Mid City DC Magazine – July 2026

WHAT’S

THE PLAYGROUND at the National Building Museum

THE PLAYGROUND provides a nontraditional environment centered on the mental and physical benefits of play. Designed for all ages, the installation supports motion, exploration and togetherness in an immersive environment. Opening on July 3 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, THE PLAYGROUND transforms the historic Great Hall into a sculptural landscape that reimagines the familiar experience of parks and playgrounds with a delightful twist. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy a variety of interactive experiences throughout the space. Museum admission is $10 for adults; $7 for youth, students with ID and seniors. www.nbm.org

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens’ Lotus and Lily Festival

On Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE, experience water lily species in full bloom, take guided tours of the park and enjoy live music, cultural performances, kids’ activities, craft workshops and food from local vendors. The Visitor Center is an ideal place to begin your visit. Restrooms are located here as well as orientation brochures. A small room of exhibit panels surveys the history of the gardens and its key plants. Free admission. www.nps.gov/keaq

“Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography” at the NGA

Photographs have documented how we extract natural resources and the impact on people and our planet. Through Aug. 23, “Beneath the Surface” at the National Gallery of Art (West Bldg., second floor) explores how photographers in the United States have depicted resource extraction for 185 years. www.nga.gov

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Eyes in the Sky:

Planes and Space to Everyday Technology

In partnership with the CIA, on Thursday, July 16, from 7 to 8 p.m., this program looks at C IA stories found in the National Air and Space Museum collection, including aerial innovations like the U-2 aircraft, the CORONA Satellite Program, the Insectothopter and the lineage of the A-12 Oxcart to the SR71 Blackbird. Visit the Air and Space Museum to learn how innovations born in secrecy have shaped technology, industry and daily life. After-hours at 6 p.m., there is access to the museum’s exhibitions, including the five newest galleries, additional Discover y Stations and Ask an Expert stations featuring CIA historians and museum staff. Free; registration required. www.airandspace.si.edu

“District Vibes/ American Pride:

How

DC Changed American Culture”

DC Public Library commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary by showcasing the contributions Washingtonians have made to America’s culture and history. DC gave the world the football huddle, Gallaudet University, the modern blood bank (pioneered by DC native Dr. Charles R. Drew) and a public school system that educated icons like John Philip Sousa and Marvin Gaye. “District Vibes/American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture” is in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, throughout the summer. www. dclibrary.org

Image: Courtesy of the artist and Hutchinson Modern & Contemporary, NYC

“Juan Sanchez: A Survey” at the Phillips

Through Sept. 12, 2027, at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, this is the first traveling retrospective of Juan Sanchez (b. 1954, New York City), one of the founders of Latinx art in the United States. The exhibition’s 75 works include paintings, works on paper, photography and video that offer a comprehensive look at Sanchez’s powerful and thought-provoking art. www.phillipscollection.org

Prince William County Fair

The Prince William County Fair is at the Prince William County Fairgrounds Expo & Event Center in Manassas from July 31 to Aug. 8. The fair features rides, a petting zoo, farm animals, a dog show, pony rides, camel rides, monster trucks, camp grounds and more. Here’s the evening lineup: July 31, demolition derby; Aug. 1, fireworks; Aug. 2 and 3, rodeo; Aug. 4 and 5, monster trucks; Aug. 6, color works; Aug. 7, tractor pull; Aug. 8, demolition derby. Adult admission is $25; kids, $15; four and under, free. www.princewilliamcountyfairgrounds.com

“American Aspirations” at the Smithsonian Castle

For nearly 250 years, Americans have been inspired by the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Through July 26, “American Aspirations” brings together more than 30 of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects to commemorate this founding document. The Smithsonian Castle is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. www.si.edu/castle

There’s plenty of serious stuff going on in the world right now, which is why this month’s column is taking a much-needed summer vacation and suggesting you do the same by enjoying some mystery, adventure, comedy and intrigue, here on your doorstep.

Catch before Closing

“The Play That Goes Wrong,” Keegan Theatre • June 13-July 12 keegantheatre.com

Dupont Circle’s Keegan Theatre again gives us comedic escape with the staging of “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Similar in slapstick style to Michael Frayn’s classic 1982 British farce “Noises Off” (which Keegan Theatre produced in July 2024), “The Play That Goes Wrong” features a dilettante theatrical company attempting to stage an Agatha Christie-inspired murder mystery play while contending with collapsing sets, errant props, feuding actors, missed cues and a multitude of other funny mishaps.

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields (founders of Mischief Theatre), “The Play That Goes Wrong” was first performed in London’s Old Red Lion Theatre in 2012. It won a 2015 Laurence Olivier Award, toured the UK, the US and Australia, ran on Broadway for two years and inspired several BBC TV series and specials.

The plot is relatively simple and truthfully ceases to matter as the play unravels: The curtain rises on the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s opening night of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” a classic Hercule Poirot/Agatha Christie whodunnit, except produced with lot less professionalism. Hilarity ensues over the course of two acts as cheap sets crumble, props are misplaced, lines are forgotten, bad British accents start slipping and stage

Theater Night

Comedy and Adventure Await on Stage (and in the

managers search for a missing dog while tunes from a misplaced Phil Collins CD box set blare unpredictably over the sound system.

It takes a dynamic cast to handle this much sustained and energetic action. Director Michael Innocenti has done a bang-up job of wrangling Darren Badley (Trevor), Rebecca Ballinger (Dennis), Jimmy Bartlebaugh (Max), Jared H. Graham (Jonathan), Leah Packer (Sandra), Matthew Pauli (Chris), Jackson Saunders (Robert) and Martina Schabron (Annie the stage manager). Without exception, everyone excels at making a series of catastrophic mistakes look utterly professional.

