis otherwise appear healthy, and their physical examination may be largely normal. They may even have normal appetites. Veterinarians generally begin diagnosis with a detailed history, physical and rectal examination, and fecal testing. Parasites and infectious diseases are important to consider; in dogs, whip-
80 H HILLRAG.COM
by Dan Teich, DVM worms can be particularly troublesome because their eggs are shed intermittently and may therefore escape detection on a single fecal examination. Cats may require testing for organisms such as Tritrichomonas foetus. For an otherwise stable pet, a carefully controlled dietary trial is often an important early step. Depending on the circumstances, veterinarians may recommend an easily digestible, highfiber, novel-protein, or hydrolyzed-protein diet. Fiber can help normalize movement through the colon, reduce excess water in the stool, and support healthier intestinal function. Novel-protein and hydrolyzed diets may help when an abnormal immune response to food is contributing to inflammation. If symptoms continue, blood and urine testing may be performed to investigate other diseases. Ultrasound can help evaluate the intestinal wall and surrounding structures. Persistent or severe cases may require colonoscopy, which allows the veterinarian to examine the colon directly and collect multiple biopsies. The microscopic appearance of these samples can help identify the type and severity of inflammation and distinguish inflammatory disease from infection, cancer, and other conditions. Treatment depends upon the cause. Parasites and specific infections should be treated appropriately with targeted medications, while many uncomplicated or chronic cases improve substantially with dietary management. Although antibiotics have historically been used for some forms of chronic diarrhea, their routine use is increasingly questioned because benefits may be temporary and treatment can disrupt the normal microbiome and encourage antimicrobial resistance.
An important exception is granulomatous colitis, an uncommon disease seen particularly in young Boxers and French Bulldogs. This condition has been associated with invasive E. coli bacteria and requires appropriately selected antibiotics, ideally guided by culture and susceptibility testing. The intestinal microbiome has also become an important area of investigation. Probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation may be used to modify intestinal bacterial populations. Fecal transplantation has shown promise in some dogs and cats with chronic colitis, but additional research is still needed to determine when and how these approaches are most effective. Evidence supporting probiotics remains limited despite their widespread use. When dietary changes, parasite control, and other initial treatments are unsuccessful, anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive medications may be necessary, particularly when biopsies demonstrate significant inflammatory bowel disease. The appropriate drugs differ between dogs and cats, and some medications that are useful in one species can be dangerous in the other. Treatment therefore needs to be individualized and monitored by a veterinarian. Overall, the short-term outlook for most dogs and cats with chronic colitis is good. Complete permanent resolution, however, is less predictable. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease often requires ongoing management, and relapses can occur. Fortunately, many animals respond well to appropriate dietary and medical treatment, and in some treatment can be successful with diet changes alone. Dan Teich, DVM, is the founder of District Veterinary Hospitals. u
LOCALLY FOUNDED
District Vet is a locally founded veterinary hospital focused on the needs of you and your pet. We believe that no two pets are the same and that each deserves individualized love and attention. It’s our philosophy. It’s just who we are.
Be a part of our community. 3 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS EASTERN MARKET
YOUR
PET
DESERVES THIS KIND OF LOVE FROM HER VET!
240 7th St., SE 20003 I (202) 888-2090
NAVY YARD
801 2nd St., SE 20003 I (202) 964-5623
BROOKLAND
3748 10th St., NE 20017 I (202) 827-1230
districtvet.com I caphill@districtvet.com
September 2026 ★ 81
FAMILY LIFE
Dead Man’s Run Kids’ Race
Dead Man’s Run, Congressional Cemetery’s annual fall 5K fundraiser, is Saturday, Oct. 10, 5 to 7 p.m. The race begins inside the cemetery and continues onto the Anacostia Trail for a spooky evening run with music and fun. The 5K is $40. The children’s run is free for children with a parent, guardian or friend registered for the 5K; otherwise, the fee is $5. Register for the children’s race in the chapel on race day; a parent or guardian must sign a waiver. Prizes are awarded to top finishers and the best individual and team costumes. Costume contest registration is on race day near the starting line. congressionalcemetery.org.
