SEPTEMBER 2026
SEPTEMBER 2026
NEXT ISSUE: OCTOBER 10TH
ON THE COVER: endlessOM Founder and Lead Instructor Sara Crosby demonstrates the power and beauty of aerial yoga.Photo: endlessOM
04 what’s on washington
10
out and about
08
Union Market • Jean-Keith Fagon
10
Theater Night: Honoring Artistic Leaders • Matthew McClure Spotlight: The Grace • Andrew Lightman
12 14
Spotlight: endlessOM Yoga & Aerial • Andrew Lightman
your neighborhood 18
What the Heck Is HYROX? • Graham King
20 22
Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner
20
at home 27
Changing Hands • Don Denton
kids and family 28
Notebook • Kathleen Donner
30 classifieds
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SE PTE M B E R 2026 03
OUT AND ABOUT
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Photo: Jeff Cravotta
Dance Theatre of Harlem at the National
On Friday, Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3 and 7:30 p.m., Washington Performing Arts opens its season by welcoming longtime artistic partner Dance Theatre of Harlem
back to Washington, DC, for a special three-performance engagement at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The program is anchored by the celebrated return of Firebird—Geoffrey Holder’s reimagining of the Russian folktale set in a lush Caribbean landscape. A tale of love and transformation, the show-stopping work has reemerged as a signature piece for the company, blending classical ballet with rich cultural storytelling through a distinctly diasporic lens. Tickets start at $78. broadwayatthenational.com.
H Street Festival (ALWAYS A BLAST!)
The H Street Festival returns on Saturday, Sept. 19, noon to 7 p.m., bringing thousands of visitors to H Street NE for a full day of live music, local vendors,
food, art, family activities and community celebration. One of the most highly attended single-day festivals in Washington, DC, the H Street Festival stretches 12 blocks and features 15 stages, each with distinct themes and programming. Expect music in a variety of genres, dance, youth performances, interactive children’s programs, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and more. hstreetfestival.org.
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SE PTE M B E R 2026 05
Nicole Ansari-Cox as Anna and Brian Cox as Bach in The Score at Theatre Royal Bath. Photo: Manuel Harlan
Solas Nua’s “HAKAWATIS: Women of the Arabian Nights” at Spooky Action
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
A tyrant avenges his wife’s infidelity by wedding, bedding and beheading a new bride every day. Years later, only five brides-in-waiting remain. These women are unapologetic and united in their fight to keep themselves—and
the whole of womankind—alive. They have other ideas for their future, and it starts with a story. In this London Globe hit by IrishPalestinian playwright Hannah Khalil, audiences are captivated by tales that are funny, raunchy and dangerous—and a matter of life and death. (Hakawati / hakəˈwɑːti/. Noun: Storyteller. From the Arabic terms hekaye, meaning story, and haki, meaning to talk.) “HAKAWATIS: Women of the Arabian Nights” is at Spooky Action Theater, 1810 16th St. NW, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 18. General admission tickets are $50. spookyaction.org.
Brian Cox in “The Score” at Shakespeare (How does art survive when despots rule?)
In spring 1747, Johann Sebastian Bach (Cox) visits the court of Frederick II, Europe’s most ambitious and dangerous leader. When the king presents Bach with a musical puzzle, the composer must decide how to rise to the challenge without forsaking his own morality. Brian Cox brings a “volcanic presence” to Bach in the play’s only American engagement. The Golden Globe-winning actor (Succession) is directed by legendary Trevor Nunn in “The Score,” which pits creativity against the whims of power. “The Score” is at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW, from Sept. 11
to Oct. 18. Tickets start at $43. shakespearetheatre.org.
