Mid City DC Magazine – June 2026

What’s on Washingon

American Icon: The US Flag in Art at the NGA

Across generations, the Stars and Stripes has inspired pride, protest and artistic expression. From June 6 to Dec. 6, in the National Gallery of Art East Building, this installation features some 30 artworks from the late 1800s to the present day that trace how the meaning of the US ag has evolved over time. It explores what the ag represents and how people connect with paintings, prints and photographs by artists like Gordon Parks, Childe Hassam, Dorothea Lange, Jasper Johns and Faith Ringgold. www.nga.gov

“In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness” at American History

In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the National Museum of American History has opened “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness,” a sweeping exhibition exploring the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibition features 250 objects from the 1700s to the 21st century and spans three public oors. A free guide will help visitors locate artifacts throughout the museum. The exhibition is complemented by programs through the end of the year, including “Meet the Expert” sessions, hands-on activities, theatrical performances, educational tools and eld trips. www. americanhistory.si.edu

The Second Annual District Fringe Festival

The 2026 festival will take place over three weekends from July 10 to 26, with performances Wednesday to Sunday. It will be at the University of the District of Columbia Music School Recital Hall and the outdoor amphitheater, plus spaces around Van Ness Main Street. For performance schedules, visit www.districtfringe.com. Powered by creativity, accessibility and community, District Fringe is a home for risk-takers, storytellers and art-lovers of every kind.

“Moulin Rouge!

The Musical” at the KC

From June 17 to 28, at the Kennedy Center Opera House, enter a world of splendor and romance, where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. With a book by Tony Award winner John Logan, music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Justin Levine and choreography by Sonya Tayeh, “Moulin Rouge!” is more than a musical, it is a state of mind. Recommended for age 15 and up. Tickets start at $51.75. www.kennedy-center.org

Barbecue Battle on Pennsylvania Avenue

Now in its 34th year, the National Capital BBQ Battle has earned its place as one of the nation’s premier food and music festivals. It has united our community while raising millions for local charities. The 2026 Barbecue Battle, Third to Seventh streets on Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is on June 27, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and June 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $21.20 each day or $31.80 for both days. Kids under 12 are free. www. bbqindc.com

Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers at the Warner

Bill Murray is an American comedian and actor whose deadpan delivery, improvisational instincts and mischief have shaped modern comedy. On stage, Murray favors storytelling, musical collaboration and spontaneous audience play. His 2026 itinerary leans into unpredictability while celebrating decades of comedic invention. Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers is at the Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW, on Saturday, June 20, from 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39. www.warnertheatredc.com

“How Shakespeare Saved My Life” at the Folger

In “How Shakespeare Saved My Life,” Jacob Ming-Trent rescues himself from the “slings and arrows” of his past. Born with a gift for poetry but rejected as un t to play the part of the poet, Ming-Trent invites us to take a deep dive into the crevices of his youth. Calling on the Bard and a host of genius rappers, half-crazed preachers and soulful poets to throw him a lifeline, he takes a propulsive ride that reaf rms the power of language and music. “How Shakespeare Saved My Life” is at the Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE, from June 9 to July 5. Tickets are $20 to $90. www.folger.edu

PRESENTS

DINE IN SHAW

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026 5PM UNTIL ???

For the first time, Shaw Main Streets’ signature event, Shaw Open House, will be held at night and be restricted to restaurants and bars. Pick up a $20 Shawbuck while supplies last and spend it the same as cash at participating restaurants and bars in central Shaw. Valid 06/27/26 only, until each business closes for the night. Dine in and take out orders are eligible. Guests with checks under $20 can receive change back. The balance on checks over $20 can be paid using cash or card.

For Shawbucks pick up location and list of participating bars and restaurants, visit www.shawmainstreets.org and follow @shawmainstreets on Facebook, Instagram and X for updates.

Spotlight: DC Strength & Nutrition

This is a story about a boy, a girl and a sled. e couple, Kylie Fagnano and Bryan Crossley, jointly operate DC Strength & Nutrition located in the upper rear of 1209 Blagden Alley NW. eir boutique gym o ers personal training combined with nutrition counseling.

More about the sled later.

For most, the word “gym” elicits images of large, dark spaces lled with a combination of treadmills, rubber mats, endishly designed Nautilus machines and free weights, peopled with sweaty, grunting overly muscular humans. Many nd gyms to be intimidating, loud, competitive environments.

by Andrew Lightman

DC Strength is the antithesis of this stereotype. e gym consists of one large and a second smaller room. Well-maintained machines and free weight stations are widely spaced in these lightlled spaces. No more than four or ve individuals train at any time, each assisted by a trainer. No one ever queues for equipment.

When I visited, a 60-something woman was training with Crossley. e two of them smiled and laughed as he guided her through several free weight exercises. We chatted about our favorite Indian restaurants. e client enjoyed her strenuous workout, with Crossley o ering gentle advice and emotional support.

e vibe was relaxed. is gym is a comfortable environment where clients and trainers feel at home.

Getting Acquainted

e DC Strength experience begins with an interview with Fagnano. She is a registered dietitian and a certi ed Integrative and Functional Nutrition Practitioner. e latter pairs dietetics with functional medicine to treat the root cause of chronic diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), using nutritional and lifestyle strategies.

Fagnano is truly a social butter y. e rst thing she does is to introduce clients to everyone in the gym. “ at way, the next time they come in, they feel like they know everyone,” she said. Her goal is for “everyone to feel safe and relaxed.”

e mandatory intake interview provides Fagnano with the opportunity to elicit the new client’s goals. Are they having issues with body weight or exibility? Do they want to preserve muscle or add strength? She checks on their medical issues. She may suggest diagnostic medical tests to ascertain a client’s gastrointesti-

nal and gut health. Lastly, she explores their current diet in detail.

“I have to eat my daily treat of M&Ms and yogurt,” one client told her. No problem, Fagnano responded. e key to creating change is to focus on “yes” she explained. e extremes are easy, but good nutrition, she believes, “lives in the gray.” Her goal is to use science to design a unique, sus-

tainable, daily structure for each client. “Most of the time when we do that, the rest nds its own balance,” she said. Once a client’s nutritional needs are determined, the next step is for Fagnano to pair them with a trainer.

At DC Strength, clients work with one of the gym’s three independent trainers. Each brings a di erent orientation. Crossley holds a master’s degree in kinesiology, which is the scienti c study of human movement. Improving and strengthening clients’ normal movements is his passion. With a background in nursing, trainer Karina Tyshchenko focuses on balance, health, inner strength and discipline. Her goal is to help clients “move, grow and fall in love with their bodies.” A former competitive body builder, Denys Mykolenko assists clients looking to gain mass and compete. e trainers customize the workout schedule to t the needs of each client.

DC Strength clients form relationships both with their trainers and each other. ere is a lot of playful chatter and rivalry. Fagnano and Crossley actively foster such bonds, believing their gym is as much a club house as a business.