Violet Vibes: A Community Celebration
On Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., at 101 District Square SW, wear your favorite shade of purple and join the National Museum of African American History and Culture for Violet Vibes, a family affair at The Wharf honoring a decade of the museum’s guiding vision: A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story. Help celebrate ten years of stories that have not only shaped America, but the full complexity of the African American lived experience. nmaahc.si.edu.
Family Day at Lincoln’s Cottage
Photo: Natasha Lamalle
Homecoming Family Day is Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at President Lincoln’s Cottage, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. During the Civil War, the Lincoln family called the Cottage home, and Tad Lincoln spent three summers exploring the grounds and playing with friends, soldiers, animals and family. Homecoming invites families to enjoy the grounds with a free day of activities encouraging self-expression, curiosity, connection, empathy and belonging. Enjoy arts and crafts, story time, pony rides and a petting zoo, live music, Cottage and grounds tours, Zumba and family workouts. Food truck concessions are not included. Valid identification is required at the security gate. lincolncottage.org.
The Annual Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest
Every year, the National Park Service hosts an oratorical contest at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. Students ages six to eighteen of all abilities are invited to memorize and perform part of a Douglass speech before a panel of judges, experiencing the transformative power of language that Douglass discovered as a young man. This year’s contest is Nov. 17 to 21, with both online and in-person participation. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-selected basis until timeslots are filled or Nov. 10, whichever comes first. First-place winners will be invited to perform at the annual Frederick Douglass Birthday event in Washington, DC, in February 2027 or at a program at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in July 2027. nps.gov/ frdo/learn/kidsyouth/oratorical-contest. 82 H HILLRAG.COM
Library of Congress Upcoming Monthly Family Days
On Sept. 19: Mark the 50th anniversary of the American Folklife Center with activities, displays and a new exhibition, “Alive in Many Hands: 50 Years of the American Folklife Center.” On Oct. 17: As part of the Library’s commemoration of America 250: It’s Your Story, October’s Family Day honors Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. On Nov. 14: Explore the role of family recipes in Thanksgiving traditions and learn about fall festivals around the world. On Dec. 26: Use winter-themed imagery from the Library’s collections to create holiday cards, bookmarks and more. These programs are held on the mezzanine level of the Library’s Jefferson Building from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is NPS employee showing free, but tickets are required for the Jefferson Building. children newspapers in front of a statue of Frederick DouRegister for tickets at loc.gov. glass at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.
Dance Classes at St. Marks
Beginner tap class for teens and adults is on Wednesdays 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday ballet classes for kids beginning on Sept. 14 are: pre-ballet for four-year-olds; ballet for kids five and six; and ballet for seven and eight-yearolds. Musical Theatre Dance Classes for ten-years-old and up are on Fridays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. St. Marks is at 301 A St. SE. Visit and register at stmarksdance.org.
Pumpkin Parts at the Botanic Garden
Think like a botanist as you and your child explore one of the season’s most iconic plants: the pumpkin. On Friday, Sept. 25, examine the different parts of a pumpkin and learn about the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes gourds and squashes. On-site drop-in program; no registration required. usbg.gov.
September 2026 H 83
CELEBRATING TWO YEARS ON CAPITOL HILL
Now Enrolling
“Starling truly follows Toddler & Primary Classrooms Montessori Two neighboring classrooms. One principles, with continuous Montessori path. Serving children ages 16 months through 6 years. carefully chosen teachers and ds out as Thoughtfully prepared environments, carefully materials.” t is truly chosen teachers, and authentic Montessori materials ntessori and practices help each child grow with confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
A small, intentional school built around your child.
Schedule Your Tour!