Bring your kids to this one. They’ll love it too.

On Right Now

“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,”

Olney Theatre • July 2-Aug. 23 olneytheatre.org

If you watched A24’s “How to Make a Killing” (based on the 1949 British film “Kind Hearts and Coronets” and featuring a debonair Glen Powell as Becket Redfellow and a sultry Margaret Qualley as Julia Steinway), you’ll have an idea of the plot of Olney Theatre’s new summer musical that’s closing out the 2025-26 season.

“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” centers on the misadventures of Montague Navarro, who realizes after his indigent mother passes away that he’s related to the fabulously wealthy and idiosyncratic D’Ysquith family. As only the eighth in the line of succession, there’s little hope for Monty to lay claim to the family’s wealth, but an encounter with a soused D’Ysquith relative at the top of a bell tower leads our canny protagonist down a path of treachery, polyamory and – you guessed it – murder.

This comedic musical was originally developed around 2006 and debuted on Broadway in 2013. It’s based on Edwardian novelist Roy Horniman’s 1907 book “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal” and is famously tricky to stage, not least of all because all male members of the D’Ysquith family are played by a single actor. “’A Gentleman’s Guide’ has been on my radar ever since it won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2014,” explains Olney Theatre’s artistic director Jason Loewith. “I real-

Cemetery) This Month

by Matthew McClure

ized it had never been done in the DC area in a resident production because it requires an actor that can play multiple roles and it requires plenty of scenery and plenty of costumes. That’s a hard show to do!”

Ever one for a challenge, and answering the call from patrons for something light, Loewith reread the libretto and settled on Helen Hayes Award-winning Tom Story to play all seven members of the D’Ysquith family alongside Jacob Tischler as social climber extraordinaire Montague Navarro. “He’s a singular performer who’s extremely versatile and can be both a character and a leading man,” Loewith says of Story. “We’re very lucky to have him opposite Jacob as Monty Navarro.”

Directed by Eleanor Holdridge with a book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and musical direction by Christopher Youstra, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” features choreography by Ashleigh King. Sumie Yotsukura and Sadie Koopman are cast as Monty’s competing love interests Sibella and Phoebe. The musical will debut at the Roberts Mainstage, which will feature a new passerelle that extends the action into the audience in the style of old British music halls.

“A Respite for City Folk”

Olney Theatre Center’s 2026-27 season ‒ which kicks off in September with a production of “La Cage aux Folles” – takes place amid a raft of new developments and upgrades to the 88-year-old, 14-acre performing arts campus, all part of the $37 million “Staging the Future” capital campaign.

Officially designated as one of only two state summer theaters of Maryland, the Olney Outdoors series of concerts and plays performed under the open sky has

always been intended, as Loewith says, “to be a respite for city folk.” Back in the 1930s, audiences from DC and New York would make the trip to Sandy Spring Road to watch actresses like Tallulah Bankhead and Olivia de Havilland tread the boards for summer stock performances, and Olney’s kept this tradition alive for over 80 years.

On your visit this month to check out “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” at the Roberts Mainstage, check out the new Bernard Family Theatre (Olney’s original 1938 performance space), which has been reenvisioned as a exible barn for not only musicals and plays but also conferences, weddings, corporate gatherings or even a bat or bar mitzvah. The sparkling new Jim and Carol Trawick Education Center, the Gana Dunlop Maker’s Center and the renovated 150-seat black box theatre space are also new attractions that’ll draw even more patrons to Olney this summer.

Upcoming Attraction

“National Treasure,” Historic Congressional Cemetery Showing July 17

The Historic Congressional Cemetery (laid out in 1807) is beautiful all year round, but it really comes alive in summer through executive director Mark Hudson and program director AJ Orliko ’s outdoor programming, of which Cinematery is one of our annual favorites. There are few things more quintessentially summer in DC than relaxing among the headstones with a few drinks and a light picnic while enjoying a lm. This summer’s Cinematery (themed “Dinosaurs and Declarations”) kicks o with John Turteltaub’s swashbuckling 2004 adventure ick “National Treasure.” Remember, you’ll have to leave Fido at home for this one, and blankets are better than large lawn chairs (which block the view of the screen for others). And don’t lean on the grave markers!

Tickets sell fast, so get yours now at www.congressionalcemetery.org. ◆

WINNERS!

Cocktail Program of the Year

Spotlight: Urban Garden Brewing

On Juneteenth 2026, Right Proper Brew Pub at 624 T St. NW o cially became Urban Garden Brewing. e new restaurant’s co-owner, Eamoni Collier, is the District’s rst female African-American brewer with a brick-and-mortar space.

Patrons will nd the place largely unchanged, except for the wall decor. A spacious front dining area is complemented by a very long bar at the back of the restaurant, where the brewery equipment is visible through a window. e colorful wall murals really pop against the interior. e plants in the expansive front patio are another welcome addition.

While the restaurant’s vibe may be familiar, Collier’s creative libations are a revelation.

The Botanical Brewer

“All Gaul is divided into three parts,” wrote Julius Caesar in his famous commentary on the Gallic Wars. e world of beer is far simpler.

Brewers generally fall into two camps. ose of the German persuasion follow the famous Reinheitsgebot, rst adopted in Bavaria in 1516,

by Andrew Lightman

which restricts ingredients to water, barley and hops.

In uenced by the brewing heresies of the Trappists, Belgiumstyle brewers incorporate every ingredient, perhaps with the exception of the proverbial kitchen sink, into their tasty creations.