Boy Meets Girl

Crossley and Fagnano both hail from the same small town in Pennsylvania. While he had moved to the District to pursue a career as a trainer, she operated her private practice in the nutrition space. In 2019, both were home for Christmas. Crossley’s mother set up the two on a blind date. Despite hitting it o with Crossley, Fagnano began planning to move to France in spring of 2020, buying a one-way ticket.

In March 2020, Crossley returned to his hometown to visit Fagnano, equipped with a backpack, dog in tow. e pandemic trapped the two in his parents’ house. Six months later, they returned to DC to settle in a small rowhouse.

Now, about that sled.

The Jazz Project Jazz Is

the Sound of Becoming

by Jean-Keith Fagon

Jazz does not need to be introduced as a museum piece, a lesson in history, or a tradition that must be learned before it can be felt. Jazz is already inside the music we all live with every day. It is in the beat switch, the sample, the remix, the improvisation, the unexpected chord, the looseness, the attitude, the search for a sound that refuses to stay in one lane.

at is how I want my jazz reviews to speak; not as lectures about the past, but as invitations into a living culture.

The Sled

e pandemic closed the tness industry entirely. To deal with his frustration, Crossley borrowed some tness equipment from a friend, setting it up outdoors in a vacant lot next to his home. Among the items was an exercise sled and a squat rack he stored folded up in the kitchen.

One day, Crossley was pulling the sled, when a neighbor asked if he could join the workout. e 500 square-foot vacant lot quickly morphed into an outdoor gym, which he named DC Strength Training. For the next three and half years, he led daily workouts no matter what the weather: pouring rain, heat, snow or freezing temperatures. In the meantime, Fagnano continued her nutrition business out of their apartment.

In 2023, the gym moved to Blagden Alley. In 2024, Crossley and Fagnano got married. In 2025, they combined their businesses.

For Crossley, DC Strength & Nutrition is the gym he always dreamed of training at. “Coming into work and being happy is everything,” he said.

For more information on DC Strength & Nutrition, visit www.dcstrengthandnutrition.com. ◆

Kevin Peter Jones’s new single, “Valdez in the Country,” recorded live at Blues Alley, is a perfect example. e song honors Donny Hathaway, but it does not simply look backward. It moves. It breathes. It carries soul, Latin rhythm, funk, gospel feeling, and jazz improvisation in one body. With Randy Brecker, Je Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Lenny Castro, Cheikh Ndoye, and Dean Brown, the performance becomes more than a cover. It becomes a conversation.

at is what I hope we can all understand: music as conversation.

You might have grown up with playlists instead of categories, streaming instead of record bins, and sounds from everywhere arriving at once. But Hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeat, dancehall, electronic music, gospel, trap, soul, pop, and lm scores all live side by side.

Genre is not a wall. It is a toolkit. Jazz ts naturally into that world because jazz has always been modular. You can take a rhythm, a phrase, a chord, a mood, a horn line, a drum pattern, and build something new from it.

Jazz is not only what happened in clubs decades ago. Jazz is what happens when musicians listen hard, respond in real time, and make risk sound beautiful.

at is why a live recording from Blues Alley still matters. It captures the human moment before it becomes edited, polished, or attened. It lets listeners hear musicians making decisions together. e drums push, the saxophone opens space, the trumpet cuts through, the keyboard colors the scene, and the band reshapes Donny Hathaway’s spirit without trapping him in the past.

Jazz becomes powerful when it is presented as something that exists without always naming it jazz: improvisation, collaboration, sampling, emotional honesty, rhythmic freedom, cultural memory, and personal reinvention.

My jazz reviews will look for that living energy. ey will not ask listeners to admire jazz from a distance. ey will show jazz as a culture they can enter, sample, remix, reinterpret, and make their own.

Jazz is not history standing still. Jazz is the sound of becoming. ◆

Spotlight: Long View Gallery

The word ‘Huge’ is the best descriptor of Shaw’s storied Long View Gallery, located at 1234 Ninth St. NW, across from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. e exposed high ceilings, concrete oors and white walls formerly housed an auto showroom and a vending machine warehouse. ey now frame the 8,500 square-foot gallery space.

Long View is the largest contemporary gallery in the city. It is also a premiere event space, able to accommodate 550 standing or 350 seated.

Founded 20 years ago in a 1,000 square-foot space at 1302 9th St. NW, the gallery moved to its current location in 2009, in half its space. 2012 saw the gallery grow to its current proportions. e gallery possesses six walls in the lower, front room and eight in the upper room. Glass and metal garage doors at the front and rear roll up, further enhancing the expansive, column-free, art lled space.

by Andrew Lightman

hosts weddings, professional mixers, galas, professional socials, corporate events and large parties. Possessing both a liquor license and sound system, it may be rented as a performance space for live music, popups, dancing or other performing arts.

e walls in the front area, facing Ninth Street NW, host the current show, while those in the rear, facing Blagden Alley, are reserved for the work of long-time members of the gallery’s stable of local, regional and national artists. e gallery changes its exhibitions quarterly, as well as hosting themed community events thrice a year. Art lovers are admitted to both by appointment.

“ e gallery is an iconic hipster space,” said Long View owner and Venue Director Vicky eodorou.

Long View is a premier event space. e gallery

e gallery’s sister company, Heirloom Catering & Event Design, a top- ight event design and chefdriven catering company, supports its operations.

A Family Heirloom

In addition to her role at Long View, eodorou is Heirloom Catering & Event Design’s founder and principal, hailing from a storied entrepreneurial family. Her parents are Cypriot Greeks who emigrated to the United States, eeing their country’s con ict

in 1975. Out of a carryout, the eodorou family created Delia’s Alexandria, an iconic traditional Greek restaurant.

One of eodorou’s earliest memories is calling out ticket numbers and writing up orders in her family’s rst establishment. She grew up working in the business. “My friends loved visiting the restaurant and assembling their own pizzas,” she recalled fondly. After college, she returned to Delia’s to take over marketing. She built up the restaurant’s catering operations. In 2015, striking out on her own, she founded Heirloom.

Heirloom is more than a caterer. e company designs, develops and styles events. From the conception of the theme, to the styling of the invitations, lighting, place cards, table settings and décor, Heirloom does it all. en, of course, there is the food. From business lunches to full-on galas, Heirloom selects the freshest local ingredients to create one-of-kind, chef-driven menus. e company was featured on Housewives of the Potomac.

In the course of building her new business, eodorou befriended William Waybourn, the founder of Long View Gallery. Heirloom became one of the space’s go-to caterers. In 2021, eodorou became Long View’s event broker. She purchased the gallery in 2023, becoming its venue and gallery director.

P’art gallery. P’art event space. All art.

eodorou hired her long-time friend Elizabeth Carberry as the gallery’s art director. With an art

history degree and deep experience in the DC art scene, as well having worked at Heirloom, Carberry curates the gallery’s exhibitions, which have featured artists such as Kyle Talbott, Nathan Brown, Chris Zidek, Ed Trask, Susan Goldman, Michelle Peterson-Albandoz, Zachary Oxman, Colin Winterbottom, Michael Crossett and Frank Campion, among others.