(202) 743-0600
On Saturday, Sept. 12, at 10 and 11:30 a.m., Choy Wun Lion Dance Troupe performs at National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. world of Watch the dancers and musicians childcare. and learn about this vibrant Chinese ll school , with a culturalds tradition carefully chosen staff out as celebrating auspicious occasions. t is truly Free. Pre-registration is at nationaltheatre.org/saturntessori world of day-morning; walk-ups are welcome childcare. as space permits. thenationaldc.com.
StarlingMontessoriSchool.com info@starlingmontessorischool.com 201 4th Street SE I 301 A Street SE I Washington, DC
ll school , with a Soar Together Family Day: carefully chosen staff
Art in Air and Space
On Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bring the family for hands-on artmaking, performances and interactive experiences exploring how artists are inspired by flight, space and the skies. Hear a reading of Ablaze with Color, A Story of Painter Alma Thomas and create related art; dance and sing to aviation-themed songs performed by STEMusic; enjoy Discovery Theater’s “Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly”; and learn how different spectra of light help us color the cosmos. Free; timed-entry passes required. airandspace.si.edu.
Upcoming King Bullfrog Hoppy Hours
Read her story at CapitolHillHistory.org
Saturday Morning Live at the National
Photo by Lis Wackman
Georgiana Barnes arrived in Washington at the dawn of the Great Depression in search of education and jobs. She finished high school, married and in 1933 moved to Capitol Hill, starting a family and working nights cleaning offices in the House of Representatives. Completing the dream of education and jobs that brought her to Washington, Georgiana went on to supervise the 300-person cleaning staff who worked in the House office buildings. Read Georgiana’s oral history at CapitolHillHistory.org. Help preserve Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.
On Fridays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 23, 5 to 7 p.m., bring the family to Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, for an outdoor evening of live music with King Bullfrog. Little ones can run, dance, laugh and play to their favorite songs. Tickets are $14 for kids and $7 for adults; children under two are free. Beer, wine and cheese pizza are available for purchase. hillcenterdc.org.
ASL Story Time at NE Library AN INITIATIVE OF THE CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
84 ★ HILLRAG.COM
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 11 to 11:25 a.m., Northeast Library hosts Amer-
ican Sign Language Story Time, with stories and songs both signed and vocalized. No ASL knowledge is required. Recommended for ages two to five with a caregiver. To request an accommodation, contact the DC Public Library Center for Accessibility at least one week in advance at dcplaccess@dc.gov or 202-727-2142.
International Observe the Moon Night
On Friday, Sept. 25, 8 to 10 p.m., look through the Air and Space Museum’s telescopes outside the Museum at Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW, near the silver Delta Solar sculpture. Experienced observers will help visitors use telescopes to see planets, stars and the Moon. Smithsonian and local astronomy clubs provide the telescopes; personal telescopes are not permitted. Free; no tickets or reservations required. Weather permitting. airandspace.si.edu.
Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run Registration
The Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run on Oct. 26, the day before the MCM, is a one-mile, just-for-fun challenge for children ages five to twelve. Participants may choose from six starting waves. Shuttles from Metro, post-event hospitality, activities, entertainment, games and mascots are included. Registration is $27 and includes a shirt, access to the Camp Miles Family Fitness Festival and a finisher medal. marinemarathon.com.
Play Date at Natural History: Dive into the Deep Sea
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m. to noon, explore life at the bottom of the ocean during Play Date at NMNH. Learn about animals adapted to the dark deep sea, create deep-sea-inspired artwork and see specimens that
once lived there. Designed for early learners from birth to age five and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. The drop-in program is in the Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall on the first floor. naturalhistory.si.edu.
Black Student Fund & Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair
The Black Student Fund & Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair is Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 to 5 p.m., at the UDC Student Center (Building 56), 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. Registration and the NonSchool Vendor Concourse open at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more than fifty years, the fair has connected families with representatives from more than sixty independent schools, providing information about programs, communities, admissions and financial aid. Seminars cover admissions, financial aid and personal/family financial management. Read more and register at blackstudentfund. org and latinostudentfund.org.