Collier, the brew mistress and co-owner of Urban Garden Brewing, is committed to creating botanically forward brews and nonalcoholic elixirs. She began her beer odyssey working at Right Proper Brewing, where she was fascinated by the onsite brewing. After a manager gifted her a homebrewing kit, there was no return.

Harvesting herbs from her uncle’s garden, Collier experimented with incorporating them into her brewing. Studying the history of the craft, she discovered its connection to ancient Egypt, where women brewed beer. Herbs, owers and spices were essential elements. Beer played a major role in ancient gatherings and rituals.

Around the corner from her job at Right Proper, Collier discovered Calabash Tea, a shop lled with herbal tea blends. Collier employs unusual ingredients such as pandan leaf from the Philippines, pink peppercorns from India and sorrel from Jamaica.

“Making beer with more than water, hops and yeast, I wanted to give it a botanical vibe,” Collier said.

Sacred Pours

Not surprisingly, the beer portion of Urban Garden’s menu is entitled

“Sacred Pours.” Five beers grace the list. All are Collier’s own creations.

e Chamolite is a soothing garden ale boasting notes of honey and chamomile and is this author’s personal favorite to imbibe on a scorching hot DC summer eve. e oral Roses Aren’t Dead incorporates rose petals and rose hips. e Lotus Flower Bomb, a botanical IPA, contrasts velvety lavender and rose orals with a tea-like bitterness. e list is completed with two more house beers: Orange You Witty, a witbier, and a lemongrass Pilsner named Touch Grass! Don’t pass up the Communion, a shot of Jameson served with pint of the latter.

While Urban Garden is a brewery, Collier has also set a place for non-drinkers at her proverbial table.

Botanical Elixirs

An amateur herbalist, Collier developed a fascination with so-called adaptogens. ese natural plants and fungi help regulate the body’s physiological response to stress, functioning as metabolic regulators for the nervous and endocrine systems.

Collier employs adaptogens in her mocktails. e Ms. Basil combines a basillime syrup with holy basil and lion’s mane. e Mint Condition mixes orange-mint-rosemary syrup with lemon balm and lion’s mane. e Cu-pple pairs apple-cucumber juice with damiana and maca. e Pandan & Chill incorporates lemon balm and maca with pandan syrup and pineapple juice.

“In future, we will be making all our own tinctures,” Collier added.

The Fair

Urban Garden’s chef, Ayris Fair, serves a solid set of “elevated” classic

entries alongside the restaurant’s mocktails and adult beverages. These include a smashed doublepatty burger, crispy whole wings and delicious potato wedges.

Make sure not to miss the housemade pickles, served fried or plain. These are a particular point of pride for the chef. He is planning a six-course tasting menu designed with both boozy and non-alcoholic pairings.

A Storied History

Homebrewing earned Collier familial accolades. “We don’t like beer, but we like yours,” she recalled her aunts saying.

Collier hails from an extended District clan. A native Washingtonian, she grew up in Ward 7 and graduated from Maya Angelou Public Charter School.

She pursued a career as a singer-songwriter before falling in love with brewing.

When Right Proper decided to end its lease at T Street, the owner called Collier and offered to convey the establishment “as is.” With the aid of her family, husband and co-owner Renaud Scott, Collier raised the funds to take over the business.

The location itself held a special place in her family’s history.

Back in the era of Black Broadway, 624 T St. NW was a popular pool hall. Duke Ellington’s famous Washingtonians started their storied career playing there. The youngest member of the band was Collier’s grandfather, Joe Tate, who used to sneak in through the back door due to being underage. Tate later produced Chuck Brown’s first go-go record. His saxophone is enshrined in a case on Urban Garden’s wall.

Collier hopes to continue her family’s legacy by brewing the most botanically creative beers in the heart of Black Broadway.

Urban Garden Brewing is located at 624 T St. NW. For more information, visit www.urbangardenbrewing.com. u

Spotlight: Casa Majanos & Benito’s Place

On a single Shaw street corner, the entire range of Central American cuisines may be sampled. Casa Majanos, located on the corner at 1439 11th St. NW, o ers homemade Tex-Mex fare. Next door, at Benito’s Place at 1437 11th St. NW, one can partake of the culinary wonders of Honduras and Guatemala.

e two restaurants are owned by the Majano family, who have made Shaw their home for decades. Casa Majanos boasts a single airy dining room with large windows. Exposed brick and slate gray

by Andrew Lightman

walls, recessed lights, colorful art and exposed ducts give it an industrial chic. It is perfect for large parties. In contrast, Benito’s Place is a true no-frills joint. A half-dozen tables line the small dining room, accented by exposed brick. A kitchen counter lines the back. e dining room is small.

Both restaurants are a family a air. Mainor J. Majano and Telma Beatriz Majano, along with their children, Ennry Castro, Cindy Castro, Mia Majano, Maynor Majano and Gabriela Majano, as well as an assortment of other family members, routinely work in the kitchens and front of the house.

“We love the neighborhood,” Telma Majano a rmed.

Benito’s Place

Telma Majano hails from Guatemala, while her husband Mainor was born in Honduras. She is a third-generation chef. Many of the recipes used in both restaurants were passed down in her family, which has Quechua and Mayan roots. e Mejanos met in the laundry room of a Logan Circle apartment building. Arriving with his hamper, Mainor discovered a woman doing her washing while minding a small child, who, it turned out, was the progeny of a friend. He greeted the kid, startling Telma. Later, after being formally introduced by mutual friends, the two fell in love. is July, they will celebrate their 26th anniversary.

When she married Mainor, Telma learned to cook his country’s food, as well. All of which eventually formed the basis of Benito’s Place’s menu.