Long View also o ers art placement consulting services to corporate, mixed-use, retail and public realm clients. Custom art framing is also available.

Long View Gallery is located at 1234 Ninth St. NW. For more information on the gallery and its exhibitions, visit www.longviewgallerydc.com. For more information about Heirloom Catering & Event Design, go to www. heirloomdc.com. ◆

A Two-Way Primary Race for Attorney General

J.P. Szymkowicz Challenges Incumbent AG Brian Schwalb

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Incumbent DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb (D) and challenger in the Democratic primary election J.P. Szymkowicz o er sharply di erent visions for the future of the O ce of the Attorney General (OAG). They articulated their distinctions over issues of crime, juvenile justice, housing enforcement, immigration, consumer protection and home rule at their only joint appearance to date at a forum hosted by DC Fair Elections on April 19. Schwalb defended his record, while Szymkowicz repeatedly argued the OAG should focus more attention on public safety and accountability.

The Candidates

Elected in 2022, Brian Schwalb (www.brianfordc. com) is a former federal prosecutor and partner at the law rm Venable LLP. A third-generation Washingtonian, he previously worked as a trial attorney at the US Department of Justice and later served as managing partner of Venable’s DC o ce. Schwalb oversees the OAG, which handles juvenile prosecutions, civil litigation, consumer protection enforcement and legal defense of DC agencies.

J.P. Szymkowicz (www.jp4dc.com), a fthgeneration Washingtonian, son of a social worker and an attorney, began his legal career at the Prince George’s County State Attorney O ce juvenile division. He has practiced law privately in the District for the past three decades. Szymkowicz is a fourterm ANC commissioner representing the Foxhall neighborhood in Ward 3.

The Issues

Seeking reelection, Schwalb touts his record on consumer protection lawsuits, tenant enforcement and litigation against the Trump administration and major corporations, as well as lawsuits targeting wage theft, opioid manufacturers and environmental polluters. He is best known for his lawsuits against major landlords alleging illegal rent-setting practices.

Schwalb has attempted to hold social media companies accountable for youth mental health harms and has challenged the Trump administration’s immigration policy and federal takeover of the police force. “I’ve taken on corporations like Amazon and TikTok and Meta and Google and Live Nation and StubHub, massive multinational companies that put pro ts over the people of the District of Columbia,” Schwalb said in his closing state ment at the Fair Election debate.

“For the past three and a half years, I’ve had the honor to serve as DC’s independent elected attorney general,” Schwalb said, “ ghting every day to make DC a safer, fairer, stronger place for people to live.”

Szymkowicz often speaks at length about his personal experiences with violent crime, citing the murder of a cousin and a fatal pedestrian crash in his ANC area. ese events have shaped his views on prosecution and accountability. He also highlighted his past legal work involving FedEx Field and representing Russian businessman Alexander Konanykhin in a high-pro le asylum case.

“I have to ght for every second that I’m here for my family, for my wife, for my mom and dad,” Szymkowicz said. “And that’s why I’m running in this race.”

The Issues

Szymkowicz is a critic of current juvenile justice policies. Prosecutors, he argues, should pursue all prosecutable juvenile o enses in order to provide the maximum access to resources for the convicted child. “If there’s no nding of involvement, you can’t do that,” Szymkowicz said at the debate. “You have to have convictions before you can help these kids.”

Schwalb disagreed. Warning against misunderstanding the law involving juvenile justice, he argued for the proper exercise of prosecutorial discretion. “Prosecuting every child that commits a crime is not only not what the law requires, but not what we want in a juvenile prosecutor,” Schwalb said.

Arguing over the OAG’s role in broader city governance, Szymkowicz repeatedly tied crime trends to police sta ng shortages. He also criticized the OAG’s handling of nuisance properties and juvenile prosecution. Schwalb retorted that Szymkowicz was con ating the responsibilities of the attorney general, the mayor and the DC Council.

One of the sharpest exchanges came during a discussion of nuisance properties. Schwalb argued that Szymkowicz misunderstood the legal thresh-

old required under DC nuisance laws to le complaints. “As attorney general, you don’t get to just make up the rules as you go,” Schwalb said.

Still, the candidates occasionally found common ground. DC should control adult criminal prosecutions instead of relying on the federally appointed US Attorney for DC, both stated. ey criticized congressional authority over District affairs. e District, Szymkowicz argued, remains in a “crime crisis.” Congressional resistance to expanding home rule is largely tied to its dismal perceptions of public safety in DC. “We should have a police department that’s fully funded and fully sta ed,” he said.

Schwalb agreed about the need to expand local control over prosecution. “We are the only jurisdiction in the country where local crime is not prosecuted by a local prosecutor who is accountable to the people,” he said. However, Congress controls the issue, he pointed out.

e OAG, Schwalb says, is more than a criminal prosecutor. e o ce plays a central role in maintaining housing a ordability, enforcing labor protections, protecting immigrants and defending DC Home Rule.

The Future

e Fair Elections debate may be the candidates’ only joint appearance. A Hill Rag panel with the two candidates was cancelled due to con icts in Schwalb’s schedule. At a Hill Rag Ward 6 Primary Election Candidates Forum, Szymkowicz spoke for ve minutes, criticizing the incumbent’s absence. “He didn’t come to the debate today, which is really frustrating,” Szymkowicz told attendees at the Ward 6 event. “ at should tell you something.”

Schwalb countered in an email to the Hill Rag, “For anybody to suggest that I do not care deeply about this race requires turning a blind eye toward my record as a candidate for reelection and the work I’ve continued to do every day as attorney general while running for reelection.” Declaring that “an extended series of debates is not the best use of time” for either an incumbent AG or the voters, he said he will focus on direct voter engagement through meet-and-greets and door-knocking.

Voters now have the opportunity to choose between Szymkowicz and Schwalb. DC Board of Elections has mailed every registered voter a ballot. Drop boxes are open until 8 p.m. the day of DC’s primary elections, June 16.

Read the full Hill Rag Election Guide: https:// www.hillrag.com/2026/05/16/the-hill-rag-electionguide/. ◆

ELECTION GUIDE The

On June 16, 2026, the District of Columbia will hold both Democratic Primaries and a Special Election. Here is a Guide to assist voters in making an informed choice. e entire Guide can be found here:

Voting Ranked Choice

You can go online and rank your favorite ice cream avors with the DC Board of Elections. (Choose from ten candidates, Rocky Road and Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip and Co ee or Pralines & Cream (app.rankedvote.co/dcboe/ice-cream/ vote/embedrv/) e exercise isn’t a joke, or a game for kids. It is serious political training. Once you vote, you can watch the Ranked Choice Voting... ◆

2026 D.C. Primary Election: JUNE 16th

Ranked Choice Voting

• Ranked Choice Voting will be introduced for the first time in D.C. in 2026

• Step 1: Vote for your favorite candidate 1st

• Step 2: Rank your backup choices (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th). Only rank candidates you support!