TAE KWON DO TRADITIONAL KOREAN STYLE AGES 4 AND UP CLASSES STARTING MONTHLY
820 6TH ST., NE - PARKING • MASTERGUTMAN@GMAIL.COM
202-271-5449 • TEXT FRIENDLY
About Museums for All
Museums for All encourages Americans to visit museums and build lifelong museum habits. Visitors presenting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards receive admission ranging from free to $5 at more than 1,600 participating museums. Museums are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands, expanding access to the nation’s cultural, historical, scientific and natural treasures regardless of economic circumstances. Find participating museums at museums4all.org/participatingmuseums-3. ◆
SIGN UP TODAY!
LOCAL NEWS IN YOUR INBOX h i l l ra g .co m September 2026 ★ 85
CLASSIFIEDS Contact Carolina at 202.400.3503 & carolina@hillrag.com to get the most for your advertising dollars.
APPLIANCES REPAIR
BASEMENT SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE
COMPUTER
Serving Capitol Hill & SW DC for Over 30 Years!
ANCHOR
Locally Owned
$20Off Your First Clean
Your Local & Trusted Experts
NEW CLIENT SPECIAL
We Fix ALL Major Household Appliances!
DAILY • WEEKLY • BIWEEKLY • MONTHLY PET & FAMILY FRIENDLY
(202) 499-6600
GET STARTED WITH YOUR FREE ESTIMATE!
703-719-9850 703-447-5500
Or visit:
ApplianceCheck.com info@appliancecheck.com
standardcleaningservicesinc.com
$55 OFF ANY COMPLETE REPAIR
WE SERVICE, REPAIR, AND INSTALL ALL MAJOR BRANDS Refrigerators • Washer/Dryers Appliances Pro, Inc. Ranges • Garbage Disposals Microwaves Icemakers • Freezers SubZero Refrigerator Service & Repair and more! No Extra Charge Weekends, Evenings & Holidays
“We Repair It Right The First Time!”
ALL MAKES & MODELS / SERVICE & INSTALLATION
SERVICE 7 DAYS A WEEK
• Refrigerator - Service within 3 hours • Washers/Dryers • Wall Ovens • Ranges • Garbage Disposals • Microwaves • Icemakers • Freezers • Dishwashers • Sub-zero Specialists
Family Owned & Operated. The finest at a reasonable rate. SAME service DAY SERVICE Up-front estimates, with no hidden costs. $35 OFF ANY COMPLETE REPAIR
CARPET CLEANING WOVEN HISTORY We wash carpets in the traditional manner – by hand, using no chemicals or machinery. No preheated room for drying. We dry in the sun and the wind. Free pick-up and delivery for Capitol Hill residents. Call 202-543-1705. More info. at wovenhistory.com. Located at 311-315 7th St. SE. Your neighborhood carpet store on Capitol Hill since 1995. Open Wednesday- Sunday from 11 am- 5 pm.
CLEANING SERVICES
(202) 543-7055
A Cleaning Service, Inc.
We specialize in:
ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
hillrag.com
LARRY ELPINER
admin@anchorcomputers.com
a clean house, a clean mind. Complete Residential Cleaning, including Laundry & Ironing
703.892.8648
Professional ofessional Home Cleaning
Keeping your home and family safe and disinfected with a professional clean.
202.399.3090
Call: Or Visit: www.maidpro.com/capitolhill 1405 H Street, NE • 2nd Fl
SANITIZING & DISINFINFECTING
86 ★ HILLRAG.COM
cares about the environment in which you live
• Network & Security • WiFi & Connections • Virus & Malware Removal • Data Recovery
acleaningserviceinc.com
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED
Troubleshooting, Repairs & Upgrades
CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE
FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR!
Nick, Jay, and Sunny Singh Offer 202.640.2178 50 Years Combined Experience! www.prorepairappliance.com CALL NOW!
ON SITE SERVICE
REFERENCES • BONDED & INSURED
FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR
Limit one per customer • Not valid with any other offers Mention this coupon at time of purchase.