Cooking in DC

In 2003, Telma Majano began her DC culinary career cooking at a corner store, purchased by the family, located at 12th and N streets NW. Her preparations of traditional Guatemalan and Honduran dishes proved popular with the area’s Central American community.

After an electrical re at the convenience store, Telma spotted a “For Rent” sign in front of a local ve-and-dime. e family struggled for four years to open Benito’s Place, named for Mainor’s late father. Mainor bootstrapped the construction with the aid of their children. Benito’s quickly became a hit, even securing a review in the Washington Post, which proclaimed, “ e rst-rate avors coming out of Benito’s kitchen are only outdone by the generosity of the serving sizes.”

“In Guatemala, you can cook for an entire year without repeating the same dish,” Telma stated. Benito’s, she explained, is a fusion of Guatemalan and Honduran cuisines. e menu changes seasonally.

e recipe for sopa de res varies from country to country and is based on seasonal availability. Telma’s version, fashioned from short ribs, oxtail, beef neck, squash, carrots, yucca and green beans, is Mia Majano’s personal favorite. Her sister Gabriela prefers her mom’s kak’ik soup. is traditional Mayan spicy red turkey soup hails from Guatemala. Dark turkey meat oats in a rich, tangy broth of re-roasted tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic, and achiote, spiced with Cobanero chiles and herbs.

is writer fell in love with pollo chuco, a Honduran street food consisting of crispy, seasoned fried chicken served over a bed of fried green banana chips (tajadas) and garnished with a cream sauce. All can be washed down with a selection of fruity aguas frescas.

Casa Majanos

Benito’s patrons requested a larger menu and a more spacious dining room. In 2022, the couple secured the neighboring carryout. After several years of renovation, they opened Casa Majanos.

At the new location, Telma’s team created a Tex-Mex menu based on their Mexican neighbors’ recipes and also the traditional fare of DC’s vanishing carryouts. It is probably the only restaurant in the city where one can request mambo wings and sweet tea with the fajitas. Order a combo plate and come with friends, Mia Majano suggested.

Everything at Casa Majanos and Benito’s Place is made from scratch, including the scrumptious moles at Benito’s. “Our chefs,” many of whom have worked with the family for a decade, “put all their heart into their food,” Telma proudly assured. She still supervises both kitchens. “I have to o er my customers quality.”

Casa Majanos and Benito’s Place “were created to share our home food with our neighbors,” Telma professed. Dining in either establishment is a visit to the Majano’s casa.

Casa Majanos is located at 1439 11th St. NW. Benito’s Place is located next door at 1437 11th St. NW. For more information, visit www.BenitosPlaceDC.com. ◆

I G N U P T O D A Y !

Working Out: The Importance Of Strength Training

by Graham King

One of my current clients, Priscilla, is over 80 years old. She started training with me more than 20 years ago to work on overall strength as she prepared for retirement. She led an active life and wanted to continue as she aged. Like most people, she had to work around life’s accumulated injuries and limitations, in her case, shoulder and biceps issues.

We focused on squats, presses and deadlifts. Over time, we adjusted weights and movements as priorities and physicality issues changed, and she eventually got to over 200 pounds.

Recently, she needed to prepare for back surgery, and we kept building her strength with a full range of basic movements, scaled to her level.

Priscilla’s doctor required a stress test to determine if she was fit enough for surgery. She passed with flying colors. The surgeon said her strength meant they didn’t have to worry about whether her body could handle the procedure and the recovery. That’s not a small thing to hear from a doctor. That’s the kind of outcome strength training makes possible ‒ not just looking better but being structurally ready for whatever life puts in front of you.

Two Groups Who Need This Most

I’ve been coaching people in DC for over 26 years. I’ve watched a lot of fitness trends come and go. But if you ask me what actually changes people’s bodies and keeps them moving well for decades, the answer hasn’t changed: strength training.

I don’t mean one specific style. I mean the whole spectrum ‒ bodyweight strength, barbell strength, dumbbell strength. It doesn’t matter which apparatus someone uses. What matters is that they’re consistently building strength against resistance over time. The clients I’ve coached who’ve seen the most transformation and the most longevity are the ones who’ve made strength training a habit. They didn’t seek a “perfect program;” they simply continued strength training, week after week, year after year.

Of those who walk through a gym door, two groups benefit the most from strength training: women of all ages and people over 50.

Here’s why. For many younger men, the weight room is the default. It’s the first place they go. No-

body has to talk them into it. But for many women and for older adults, strength training is something they sometimes get around to, not something they start with. I’ve seen this pattern over and over: when someone doesn’t know what to do in a weight room, they avoid it. Instead, they go running. They do yoga. They hop on a bike. They find something that doesn’t involve a barbell or a bench. I get it. The weight room and the movements can be intimidating. And then there are men wearing Zumbaz pants and tiny tank tops!

I want to be clear ‒ there’s absolutely nothing wrong with running, yoga or cycling. (I am an avid cyclist!) Those modalities have real value and a place in a healthy life. But what they often don’t include is load-bearing exercise. That’s the piece that strength training brings that almost nothing else does as well. Strength training builds a full range of motion. It supports flexibility. It supports your cardiovascular system. And, obviously, it builds muscle, which becomes more important, not less, as we get older.

Five Things You Can Do, Starting Today

This isn’t the New York Times, and I’m not going to give you 20 things to overhaul in your life. Just do these five things and you’ll be in a good place:

A simple twice-a-week program, 20 minutes a session. That’s it to start. It’s not the end-all, be-all, but it’s a real foundation.

• Squats. Stand up out of a chair 30 times in a minute. A basic test and a basic builder of leg strength. Need more of a challenge? Try standing up with only one leg.

• Pushups. Start against your kitchen counter. Aim for 20 pushups in a minute. Need more of a challenge? Aim for 30 pushups in one minute!