• Step 3: Your vote stays with your 1st choice. If they lose (come in last place), then your vote moves to your next choice.

• This process repeats until one candidate wins over 50% of the vote

• Try not to skip any rankings. But you are not required to rank everyone.

When you’re done filling out your ballot, it should look like this: each choice is in a different column and a different row.

HOW TO VOTE

1) VOTE AT HOME

• Review your candidate choices at Vote411.org

2026D.C.Primary Election: June16th

• Fill out your ballot and sign the envelope

• Submit it in a secure drop box, a US mailbox, or at a voting center (any time between 11am on May 22 until 8pm on Election Day - June 16 )

RankedChoiceVoting

(2) VOTE EARLY (6/8 - 6/14)

HOWTOVOTE

(1)Voteathome

Reviewyourcandidatechoicesat vote411.org

Filloutyourballotandsigntheenvelope

• Review your candidate choices at Vote411.org

• Where? When? Vote411.org has all the information you need!

RankedChoiceVoting willbeintroducedforthefirsttimeinD.C. in2026 Step1: Voteforyourfavoritecandidate 1st Step2: Rankyourbackupchoices(2,3,4,5).Onlyrank candidatesyousupport! ndrdthth Step3: Yourvotestayswithyour1choice. Iftheylose(comein lastplace),thenyourvotemovestoyournextchoice. st Thisprocessrepeatsuntilonecandidatewins over50% ofthevote Trynottoskipanyrankings.Butyouare not requiredtorank everyone.

(3) VOTE IN-PERSON ON ELECTION DAY (6/16)

• Review your candidate choices at Vote411.org

Whenyou’redonefillingoutyourballot,it shouldlooklikethis:eachchoiceisina differentcolumnandadifferentrow.

• Where? When? Vote411.org has all the information you need!

Submititinasecuredropbox,aUSmailbox,oratavoting center(anytimebetween 11amonMay22 until 8pmon ElectionDay -June16) nd th

(2)VoteEARLY(6/8-6/14)

Reviewyourcandidatechoicesat vote411.org

Where?When? Vote411 hasalltheinformationyouneed!

(3)Votein-persononElectionDay(6/16)

Reviewyourcandidatechoicesat vote411.org

Where?When? Vote411 hasalltheinformationyouneed!

WhyVOTE411?

VOTE411istheLeagueofWomenVoters’ nonpartisan“one-stop-shop”forallthe election-relatedinformationyouneed Seewhat’sonyourballot,registertovote,or checkyourregistrationat vote411.org

All 18+ year old D.C. citizens are eligible to vote in this election. D.C. resident non-citizens can vote for local (municipal) officials. D.C. residents who are in jail or prison or have returned are allowed and encouraged to register and vote.

All18+yearoldD.C.citizensareeligibletovoteinthis election.D.C.residentnoncitizenscanvoteforlocal (municipal)officials.D.C.residentswhoareinjailorprison orhavereturnedareallowedandencouragedtoregisterand vote.

VOTE411’sD.C.VoterGuideprovides informationonthecandidatesrunningfor everyofficeandwheretheystandonkey issues,whichisespeciallyimportantinthis election,asvoterswillberankingcandidates on theballotaccordingtotheirpreference

Why VOTE 411?

Tolearnmoreabout RankedChoiceVoting, scantheQRcode:

www.VOTE411.org

www.lwvdc.org

VOTE411.org is the League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan “one-stop-shop” for all the election-related information you need See what’s on your ballot, register to vote, or check your registration at vote411.org. VOTE411’s D.C. Voter Guide provides information on the candidates running for every office and where they stand on key issues, which is especially important in this election, as voters will be ranking candidates on the ballot according to their preference.

A New Way to Vote Ranked Choice Voting – Here’s What to Know

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

You can go online and rank your favorite ice cream flavors with the DC Board of Elections. (Choose from ten candidates, Rocky Road and Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip and Coffee or Pralines & Cream (app. rankedvote.co/dcboe/ice-cream/vote/embedrv/)

The exercise isn’t a joke, or a game for kids. It is serious political training. Once you vote, you can watch the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) process as it unfolds, as the system counts through rounds of votes and, like candidates in the June Primary Election, choices are eliminated.

The ranked voting app helps voters try a process that will soon be real: ranking candidates instead of picking just one. The flavorful lesson offers a preview of what voters will encounter this June, when RCV debuts.

Beginning with the 2026 election cycle, Washington, DC, will use RCV in primary and general elections with three or more candidates. The system was approved through Initiative 83 in 2024 with about 72 percent of the vote.

The District will try it out for the first time as we elect candidates for mayor, US State Representatives, US Senator, DC Councilmembers, DC Council Chair, DC Attorney General and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner.

A New

Ballot

Voters will rank their candidates by coloring in a circle next to a candidate’s name under the ranking spot, from 1 to 5. You do not have to rank candidates; if you want to, you can select one candidate as your first choice and leave it at that.

If your first choice candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, that candidate wins. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those ballots are redistributed to voters’ next choices. The process repeats until someone reaches a majority.

The system addresses a familiar feature of DC elections: crowded primaries, especially in at-large races, where candidates can win with relatively small shares of the vote. In recent cycles, winners have sometimes prevailed with less than one-third of ballots cast. RCV requires that winners have broader support, even if it takes multiple rounds for

the winner to get there.

RCV does not change who can participate in party primaries. Only registered Democrats can vote in Democratic primaries and registered Republicans in Republican primaries. Initiative 83 proposed allowing independent voters to participate in primaries, but DC Council did not fund that portion of the law.

In general elections, for the at-large Council races where two winners are elected, each ballot counts as one vote for the highest-ranked candidate. If more than two candidates remain, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated and those ballots transfer to the next-ranked active candidate. The process continues until two candidates remain. They are then declared the winners.

Adjustments

Election officials say they expect a learning curve. Voters may want to allow more time at the polls. Ranking candidates takes more time than selecting a single preferred winner. It may also take longer for election officials to provide results, since votes are counted in rounds and mail-in ballots are valid if received up to ten days after election day.

The DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) has launched outreach across the city, including frequent information sessions. In March alone, officials scheduled events on most days of the month, both in person and online. Find one at dcboe.org/events Community groups are also engaged. For instance, the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) has been hosting sessions at their monthly meetings, held at Martha’s Table on Elvans Road, including one at 11:30 a.m. April 28.

But public awareness may still be uneven. A poll commissioned by Opportunity DC found 43 percent of District voters were unaware ranked-choice voting is coming and that roughly two-thirds of Black voters had not heard about the change.

Supporters say that may not reflect a lack of understanding. Phil Pannell, executive director of ACC and a supporter of Initiative 83, said many voters understood the concept when they approved it.