C O M P U T E R S IT SERVICES AND COMPUTER REPAIR Serving Capitol Hill Since 1994
satisfaction guaranteed serving DC, MD & VA since 1985 licensed, bonded & insured
ANCHORCOMPUTERS.COM
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!
CONTRACTORS
PJM
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Improving Homes. Enhancing Lives. OUR SERVICES
4 Kitchen Remodeling 4 Bathroom Remodeling
240) 224-2033
contact@pjmhomeimprovement.com
PJMhomeimprovement.com Patrick McNulty
1629 K Street Northwest, Suite 300 License #: 420226000059
Love Where you live… renovate
ELECTRICIAN
HEATING & A/C
FITNESS
HOUSE HISTORY
Contact Gabriel to discuss your next home remodel 571.437.4696 lgmatluk@hotmail.com
Painting Concrete / Masonry General Repairs Renovations & More FREE ESTIMATES • AFFORDABLE RATES LICENSED, INSURED AND BONDED
TRANSFORMING HOMES WITH THE FINEST CRAFTSMANSHIP Residential & Commercial Restoration & Historical Preservation Structure Specialists
28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Renovations & Remodeling Kitchens, Baths & Basements Restoration & Repair
Book your classes today! hotyogacapitolhill.com
Call 202.965.1600
New Student Special*
DCRA Lic 9115 • Insured • References
www.jfmeyer.com
Maximize your Health! Bikram Hot Yoga (26 + 2) -plusHot Pilates • Barre • Warm Flow Piyo and Spa Yoga
One week class pass – all inclusive $39. *For local, new students only.
• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling • Painting Interior and Exterior • Floor Installation and Repair • Carpentry • Power Washing • Floors Custom Design and Installation • Ceramic and Marble • Custom Shelves & Cabinets • Roofing & Siding • Electricity • Heating & Cooling
Please pre-register, and arrive 10-20 minutes before the class starts. (Subject to updates). We continue to offer ZOOM and on-demand classes.
Do You Know the historY of Your DC home? Let us create a coffee table book on the history of your home.
nmhousedetectives.com nmhousedetectives@gmail.com
INTERNET
410 H Street NE • 202-547-1208 hotyogacapitolhill@gmail.com
571-237-6595
llgcontractingva.com 5-Year Guarantee on All Jobs
Licensed, Bonded & Insured September 2026 ★ 87
IRONWORK
LEAD INSPECTION
TEST - KNOW - PROTECT
4 Lead Inspections for rentals and renovations 4 Lead Risk Assessments 4 Home Radon Testing
BE AWARE, BE SAFE!
LANDSCAPING
Historic Renovation Artisan Stonework Timeless Craftsmanship
PAINTING
Tom Michaliga
Master Mason | Former Head Mason, Architect of the Capitol (1989–1996)
FALL & WINTER RATES
CALL TODAY! FREE ESTIMATES
202-544-4484 MichaligaMasonry@gmail.com MICHALIGAMASONRY.COM LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED
MOVING & HAULING
www.BlueSpruce.biz
Painting Division Interior & Exterior Custom Painting Drywall & Plastering
Call 202.965.1600
202 . 277.8836
DCRA Lic 9115 • Insured • References
www.jfmeyer.com
Mark@BlueSpruce.biz
MASONRY Preserving Capitol Hill B R I C K BY B R I C K since 1985
Historical Preservation Specialists • Re-pointing with historical method mortar • Rebuilding arches and historical architecture • Restoration cleaning on historical brick and stone • Masonry & Stone Restoration Artisans
Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time!
Thomas Landscapes OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CAPITOL HILL
• Paint Removal NEW SERVICE!