• Planks. Hold an elbow plank for up to a minute. Isometric core strength carries over into everything else you do.

• Lunges. Step back, bring your knee as close to the ground as possible. Aim for 10 on each leg.

• Good mornings. Place your hands across your chest. Bend from the waist and stand up. Aim for 20 repetitions. Want more of a challenge? Place your hands behind your head. Cycle through all of these movements for 10-20

minutes. That back-and-forth combination is a great foundation for almost anybody, at almost any age.

Want to Go Further?

Strength training is having a real moment right now across the country, especially in DC. You can see it in the number of places built specifically around it: Urban Athletic Club (www.urbanathletic.club), DC Strength and Nutrition (www.dcstrengthandnutrition.com), Sweat DC (www.sweatdc.com/shawdc-faq/), CutSeven (www.cutseven.com/). Even Orange Theory (https://www.orangetheory.com), a studio built on cardio, is adding strength classes into the mix. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a response to what people are actually seeing in their own bodies and what trainers are seeing in their clients.

If you’re ready for professional coaching, the places I mentioned are all great starting points. Walk in, ask questions and find a coach or a space that feels right for you.

Start with twice a week. Don’t worry about diet and nutrition yet ‒ that comes later. Right now, just worry about the movements. Make one change at a time and let it build.

That’s how you get the body and the years you’re looking for.

Graham King is the owner of Urban Athletic Club. graham@urbanathletic.club u

Trade Contractor Outreach

Howard Hospital

Howard Hospital, and the tri-venture partnership of Gilbane Building, Corenic Construction, and WKM Solutions are seeking trade contractors for employment on the Howard Hospital project being constructed at 2041 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20060.

Project description:

A new 400,000 SF, 225-bed state-of-the-art teaching hospital serving as a Level I Trauma Center. This advanced, modern facility will replace the existing hospital, which will remain fully operational throughout construction to support uninterrupted patient care. The project will deliver a comprehensive academic medical center designed to support cutting-edge clinical care, medical education, and research, establishing a new standard for healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Location: Interdisciplinary

Future Procurement Opportunities:

GMP 4- Core and Shell MEPS anticipated August 2026

Wonder Bread Fit-Out anticipated August 2026

Interior Fit-out Bid Packages anticipated January 2027

Shaw Streets

by Pleasant Mann

Shaw Restaurant and Bar Winners at RAMMY Awards Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington held its 44th RAMMY Gala, the premier award show for the restaurant and hospitality industry in the DMV, on Monday evening, June 29. The sold-out gala was held at the Arena Stage.

Shaw restaurants have traditionally been big winners. In fact, before the event, two Shaw establishments were announced winners of RAMMYs by an online poll. Nationally lauded Service Bar won the award for Bar of the Year, while Unconventional Diner was determined to serve the Best Brunch in the DMV. At the Arena Stage event,

Shaw restaurants won two more RAMMYs. Blagden Alley’s Amazonia won for Best Cocktail Program of the Year. Shaw restaurateurs Ralph Brabham and Drew Porterfield presented the award. Amazonia’s Chad Spangler acknowledged that the cocktail program is business partner Glendon Hartley’s brainchild. Andy’s Pizza grabbed the RAMMY for Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year. In accepting the award, owner and founder Andy Brown noted the people they served coming out of the 9:30 Club in the early mornings.

Shaw Main Streets Holds Open House

People lined up outside Casa Majanos restaurant on Saturday

evening, June 27, to pick up Shawbucks for Shaw Main Streets’ annual Open House. Branded as Dine in Shaw and starting at 5 p.m., this year’s event was a little different, with an emphasis on restaurants and bars that have been closed during past events, which were held on Saturday afternoons. Each $20 Shawbuck provided $20 off any purchase at a participating Shaw restaurant, bar or other business that Saturday night.

There were 31 businesses participating in the Open House: 801 Restaurant and Bar, Amazonia, Beau Thai Shaw,

Benito’s Place, Casa Majanos, Causa, Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant, Dacha Beer Garden, Dolci Gelati Cafe, Eebee’s Corner Bar, Electric Cool-Aid, Grand Cata Shaw, Ivy and Coney, Jake’s Tavern, LA Liquors, Lost & Found, Maxwell Park, Minya’s Pizza, MK Lounge (both Ninth and U street locations), Modern Liquors, Pop Fizz Bar, Prim’s Cafe, Service Bar, Shaw’s Tavern, SOST, Techo Palma, Unconventional Diner, Uproar Lounge & Restaurant, Urban Garden Brewhouse and Wanda’s on 7th Salon & Spa.

G G ROOFING

• Flat Roof Specialists

• Modified Bitumen

• Skylights

• Shingles

• Slate • Chimney Repairs

• Roof Coatings

• Gutters & Downspouts

• Preventive Maintenance

• Metal Roofs

New Restaurants in Shaw

While the operating environment for DC restaurants has not always been favorable over recent years, new entrepreneurs are working to provide quality eating, particularly in Shaw. As a commercial vacancy pops up in the neighborhood, it is often quickly filled by another establishment.