“Given that Initiative 83 passed with 72 percent of the vote, it begs the question as to whether such a landslide approval meant that a number of them

did not know what they were voting for,” Pannell said. He added that voters may not know the technical details but said they generally understand that candidates must win majority support and voters can rank their choices.

Exhaustion and Spoiling

One of the most important features of rankedchoice voting is what happens when voters do not rank beyond their first choice.

A 2024 FairVote analysis found that in comparable elections, a meaningful share of voters do not use all available rankings. The report found under voting is more common among less frequent voters, but also that clear ballot design and outreach can reduce inactive ballots.

In practice, voters who rank multiple candidates are more likely to have their ballots count in final rounds.

Ranked-choice voting also introduces new ways to mark a ballot incorrectly. A ballot can be spoiled if a voter ranks more than one candidate in the same column–for example, marking two candidates as a first choice. Ranking the same candidate multiple times or marking unclearly can also create issues. In the DC context, you can see if your ballot is spoiled: no dots should be marked on either a horizontal or vertical line.

Election officials advise ranking candidates in order, one per column, without duplication. Voters who make a mistake in person can request a new ballot. But mail voters should take extra care, since errors may not be correctable once submitted.

Effect on the Race

For candidates, the change affects strategy. Under the previous system, candidates in crowded fields could win by mobilizing a narrow base. Rankedchoice voting makes that less reliable. Candidates must appeal more broadly–not just for first-choice votes, but for second- and third-choice rankings.

Early on, pundits thought this could influence tone. Direct attacks on opponents carry risks if those opponents’ supporters become a source of later-round support. Campaigns may emphasize broader appeal and shared priorities.

Several 2026 races will test the system, especial-

ly where multiple candidates have overlapping constituencies, such as in the race for US Representative. Under the old system, a candidate could win with a small share of the vote. Under RCV, a candidate who builds broad second- and thirdchoice support could overtake an early front-runner.

Ward and at-large Council races may be even more affected. In an at-large race with four or five candidates, a candidate with concentrated support in one area but limited appeal elsewhere may struggle to gain redistributed votes. A candidate with more consistent support across neighborhoods could gain ground as others are eliminated.

It remains to be seen how this plays out. A candidate apparently leading on election night may not win as outcomes may depend on how voters rank candidates beyond their first choice.

Strategy for Voters

RCV gives voters more options, but also requires more consideration. Voters can choose only one preferred candidate, marking them as first choice and leaving it at that. But doing so means their ballot may not count in later rounds. Ranking additional candidates –up to five –keeps the ballot active longer if your first few choices do not accumulate majority support. Voters can rank up to five candidates.

There is no penalty for ranking multiple candidates. A voter’s first choice is always counted first, and lower-ranked choices are only considered if higher-ranked candidates are eliminated.

If a voter’s top choice is eliminated, their vote transfers to their next choice. If no additional choices are ranked, the ballot stops counting in later rounds. For candidates, winning now requires building support across rounds to reach a majority. For DC the June primary will be the first real test of how that plays out. Learn more: dcboe.org/rcv u

Trade Contractor Outreach

Howard Hospital

Please join Howard Hospital, and the tri-venture partnership of Gilbane Building, Corenic Construction and WKM Solutions on Wednesday, June 10, for a trade contractor outreach event regarding the Howard Hospital project that is being constructed at 2041 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20060.

Why attend:

• Gain knowledge on the project details and schedule

• Learn about bid opportunities across 15+ scopes of work

• Connect with project partners and procurement teams

• Get guidance on how to submit your interest and qualifications

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026

9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Who should attend?

• Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) firms

• Local contractors and suppliers

• Community-based businesses

• Trade professionals across all scopes

I’m Rini Sampath and I’m running for Mayor because DC government has failed us.

I’m an outside candidate who has spent my career fixing broken government systems. DC needs someone new. Don’t give a promotion to the same political insiders who broke the DC government.

As Mayor of DC, my priority will be to make sure our city lives up to its basic commitments to our residents. Fill the potholes and repair the broken sidewalks. Build more homes and protect our renters. Lower prices. Improve 911 wait times.

Shaw Streets

by Pleasant Mann

Urban Garden Brewing Opens

Urban Garden Brewing, 624 T St. NW, held a soft opening on Saturday, May 23, for family and friends. The opening of the woman-owned, minority-owned brewery has been widely anticipated. At the opening, founder and CEO Imani Collier explained that her journey to this point started in 2021, and that now she has her own brew in her own establishment. She introduced the chef, who said that the brewery was “bringing Chocolate City back!” Partner Renaud Scott closed by giving a poetic toast to the brewery’s opening. Urban Garden Brewing will hold a formal grand opening on Juneteenth, Friday June 19.

Plans for Watha T. Daniel Library Revealed

The Watha T. Daniel Library held an open house on Wednesday, June 13,

for the Shaw community to view renovation plans. On the first floor, the service desk will be turned around to face the library entrance to improve safety. The entire first floor will be redone and devoted exclusively to children’s services. The second floor, with teen and adult services, will be reconfigured to increase areas for collaboration. The floor will also see a reduction in the height of bookshelves and the replacement of translucent panels with clear glass to improve the amount of natural light. The library will see a new HVAC system and measures to improve energy efficiency. All restrooms will be completely renovated. The library closed May 18 to start renovations, which should be completed by the early winter of 2027.

The start of renovations at the Watha T. Daniel library brings up an issue. A mural painted by Washington artist Byron Peck, illustrating landmarks and personalities in Shaw

history, was created to be installed in the library. However, installation was delayed when DC Public Library announced plans to renovate Watha T. Daniel but never got around to it. Now there is a community movement to ensure that the mural is installed during renovations. Shaw’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G recently passed a resolution calling for installation of the mural in the library. A Change. org petition can be signed to support installation, www.change.org/p/ install-byron-peck-s-shaw-historymural-at-shaw-library/.

Theresa Dubois Retires from Events DC

A retirement party for Theresa Dubois at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on May 27 celebrated her 42 years of work at Events DC. Exiting as the external affairs manager for Events DC, Dubois served for a number of years as the director of community engagement for the organization. She helped the neighborhood navigate the construction of the Washington Convention Center in the middle of

Shaw, along with dealing with the traffic and congestion issues associated with the center’s major events, such as presidential inaugurations and conferences of world leaders.

Entitled “Struttin’ the Runway to Retirement,” the event started with remarks from Events DC president Angie Gates. This was followed by a video capturing DuBois’ career path leading Events DC’s engagement in the city’s eight wards. Following a fashion show featuring designs created by her couturier, whom she has worked with for most of her career, Dubois expressed appreciation for the Events DC organization and the many team members she worked with.