Foundation Repairs & Underpinning
FREE ESTIMATES
Bricklands@msn.com brickmasonrywashingtondc.com
Full-Service Landscape Design & Maintenance Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features
BEST RATES IN DC $80 x Two Men- 2 or 3 Hours Minimum • Pickups / Deliveries
PEST CONTROL
F L K Termite, Pest &
CONTINENTAL MOVERS
Rodent Control
Professional Movers Who Really Care
More than just killing bugs, we take care of your home
Owner Operated Since 1982 References – Local & Long Distance Packing Services – Pianos & Big Objects
Restoration and Enhancement
• Babies, children, pets, no worries, customized treatments • Latest environmentally sound methods and products • One time, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, yearly
Derek Thomas / Principal
Free Estimates
Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes Trees & shrubs, formal & informal gardens Custom Masonry, Fencing and Iron work
LICENSED & INSURED
Certified Professional Horticulturist | Member of MD Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association
301.642.5182 202.322.2322 (Office) thomaslandscapes.com 88 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Call for a FREE Quote
202.438.1489 301.340.0602 www.continentalmovers.net
301.273.5740 301.576.3286 WWW.FLKPESTCONTROL.COM
PET SERVICES
Roof Repairs and Replacements Specialists REPAIR & INSTALLATION • Flat Roofing • Slate Roofing LOCAL + FAMILY • Shingling OWNED & OPERATED • Skylights 30+ Years of Experience • Gutters & Downspouts • Chinmeny
Martin
Roofing
R.W. ROOFING We offer the most competitive price in town. All Roofing & Rubber Roofs. We do everything: replacements, repairs, maintenance and coatings. See our ad under general contracting. 202-6740300 or 301-929-0664.
WOOD & WHITACRE ROOFING CONTRACTORS
30 years on the Hill Slate – Tile – Copper Specializing in all Flat Roof Systems and Leaks
FOR ALL YOUR ROOFING & GUTTER NEEDS 4 Chimney Repair 4 Inside Ceiling Repair & Painting 4 Patching – Coating – Waterproofing 4 Roof Certifications 4 All Other Home Improvement Needs 4 Critter Trapping & Damage Repair 4 Insulation
50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REASONABLE RATES
FREE ESTIMATES • Work Guaranteed
JEFFREY WOOD cell
301.674.1991
jeffwood2006@comcast.net
ALL TYPES OF ROOFING REPAIRS
HIGHEST RANKING IN:
PLASTER REPAIRS DAMAGED PLASTER? Plaster restoration, repair, and new application. Water damage specialists, Specialists in the repair of cracked walls and ceilings. Family-owned since 1930. Licensed & Insured. Call D.L. Boyd at 202331-9222 - www.dlboyd.net
15% DISCOUNT
Call Now for your Free Estimate
202.860.9007
WITH THIS AD
CALL NOW FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
202-210-2179
MACKAYHOMEIMPROVEMENT.COM LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED
RADIO/MEDIA
Star Roofing Company RELIABLE
Specializing in Residential & Commercial Flat Roof Systems
202-543-6383 All work done by owner • Free Estimates Insured • Licensed • Bonded
ROOM FOR RENT
G G ROOFING
AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • “50 YEARS EXPERIENCE”
THE HILL’S ROOFER FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS!
ROOFING/GUTTERS
R.THOMAS
DANIEL ROOFING • LEAK REPAIR • NEW ROOFS • ROOF COATING • Low Slope Roofing • Steep Slope Roofing • Gutter & Downspouts • Skylights • Chimneys • Masonry
CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE INSPECTION!
202.569.1080
tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com
www.rthomasdanielroofing.com
• Flat Roof Specialists
• Chimney Repairs
• Modified Bitumen
• Roof Coatings
• Skylights
• Gutters & Downspouts
• Shingles
• Preventive Maintenance
• Slate
• Metal Roofs
ROOM FOR RENT Room for Rent – Capitol Hill. Convenient location near bus and train lines. $650/month. Call 202749-7870 for more information.