Casa Majanos (1439 11th St. NW), from the proprietors of Benito’s Place, opened in June serving Tex-Mex dishes, including seafood items. Urban Garden Brewhouse (624

T St. NW), the District’s first Black-owned, woman-owned brewery, held its grand opening on Juneteenth. The Grace (1539 Seventh St. NW), by noted restauranteur Sanjay Mandhaiya, opened on July 1. After an extensive renovation of the space previously occupied by the Passenger, The Grace offers customers a sophisticated American gastropub experience. Recently opened Rhode Zaap Thai (1620 Seventh St. NW) serves an extensive menu of Thai street food. u

ANC 2G Upzoning for Affordable Housing

by Pleasant Mann

Representatives from Key Urban came to the ANC to describe client Lincoln Westmoreland Housing’s project at 801 R St. NW, currently known as Heritage at Shaw Station. e plan is to demolish the garden apartment structures on the site and replace them with a new building with 200-230 a ordable apartments. Because of the added density, the project will need a change in zoning, from RA-2 to MU-10.

e project is supported by the current residents, who used the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) to buy the site and pick Key Urban and the development partners. e new building will be 100% a ordable, with 30% of the units having three bedrooms for large families. e developers are also supporting the return of current residents to the building.

e developers have applied for a zoning map amendment to upzone from RA-2 to MU-10. ey have also applied for nancial support from the Department of Housing and Community Development and expect a reply in the fall.

In support of the upzoning, Commissioner Padro wanted the resolution to mention that the project should have a public art installation. He worried that the project would severely impact parking on nearby streets and wanted the resolution to have the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) restrict residents of the new project from getting on-street parking permits. Commissioner Sheena Berry also was concerned about the project’s e ect on neighborhood parking. e developers replied that DDOT and DMV could not enforce such restrictions on residential parking.

A motion was made for the ANC to support the upzoning of the 801 R St. property and that it should include a public art installation. e motion passed unanimously.

Public Safety

ird Police District Lieutenant Stanley Mark Rawls reported that there had been a homicide in the neighborhood on Sunday, June 7. It occurred on the 1300 block of Sixth Street NW. A police patrol was nearby and responded when they heard shots. An investigation of the incident is underway. e previous month had seen an uptick in burglaries, one assault with a deadly weapon and declines in thefts and motor vehicle thefts.

Commissioner Padro noted that there had been a burglary at Shaw’s Tavern. Rawls replied that they had made an arrest in that incident. Padro had also heard that there was a stabbing at Seventh and T streets the previous Friday night. Rawls said that he could not nd it in his list of incidents.

Commissioner Berry said that there had been shootings in the area. She introduced a resident who lived at Eighth and O streets, who characterized the block as having adults and juveniles acting rowdy. He noted that there have been shootings on the block. He wanted to have police there who could manage large crowds. He did say that he appreciated the times that a patrol was stationed on the corner.

Transportation

DDOT has posted a notice of intent (NOI) to install a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal at the crosswalk at Eighth and Rhode Island Avenue. Commissioner Padro characterized using the crosswalk across Rhode Island Avenue as dangerous, even though there is a yield sign. e HAWK signal would stop drivers when pedestrians signal that they are trying to cross the street. He made a motion to support the NOI, which passed unanimously.

Padro stated that a resolution from last month, supporting an NOI for the Seaton Elementary shuttle-bus pick-up, drop-o zone, would have to

be redone. After a discussion with the DDOT ward liaison, DDOT decided it could not follow the resolution since it called for residential-only parking on both sides of the street. He made a new resolution asking for DDOT to reinstall the residential permit signs that had been removed from the north side of the 900 block of P Street and install them in August, and that the east side of the 1500 block of 10th Street be designated as residential permit parking only between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. e resolution passed unanimously.

Padro also brought up an issue that involved the DC Council. A Greater U Street Performance Parking Area has been created, collecting funds from parking to be devoted to improving the area. ere is about $2.75 million in the fund. Councilmembers Allen and Nadeau led a budget amendment to devote most of the funds to a new citywide automated curb management program and a Neighborhood Management Authority, an organization that does not exist yet. Padro said the money should be kept for neighborhood improvement purposes and used by organizations in Shaw. He o ered a resolution asking the council not to pass the amendment into law. A resolution opposing the budget amendment passed unanimously.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G met on May 14. It was called to order by Steven McCarty (2G04, chair). Attending were Howard Garrett (2G01, vice chair), Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02), Sheena Berry (2G05) and Rachelle Nigro (2G06, treasurer).

ANC 2G will hold its next meeting on ursday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc2g.org for more information. ◆

BULLETIN BOARD

Evening Harvest at Oxon Run

On Fridays at The Well at Oxon Run, 300 Valley Ave. SE, through Sept. 11, join DC Greens for open harvesting hours from 4 to 7 p.m. During Evening Harvest, community members are invited to gather fresh produce directly from the fields. Each person may harvest up to five pounds of produce per visit. As long as produce is available for harvest, all are welcome to pick their own. Space is limited and advanced sign-up is required. This event is open to harvesters of all ages. Attendees who are 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult 25 or older. Register at www.dcgreens.org.

“We the Woolly: Remixing 250” At Woolly Mammoth’s home, 641 D St. NW, “We the Woolly: Remixing 250” transforms the theatre into a cultural hub where artists, neighbors, families, activists and audiences envision the future of the nation’s capital and the country itself. This series offers live music, dance, spoken word, circus arts, interdisciplinary performance, community conversations and family-friendly programming. Here’s the lineup: July 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., Line Dancing with DMV City Slickerz and District Daiquiri; July 10 to 12, from 7 to 8 p.m., New York Circus Project; July 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., Native American Dance; July 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., Record Fair with HR Records+Jamal Gray of Mezzanine Records; July 19, from 3 to 5 p.m., Spit Dat Presents: American Spitstory; July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington ‒ Potomac Fever & Pop-Up Market; July 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., Rumpus Room Kids Dance Party; July 25, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Playwriting Workshop, and 5 to 6 p.m., Playwright Slam; July 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., Orquesta Manplesa; and July 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., The Funset at Woolly. All events are free and open to the public. www.woollymammoth.net

DC Open Doors

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages.You are not required to be a first-time homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

DC4ME

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia Visit www.DCHFA.org

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District governmentbased instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/ borrower’s employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME VA Loan Product

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

COVID-19

homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia Visit

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

The DC4ME VA Loan Product is a VA mortgage product offered by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA). In addition to the traditional VA benefits, like no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance, this product includes 3% assistance, funded by DCHFA, that can be used toward eligible closing costs or prepaid items. This makes the DC4ME VA Loan Product one of the most affordable and accessible loan options for qualified militaryconnected borrowers.