Shaw Open House/Dine in Shaw, June 27

This year’s Shaw Main Streets Shaw Open House/Dine in Shaw, traditionally a free event highlighting neighborhood businesses, will take a new format on Saturday, June 27, with the debut of Dine in Shaw. Starting at 5 p.m., each of the first 250 guests at the Welcome Center will receive a $20 Shawbucks cou-

pon, valid at participating restaurants and bars until closing time. A total of $5,000 will be available. e $20 can be spent on dine-in or carryout orders on the day of the event only. Total tab less or more than $20? Get change back or pay the di erence with cash or card. For more information on Shaw Open House/Dine in Shaw, visit www. shawmainstreets.org.

Shaw Park gets a Restroom

One of the items on the desired list of improvements to the Shaw neighborhood for a number of years was the installation of a public restroom at Shaw Recreation Center, 11th and Q streets NW. e volume of users and activity at the Shaw Skatepark and Shaw Dog Park called for public facilities. Now, Shaw Recreation Center has a rone, one of the new public restrooms that the District has been installing around the city. e rone is free (unlike European public restrooms) and can be accessed by scanning a QR code, sending an SMS message, using the rone app or a special entry card for those without phones. e restroom is ADA compliant, with a ramp for entry and provisions for the visually impaired. ere is a 10-minute limit to use of the rone, which is monitored for cleanliness and safety. ◆

ANC 2G Harm Reduction Vending Machine Opposed

by Pleasant Mann

Agreat portion of the May ANC 2G meeting was taken up by in a discussion of a public vending machine owned by Honoring Individual Power & Strength (HIPS), a nonpro t organization providing harm reduction services to drug users and sex workers. e machine, located next to Bread for the City headquarters on Seventh Street, is supposed to provide free hygienic and harm reduction items. Some neighbors have characterized the machine as a nuisance because of an increased number of hypodermic needles discarded nearby.

e vending machine rst came up during Q&A with a representative of Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s o ce. A resident wanted to know Councilmember Pinto’s position on the HIPS vending machine. He said that the machine, which he said has dispensed syringes and crack pipes, has attracted people who have overdosed in the neighborhood and led to needles being left on the sidewalk and community garden on Marion Street, where children play. e representative said that she would contact the councilmember for her position.

Commissioner Nicole Shea found that HIPS had applied for a public space permit for the machine, even though the application should have been submitted before the machine was installed in April 2024. She also noted that Bread for the City has also o ered harm reduction services for more than 30 years without creating negative impacts on the community. e hearing on the vending machine public space application is scheduled for June 23.

Shea proposed a motion to oppose the issuance of a public space permit for the HIPS vending machine. But rst, she read a message from the developers of a mixed-use project on the block, which said that they would not be able to proceed if the HIPS vending machine remained where it is. Commissioner Howard Garrett, who was chairing the meeting, said that he was inclined to table consideration of the issue until he could talk with HIPS and other community leaders about the matter. Commissioner Nigro said that the ANC could not table the matter because comments were due to the Public Space Committee on June 8. If so, Garrett replied, he might vote to support the HIPS permit. is led a long list

of residents to describe the negative impact that the vending machine has had on their neighborhood.

Shea made a motion to oppose the public space permit for the HIPS vending machine. e motion passed unanimously. Nigro followed with another motion to ask the Department of Buildings to remove the HIPS vending machine since it does not currently have a public space permit. e motion also passed unanimously.

Transportation

Commissioner Alexander Padro brought up a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), to establish a Pick Up, Drop O Zone (PUDO) on the north side of the 900 block of P Street. e PUDO zone was needed so that students from Seaton Elementary School could catch shuttle buses to the building serving as swing space for the school while Seaton was being renovated. However, nearby residents are concerned about the loss of parking. Padro suggested that this could be compensated by designating all parking on the east side of 10th Street “for residents only.” Padro made a motion to approve the NOI, with the provision that DDOT designate the east side of 10th Street for residents only, except for school pick up and drop o periods. e motion passed unanimously.

Wine bar Maxwell Park (1336 Ninth Street NW) wants to set up a new streatery on O Street to replace a pandemic version. Commissioner Nigro read an email message that said that the streatery should not be supported since the previous streatery never had patrons seated there and was largely used for storage. e owner commented that he would not go through the e ort and cost of building a new streatery to use it for storage. He also mentioned that the message came from his landlord, with whom he has a legal dispute. Nigro made a motion to support Maxwell Park’s streatery, which passed unanimously. Tallboy (1239 Ninth Street NW) also applied for a new streatery. Commissioner Sheena Berry introduced a message from a constituent that argued against supporting the streatery, saying that there have been problems recently with loitering, noise and even violence on its outdoor patio. Commissioner Berry made a motion not to support the

Tallboy streatery application. e motion passed unanimously.

Other Resolutions

Commissioner Nigro reported that the District’s Department of General Services had to modify their plans for a Central Cellblock at 501 New York Avenue NW, due to the fact that the sidewalks there were not ADA compliant. She made a motion for the commission to oppose the issuance of a public space permit for the new plans. e motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Padro asked the ANC pass a resolution to install a history-based mural in the Watha T. Daniel Library, now that it was undergoing substantial renovations. He explained that in 2014, the Friends of the Watha T. Library obtained a Commission on the Arts and Humanities grant to create a mural for the library, recounting the history of the Shaw neighborhood. e Friends commissioned noted muralist Byron Peck, whose work includes a mural of Duke Ellington on U Street and in the Gallery Place Metro Station, to do the mural for the library. When the mural was completed, plans to renovate Watha T. Daniel, which stretched over a number of years, delayed its installation. Padro said that now that the library was being renovated, this would be the perfect time to install the mural. He made a motion for the commission to urge Mayor Bowser and DC Librarian Reyes-Gavilan to make sure that the Peck mural is installed in Watha T. Daniel at the completion of its renovation. e motion passed unanimously.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G met on May 14, 2026. It was called to order by Howard Garrett (2G01, Vice Chair). Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02), Nicole Shea (2G03, Secretary), Sheena Berry (AG05) and Rachelle Nigro (2G06, Treasurer) were in attendance.

ANC 2G will hold its next meeting on ursday, June 11, 2026. e meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www. anc2g.org for more information. ◆

BULLETIN BOARD

Inaugural Mother’s Day Diaper Drive Successful

The New Samaritan Baptist Church, 1100 Florida Ave. NE, and Capital Community News (Hill Rag, Mid-City DC and East of the River) would like to thank everyone who contributed their time, talent, hard work and encouragement making the Saturday-before-Mother’s-Day Inaugural Mother’s Day Diaper Drive a great success. The diapers, pullups and wipes collected were sent to the Greater DC Diaper Bank, 8860 Monard Dr., in Silver Spring. As the largest diaper bank in the DC region and one of the largest nationwide, the Greater DC Diaper Bank enables babies and families to receive diapers, formula, baby food, period products and other hygiene essentials through distribution partners across DC, Maryland and Virginia. Since its founding in 2010, it has distributed over 50 million diapers. The recipient of the tax-deductible donations of diapers, pullups and wipes, the Greater DC Diaper Bank delivers diapers to over 40,000 vulnerable families in the metro area per year through a network of 80+ social service partners. www.greaterdcdiaperbank.org