WINDOWS
HISTORIC WINDOW REPLACEMENT SPECIALISTS
1880 ON THE OUTSIDE 2026 ON THE INSIDE
10% OFF WITH THIS AD
202.425.1614 WWW.GANDGHOMEIMPROVEMENTS.NET
Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
hillrag.com
BUILDING THE FUTURE. RESTORING THE PAST. Call Today for your FREE NO-OBLIGATION ESTIMATE* *Three Windows Minimum
alex@windowscraft.com (202) 288-6660 www.windowscraft.com LICENSED, INSURED AND BONDED
September 2026 ★ 89
www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
CROSSWORD Food related by Myles Mellor
Across:
1. ___ usual 6. Boutique 10. Dagger 14. Concurrently 17. A plant that flowers 20. Ticked off 21. Kind of curve 22. Nightstand spot 23. Prefix with logical 24. Audrey Hepburn classic 27. Languish 28. Open envelopes 29. Sale clause, abbr. 30. Khloe’s sister 33. Boxing’s Oscar ___ Hoya 35. Seine sights 37. Qualification testimonies 40. Maryland’s capital 42. Physical examination 44. “Yadda, yadda, yadda” 46. Bucking bronco show 47. Salts the sidewalks 49. Part of a fish 50. Classic opener 51. “Let’s ___ again!” Chubby Checker 52. CSI evidence 53. Med. specialty 54. Swears 56. Character 59. Brush up on 63. “While” lead-in 64. Say I’m coming to some business colleagues? 68. “Othello” villain 71. Overnight guest’s spot 72. Prime 75. Cheese choice 77. Football group 78. Highly prized item 81. One-celled marine inhabitant
90 H HILLRAG.COM
83. Feline sleeping spot 84. Lord of the Rings singer 86. IPA expert 89. Kidney secretion 90. Snaky turn 91. Runner 93. With an utterly unyielding attitude 95. Marriott rival 97. Deteriorates 98. Prime-time time 99. No later than, briefly 100. Meadow sound 101. Goodbye from a Brit. 103. Cloak-and-dagger org. 104. Prepared to order some snacks 113. Actress Winger 114. Irkutsk locale 115. Wobbles 117. Politicians call for it 118. Early communications satellite 119. Speechifying 120. Nickname for Elizabeth I 121. Last team that Willie Mays played for 122. Actress who plays Spiderman’s love
Down:
1. Expression of delight 2. Wild guess 3. Poker hand 4. Raison d’ ___ 5. “Live! With Kelly” host 6. Carbon dioxide absorber 7. Combatants 8. Neglected 9. Prefix with cab 10. Swedish currency 11. Risqué
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 12. Reply to “That so?” 13. Website ranking technology, abbr. 15. Former Japanese emperor 16. Civil War rifle 17. Small shot 18. Allows 19. Linesman 20. Columbus patron 25. Joined by treaty 26. ___ point, center 30. Famous 31. British Commonwealth member 32. Artistic masters 34. V __ Victor 36. Flag or flare 38. Pavarotti, e.g. 39. Gets all worked up
40. Oils and such 41. DC VIP 43. Kumquat, for example 45. Kind of analysis 48. Not chocolate 53. Ballad’s end? 55. Emphatic 57. Campers, for short 58. Name derived from a person 60. Mrs. sheep 61. Pigeon’s perch 62. Vane direction 65. Fling 66. Cohort 67. Santa in California 68. Atlas speck 69. Underwater 70. ___ Kings (flamenco pop group)
73. Prefix with gram 74. Govt. security 76. Dismissed 79. Co-star of Tom in “Angels & Demons” 80. Art patron 82. “Take your pick” 85. Less 86. Trial 87. Newly begins 88. Met 92. High profile 94. Inadequate 96. Cancels 102. Tiger haunt 104. Nota ___ 105. Ballpark figures 106. Atlantic coast time 107. Carpe ___ 108. Besmirch 109. Honey drink 110. Words to a traitor 111. Teutonic turndown 112. Coffee dispensers 113. Designate 116. Military rank, abbr.
DON DENTON
Associate Broker ddenton@cbmove.com