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

HomeAdvantage DC

DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

COVID-19

COVID-19

DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

makes homeownership in Washington, D.C. more accessible by offering eligible buyers below-market mortgage financing with flexible assistance options. The program provides qualified homebuyers with a choice of financing structures, including options with and without down payment assistance, to support the purchase of a home in the District of Columbia. Qualified home buyers may be eligible for financing with or without down payment assistance, depending on their needs.

Films at the Stone

Films at the Stone is the first summer film series at a memorial on the National Mall. The films are screened at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and display the best of human strength, love and courage. Here’s the remaining lineup: Friday, July 17, at 8 p.m., “Wicked: for Good”; Friday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m., “Michael.” Come early, pack a picnic and bring blankets or low-profile lawn chairs. Films will be screened on the lawn adjacent to the bookstore at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, 1964 Independence Ave. SW. Guests are encouraged to use public transportation. There is limited and handicapped parking on Ohio Drive and in front of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. www.filmsatthestone.org

Shaw Library Closes for Renovations

DC Public Library has begun renovating the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. The library is expected to reopen in early 2027. Key improvements are brighter spaces with more natural light; updated furniture and modern finishes on all levels; clearer signs and better wayfinding; renovated restrooms and improved study rooms, meeting rooms and seating areas for all ages. The $7.9 million in funding for the interior renovations is made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). For renovation updates, visit www.dclibrary.org/news/shawwatha-t-daniel-library-renovation.

Strong Start Play Group at NW One Library

On the first Tuesday of each month, from 11 a.m. to noon, join NW One Library, 155 L St. NW, to build early literacy and fine motor skills. Sponsored by DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, this program is for children from birth to five.

www.dclibrary.org

Discover Summer at the National Building Museum

On Monday, Aug. 10, from 2 to 5 p.m., sign up to Discover Summer and make memories at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Use your DC Public Library card to gain free access to the museum’s indoor playground. Designed for all ages, the playground encourages motion, exploration and togetherness in an immersive environment where play becomes a shared social and cultural experience. Registration is mandatory.

www.dclibrary.org

Chalk Art Activities and Jazz at SAAM

On Thursday, July 9, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the Kogod Courtyard, celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances. Jazz guitarist, bassist and composer Joshua Bayer will perform a selection of his 1960s post-bop-influenced compositions. Borrow a board game to play during the concert and stop by the Courtyard Cafe to purchase refreshments. The National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and G streets NW, which shares the building with SAAM, is hosting community chalk art activities by Chalk Riot for attendees to enjoy throughout the performance. www.americanart.si.edu

Applications Open for Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival

The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, Friday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, March 7, 2027, showcases multidisciplinary performances that foster community connection, engage artists

EleFest at the Zoo

Celebrate elephants, culture and conservation during EleFest, a three-day festival at the National Zoo leading up to World Elephant Day, Wednesday, Aug. 12. The festival runs Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9, and features afterhours experiences, early morning yoga alongside the elephant herd, live performances, family activities and interactive art. EleFest starts on Friday, Aug. 7, with a 21+ Happy Hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Elephant Community Center and Elephant Outpost ‒$25. Practice yoga with elephants inside the Elephant Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, from 7 to 7:45 a.m. and 8 to 8:45 a.m., each day. Practice yoga alongside the elephant herd in a peaceful setting before the main festival activities begin ‒ $75. Festival activities on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., feature elephant-themed activities, cultural experiences and family-friendly entertainment. www.nationazoo.si.edu

and audiences and celebrate diverse perspectives that reflect our shared humanity. All performing companies and artists are welcome to apply. While artists/companies outside of the DC metro area may apply, preference is given to DC metro area artists and DC-based artists in particular. BIPOC artists and BIPOC-led arts organizations are encouraged to apply. Artists/companies are allotted one performance slot and all works must run either 60 or 75 minutes long. The application deadline is Aug. 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. The application form is at www.form.jotform.com/261546073365156.

Ivy City (Pet)

Adoption Center Opens

Brandywine Valley SPCA has announced the opening of the new Ivy City Adoption Center, 1516 Okie St. NE. Shelter hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11

a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Services are dog and cat adoptions, volunteering, fostering, shelter skip days and behavior assist. www.bvspca.org

The District Running Collective DISTRICT 19 Is Back District 19, on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 a.m., is an unsanctioned road and trail run that will weave through all quadrants of the District. Courses will start and end at the same location and there will be course markers along the way. Choose your distance: 19 miles, 19k and 5k. Established in 2013, District Running Collective is a free, communitybased organization that promotes wellness, culture and community. The goal is to provide all levels of runners with the best resources, community and support along their running journey. www.districtrunningcollective.com

Air and Space Opens

Five New Galleries

The National Air and Space Museum offers five new galleries for the 50th anniversary of the opening of its building on the National Mall and in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The galleries are the Flight and the Arts Center (the museum’s art gallery), “Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air,” “RTX Living in the Space Age,” “US National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe” and “TEXTRON How Things Fly.” The galleries display returning favorites such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Skylab, a North American P-51D Mustang and a Lockheed U-2, as well as artifacts new to the building in Washington. www.airandspace.si.edu