Craft Pride Buttons and Pride

Clothing

Swap at MLK Library

On Saturdays and Sundays in June, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., drop in and create a button for pride at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. Also on June 20, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., adults can enjoy a pride clothing swap. Trade gently used Pride (or everyday) outfits for something fresh.

www.dclibrary.org

Bargain Basement Books & Shop at MLK Library

On Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., shop the Friends’ used book sale located on the A-Level of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. Library merch will also be available for purchase. Cash, credit and Venmo accepted. Proceeds support the library and its staff in programs, supplies and more. The Friends are accepting up to two bags of donated books per person. Please no textbooks, law books, books with missing dust jackets or books with writing or damage.

www.dclibrary.org

Tech Tuesdays at NW One Library

Every Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m., Northwest One Library, 155 L St. NW, helps seniors/adults learn how to use laptops, cellphones, tablets/iPad and other devices.

www.dclibrary.org

Drive-In Movies at Union Market

The Drive-In at Union Market is back for its 14th season. Get tickets to watch from the comfort of 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. Here’s the remaining lineup: June 12, “Barbie”; July 10, “Iron Man”; Aug. 14, “F1: The Movie”; Sept. 4, “Mean Girls”; Oct. 5, “The Addams Family.”

www.unionmarketdc.com

Juneteenth

Community Day:

Honoring Opal Lee at NMAAHC

On Friday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., join the National Museum of African American His-

tory and Culture for a Juneteenth Community Day honoring the life, legacy and enduring impact of Ms. Opal Lee ‒ affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth ‒ as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. This daylong celebration brings together generations through storytelling, food, music and hands-on learning. Visitors of all ages are invited to gather, reflect and celebrate.

www.nmaahc.si.edu

Congressional Baseball Game at Nats Park

The 2026 Congressional Baseball Game will be played at Nats Park on Wednesday, June 10, at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $12 to $18. Since 1909 the Congressional Baseball Game has been an annual bipartisan event. The game’s popularity has contributed to its evolution into a foundation called Congressional Sports for Charity, providing support to charities serving vulnerable children and families in the Washington area as well as scholarships to local youth. For more information, visit www.congressionalbaseball.org.

10AM - 3PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Arrives at The Wharf

From June 17 to 22, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race arrives in Washington, DC, which is an official host port for the 2025-26 race. This free, multi-day waterfront event at The Wharf features a fleet of 10 ocean racing yachts, public tours of the yachts, educational programming and celebratory events along the Washington Channel. Visitors can step aboard Clipper 70 racing yachts during public tours and hear firsthand stories from sailors who have spent months racing across the world’s oceans. Programming includes Discovery Talks, a Race Village with interactive exhibits and a Fleet Week Fan Zone with cultural activations, live art and family-friendly experiences. Here’s a schedule: Fleet Arrival Window, June 14 to 16; Race Village, daily, June 14 to 22; Public Yacht Tours and Fleet Week Fan Zone, June 18 to 20, noon to 8 p.m.; Discovery Talks with Crew & Skippers, June 18 to 20; Crew Parade, Boat Departure, June 22. All events are free and open to the public.

PorchFest on Rhode Island Avenue NE

On Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., along nearly three miles of Rhode Island Avenue NE, hear music in front yards, porches and storefront stoops and enjoy food trucks, drinks and vendors. This year marks a return to the PorchFest name and format. It refocuses the celebration on the residential and small business spirit that made it a beloved Northeast DC tradition. DC Squared’s organizers are partnering with transportation providers, run and bike groups and affinity organizations. www.dcsquared.org

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

National Gallery of Art Announces Sculpture Garden Extended Summer Hours

The National Gallery of Art has extended hours at its Sculpture Garden. Beginning June 3 through Sept. 5, the Sculpture Garden remains open until 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. 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 Sculpture 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 confiscation. www.nga.gov

Pups in the Park

Skip the dog park and come to Nationals Park. Pups in the Park is a unique opportunity to bring your dog to a Nationals game. Special ticket buyers and their dogs are invited to participate in a postgame parade on the warning track. Remaining Pups in the Park dates are: June 23, at 3:45 p.m. vs. Phillies; Aug. 25, at 6:45 p.m. vs. Rockies; Aug. 29, at 4:05 p.m. vs. Marlins; Sept. 27, at 3:05 p.m. vs. Mets. If you are planning to attend Pups in the Park with your dog, purchase separate seats for you and your pup. All proceeds from the dog ticket sales will be donated to the Humane Rescue Alliance. www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/ specials/animal-days

District Creates Festival

The DC Makers’ Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the District’s independent maker community, has announced the inaugural District Creates Festival, a one-day outdoor festival showcasing the best of DC’s local craft and creative economy. The festival takes place on Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bridge District. 600

block of Howard Rd. SE. District Creates brings together makers, artisans, neighbors, and newcomers for a day with live craftsmanship demonstrations, a curated Maker Market featuring more than 30 of DC’s best independent makers, hands-on Make & Take workshops, Creative Conversations panels, free crafts for all ages, live music, a Beer Garden and local food trucks. Adult entry is $8 to 10; kids , two to twelve. dcmakers.org.

Summer Sunday Organ Concerts at the National Shrine

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE, presents concerts by some of the best organists in the country on Sundays in July and August at 6:00 p.m. Carillon recitals precede at 5:30 p.m. Concerts are free; donations accepted. Plenty of parking. www.nationalshrine.org

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

July Fourth Concert at the Capitol and Dress Rehearsal

The July Fourth concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol is from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. and is immediately followed by fireworks. Public access opens at 3:00 p.m. The entrance gates are located at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds. Checkpoints will be set up, and all bags and parcels will be checked. The concert dress rehearsal has a smaller crowd but with the same checkpoints. It is on Friday, July 3, with public access opening at 3:00 p.m. No tickets required for either event.

www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth

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

Stars & Stories Fest at the National Archives

On Friday, June 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., visitors can explore history and the 250th by meeting historical reenactors, enjoy Disney music, discover family roots with Ancestry, check out digital activations and experience activities including face painting and a patriotic selfie station. NBC4 Washington TV host Tommy McFly will emcee the event. This

Kids Run the Bases at Nats Park

All kids ages 4-12 are invited to run the bases at Nationals Park after every Sunday afternoon home game, weather permitting. Kids Run the Bases takes place entirely inside of Nationals Park. Participating guests line up at the GEICO Presidents Photo Station behind Section 131. Families with checked strollers at Main Guest Services should not pick up their strollers until after the event. The run begins approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the game and lasts about an hour. Kids start their run at first base and will be directed around the bases to home plate. Sliding into bases is prohibited. An adult must accompany each participating child to the field. Adults drop children off at first base and meet them near home plate. (Adults may not accompany children as they run.) One adult is permitted onto the field per participating child. Here are the dates this year: June 14, vs. Mariners; July 5, vs. Pirates; July 12, vs. Yankees; July 26, vs. Diamondbacks; Aug. 9, vs. Reds; Aug. 30, vs. Marlins; Sept. 13, vs. Angels; Sept. 27, vs. Mets. www.mlb.com/nationals/fans/jr-nats/kids-run-the-bases

is part of the Spirit of Independence Festival and will be held in front of the National Archives Museum, 701 Constitution Ave. NW. Free, timed-tickets at www.archivesfoundation.org/events.

Luce Local Community Day at SAAM

SAAM's beloved community gathering space, the Luce Foundation Center, Eighth

Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap

Across the meadow from the Filene Center, at Wolf Trap National Park, the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods has been a summer tradition for generations. Performances range from music and dance to puppetry and storytelling. All shows are about an hour long. All shows are at 10:30 a.m. (gates at 10:00 a.m.). Performances are always interactive, bringing both kids and adults to their feet. Here are the shows this summer: June 20 and 21, Jules; June 24, AlphaBugs; June 25, Soul in Motion; June 26, 27 and 28, The Amazing Max; July 8, Meki’s Tamure Arts Group; July 9, Rhythmaya Dance; July 11 and 12, Ricitos and the Three Bears; July 15 and 16, Omnium Circus; July 17, Megan Ran; July 18, Swing Makes You Sing!; July 19, Princess Backpack and Benjamin; July 22, Riffin’ Griffin; July 23, Flor Bromley; July 24, Semilla Cultural; July 25 and 26, New Squid on the Block; July 29 and 30, Dinosaur Hunter Safari!; July 31 and Aug. 1 and 2, Maryland Youth Ballet. Tickets are $14. After each performance, children and parents are encouraged to continue enjoying the free and open space in the park. Theatre-in-the-Woods, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Virginia. www.wolftrap.org

World Ocean Day at Natural History

On Monday, June 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrate World Ocean Day at the National Museum of Natural History. Join ocean scientists, researchers and educators in the Sant Ocean Hall for fun-filled interactive experiences. They’ll be celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary by exploring fascinating organisms, amazing discoveries and exciting research about the waters around the United States and its territories. www.naturalhistory.si.edu

and G streets NW, turns 20 this summer. On Saturday, July 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., they’re planning 20 different activities, one for each year of public programs. Join for an afternoon of demonstrations by local artists, scavenger hunts and craft making that will appeal to all ages. The day will end with a cupcake “toast” at 2:30 p.m. Supplies and cupcakes are limited; first-come, first-served. Free but registration is encouraged. www.americanart.si.edu

National Capital Barbecue Battle

The National Capital Barbecue Battle is on Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (rain or shine).

KIDS & FAMILY

The two-day event along Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues, between Third and Seventh, features barbecue and grilled food samples all weekend, 30 bands performing across three stages, celebrity chefs, cookbook authors, microbrew and wine sampling and cooking competitions. Daily pass, $21.20; two-day pass, $31.80; family fourpack (adults), $68.64. Kids 12 and under are free. www.bbqindc.com

Little Builder’s Club at the National Building Museum

On Saturday, June 20, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., play, make and explore at Little Builders, a monthly workshop for children ages five and under and their caregivers. This session focuses

on exploring a museum through crafts, movement and song. Participants create “museum goggles,” explore colors and shapes in the galleries and discover what makes museums special places to learn. Each small-group session blends guided activities with opportunities for independent play in a welcoming environment. Each registration includes one child and one adult, with the option to add participants. All tickets include access to the workshop and museum admission. www.nbm. org/event/little-builders-club

Anacostia Park Roller-Skating Pavilion Welcomes You

Skate daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, the only roller-skating rink in the National Park Service. Skate rental is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Sundays to Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rentals are free with a government-issued ID. Socks are required to rent skates. www.nps. gov/anac

Freedom before Emancipation: Family Days for Juneteenth at Mount Vernon

On June 19 and 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., discover how enslaved men and women at Mount Vernon defined their agency and the legacies they left behind. From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., visit the Family Hub on the bowling green to learn more about the lives of enslaved people at Mount Vernon and what emancipation and resistance meant in 18th-century Virginia. There will be opportunities for reflection and self-expression through art. Explore the life of John Luckett, who self-emancipated from Fairfax County in 1862 and made his way into the District of Columbia after the Compensated Emancipation Act was signed. Listen to Colonial music, see blacksmithing, cooking and spinning demonstrations. All activities included with admission: $30 for adults; $16 for ages 6-11; five and under, free. www.mountvernon.org

Three DPR Outdoor Kids’ Swimming Pools

Happy Hollow Children’s Pool at 2200 Champlain St. NW; Park View Children’s Pool at 693 Otis Pl. NW; and Lincoln Capper Children’s Pool at 555 L St. SE are open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Additionally, Park View and Lincoln Capper close from 2 to 3 p.m. www.dpr.dc.gov/ outdoorpools

Spanish/English Bilingual Story Time at MLK Library

On Monday, June 15, from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., listen to stories, sing songs, dance and learn during Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library’s bilingual story time. Children encounter the Spanish language through books, rhymes and songs. Escucha cuentos, canta, baila y aprende durante nuestra hora de cuentos bilingue. La hora de cuentos introduce el idioma

español a traves de los libros, rimas, y canciones. MLK Library is at 901 G St. NW. www.dclibrary. org

Squirt Zone at the Zoo

From July 1 to Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting, kids can cool off at the National Zoo’s splashpad play area. Green buttons activate misters and fountains that spray water high into the air. This wheelchair accessible play area is modeled after a tide pool and features sea stars, barnacles and mussels. The water is for splashing, not for drinking. Children must be supervised by an adult. Young children must wear diapers at all times. www.nationalzoo.si.edu

Anacostia Watershed Society’s Summer River Explorers Program

The Summer River Explorers Program is free for sixth, seventh and eighth graders who live in the Anacostia River Watershed in DC, Prince George’s County or Montgomery County. This outdoor recreational and educational experience teaches about the river and local environment, while developing skills in team building, critical thinking and scientific investigation. The program is held June 22 to 25 (with June 25 as a rain date). The group meets from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at various public venues along the Anacostia River, such as Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and Anacostia Park. Read more at www. anacostiaws.org.

Honey How?! Family Program at the Botanic Garden

On Friday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Botanic Garden’s Children’s Garden celebrates National Pollinator Week and the hows of honey. How do flowers attract bees? How do bees make honey? Taste honey varietals to understand the connection between floral nectar and honey flavor. This is a free, drop-in program. No registration needed. www.usbg.gov

Spirit of ’76 Family Programs at the Capitol

On Mondays in June at 11 a.m., in the Democracy Lab at the US Capitol, families can explore a cartoon map of Philadelphia and make their own souvenir postcards. On Mondays in July at 11 a.m., also in the Democracy Lab, families are encouraged to make their own commitments to America with Arba the Eagle. No reservations are necessary for either. www. visitthecapitol.gov u

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

MidCity DC is Celebrating 22 Years!