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

Arboretum’s Summer Evening Hours Return

Every weekday through Friday, Aug. 28, the National Arboretum stays open until 8 p.m. e grounds are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. e New York Avenue Gate closes at 2 p.m. e R Street Gate closes at 8 p.m. e arboretum closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Last admittance is at 4:30 p.m. e New York Avenue Gate closes at 4:30 p.m. e R Street Gate closes at 5 p.m. e National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. e Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. Access to restrooms and water after 4:30 p.m. is at Arbor House, the Grove Parking Lot or the Asian Collections Parking Lot. www.usna.usda.gov

Plan a Summer Picnic at the Arboretum

A picnic at the National Arboretum won runnerup for best date activity in the Washington City Paper’s Best of DC competition in 2025. When planning a picnic, make sure you are following the National Arboretum’s guidelines. Picnic only in the National Grove of State Trees picnic area. Barbecues, res and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Playing ball, ying kites, swimming, wading, shing, skating and other sports activities are prohibited. Climbing trees is prohibited. Pets must be leashed at all times and controlled so they do not urinate on, defecate in or enter garden beds. Owners must clean up after pets. Visitors are welcome to

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden’s Summer Hours

e National Gallery of Art has extended hours at its Sculpture Garden. Wednesday through Saturday, through Sept. 5, the Sculpture Garden is open until 8 p.m. Admission is free and a special happy hour menu is available from 5 to 7 p.m., except on Fridays during the Jazz in the Garden concert series. On concert days, the garden closes from 4 to 5 p.m. Gates reopen at 5 p.m. for Jazz in the Garden attendees, and the concert begins at 6 p.m. Visitors attending Sculpture Garden Happy Hour may purchase refreshments from a menu featuring sandwiches, salads, snacks and sweets inside the Pavilion Cafe. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics, but outside alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited and subject to con scation. www.nga.gov

pack their own picnics to enjoy on the grounds or to visit on a Friday evening and grab dinner from a local food truck during Food Truck Fridays.

www.usna.usda.gov

When the Mayor Activates the Heat Emergency Plan

A hyperthermia alert is issued and the Heat Emergency Plan is activated whenever the temperature or heat index reaches 95 degrees. In response to potentially dangerous heat, the District government opens cooling centers throughout the city. If you see someone who needs help, call 311. Recreation centers, DC public libraries and senior wellness centers are places to beat the heat and are open to the public. ese locations provide a cool place to rest and also water and activities.

www.hsema.dc.gov

DDOT Expands Smart Traffic Signal Monitoring

e District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has announced the deployment of the Luminus signal performance platform at more than 1,600 tra c signals across DC. e platform enables DDOT to monitor signal performance, collect operational data and identify locations where signal timing adjustments may improve tra c ow and reliability. For more information, visit www.opendata.dc.gov/datasets/ DCGIS::tra c-signal/explore.

e Mid-City DC Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. Send your notice to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆

CHANGING HANDS

Changing Hands is a list of most residential sales in the Midcity DC area from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

KIDS & FAMILY

Meet the Wheelwomen at American History

Meet a cyclist pursuing life, liberty and happiness in the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women. The half-hour Meet the Wheelwomen is on multiple days and times throughout July at the American History Museum, 1 West. www.americanhistory.si.edu

“Spirit of ’76” Jubilee: America 250 at the Capitol Visitor Center

On July 2 to 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with three days of family-friendly events, interactive experiences and patriotic fun at the US Capitol Visitor Center. Activities include hands-on crafts and storytelling, interactive mapping, historic object encounters, curatorled tours of the special “Spirit of ’76” exhibit and live presentations. Free and open to the public. www.visitthecapitol.gov

It’s Go Kart Time!

The Go Kart Track, 4300 Kenilworth Ave., Bladensburg, Maryland, is open Monday to Friday, 3 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drivers must be at least eight years old and 54 inches tall to drive a single kart by themselves, and must be at least 16 years old to drive a double kart with a passenger. Passengers must be at least three years old and 36 inches to ride in a double kart. www.gokarttrack.com

“We Sing America”: Planet Word Celebrates the 4th of July

The

Smithsonian American Art Museum Arcade

On Saturday, July 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., experience the creative world of gaming at the SAAM Arcade. A daylong celebration of video games as an artistic medium is at the American Art Museum at Eighth and G streets NW. The Indie Showcase highlights games by women in the field of video game development. This is a special opportunity to play games and talk with the designers and coders who created them. Triforce Quartet will perform, and console and classic arcade games will be available all day courtesy of MAGFest. The first 90 minutes are designated quiet hours, with reduced noise to ensure that a portion of the program is sensory-friendly. Headphones will be available to borrow all day. www.americanart.si.edu

July 4, from 1 to 2:30 pm., pack a picnic, grab a blanket and head to Franklin Park, between 13th and 14th and I and K streets NW, for a free, all-ages community sing-along by Planet Word. DC’s own Nolan Williams Jr. will lead the crowd in a celebration of the songs and voices that have shaped America. Emceed by Esther Ciammachilli, WAMU’s “Morning Edition” host, this sing-along features NEWorks “Voices of America.” www.planetwordmuseum.org

Kids’ Summer Movies on the Big Screen

Here’s the lineup: “Young Washington,” July 3 and 4; “The Patriot,” July 4 and 5; “Kung Fu Panda,” July 5 and 12; and “Superman”, July 10, 11 and 12. Kids’ summer movies are at the Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE, one and a half blocks south of Eastern Market Metro station. There is a public parking lot underneath the highway on Eighth Street between I Street and Virginia Avenue SE. All tickets, for everyone, are $8. www.themiracletheatre.com