Mosaic’s “Somewhere Over the Border” at the Atlas
Dorothy becomes Reina in this fresh take on The Wizard of Oz from Brian Quijada, the award-winning co-creator and star of Mexodus, which premiered at Mosaic ahead of back-to-back Off-Broadway runs. Inspired by the true story of his mother’s immigration in the 1970s, “Somewhere Over the Border” takes audiences on a musical journey from El Salvador to America featuring cumbia, Mexican mariachi, boleros, rock, hip-hop and more. As Reina travels north to the Mexican border, she gathers friends, faces dangers and holds tight to the memory of the little boy she left behind to build a better life for them both. Equal parts joyful whimsy and harrowing truth, “Somewhere Over the Border” is at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4. Tickets start at $51. atlasarts.org.
“Dirty Dancing” at the National
Set against the unforgettable summer of 1963, “Dirty Dancing” follows Frances “Baby” Houseman as she discovers love, passion and independence through her relationship with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. Featuring live music from the original film, “Dirty Dancing” is at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4. Based on Lionsgate’s beloved film, the new stage production brings back the electrifying dancing, secret encounters and forbidden romance of the story that captivated a generation. Tickets start at $90. broadwayatthenational.com.
Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands at the Warner
Like the stones of Craigh na Dun that carried Claire through time to Jamie, this symphonic experience guides audiences through love and loss, past and future, Scotland and beyond. Bear McCreary’s iconic score takes center stage, performed live by an orchestra while the series’ most stirring moments unfold on a cinema-sized screen. Outlander in Concert celebrates the show’s rich heritage, timeless characters and sweeping landscapes. Through time. Through love. Through music. Outlander in Concert is at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, on Sunday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $58. warnertheatredc.com.
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202.727.2525 • dcboe.org SE PTE M B E R 2026 07
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
Union Market
Your Next Great Afternoon Is Only A Few Blocks Away
S
haw and NOMA residents have always understood the value of neighborhoods that reward walking, conversation and discovery. We treasure the restaurants, small businesses and the tree-lined streets that make our community one of Washington’s most inviting places to live. Just beyond, another neighborhood has quietly grown into one of the city’s most exciting destinations: Union Market. For many readers, the surprise isn’t that Union Market exists—it’s how much there is to experience in one afternoon. Within a short walk, bike ride or drive, you’ll find chef-driven restaurants, artisan bakeries, specialty food merchants, locally owned shops, bookstores, coffee roasters and yearround community events. Better yet, visitors receive three hours of free parking, making it easy to explore without watching the clock.
by Jean-Keith Fagon
FIVE
reasons every nearby resident should visit this month 1. A world of chef-driven dining. Whether you’re planning brunch, lunch or dinner, Union Market brings together acclaimed restaurants and emerging culinary talent in one walkable district. 2. Specialty shopping you won’t find elsewhere. From handcrafted foods and gourmet ingredients to locally made gifts and home goods, every visit offers something new to discover. 3. A perfect weekend destination. Meet friends for coffee, browse independent shops, enjoy lunch, and return home feeling as though you’ve spent the day exploring a new neighborhood without leaving Washington. 4. Three hours of free parking. One of Union Market’s most valuable amenities removes a common barrier to visiting. Arrive, park, explore and enjoy the district at your own pace. 5. A neighborhood that continues to evolve. Every visit reveals new restaurants, retailers, seasonal events and experiences, making Union Market a destination worth returning to throughout the year.
Our neighborhoods have always embraced businesses that contribute to Washington’s character. Union Market has become one of those places—a neighborhood where great food, local entrepreneurship and community come together. This month, consider making it your next neighborhood adventure. ◆
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SE PTE M B E R 2026 09
OUT AND ABOUT
Theater Night Honoring Artistic Leaders by Matthew McClure
In the Spotlight
ABFF pop-up DC highlights
American Black Film Festival at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market September 25 – 27 www.abffpopup.com
The Stories We Inherit: A Conversation Inspired by “The Heir” Saturday, September 26th, 2 p.m.
In 2015, media strategist and DEI advocate April Reign went viral for her #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, vociferously calling out the conspicuous lack of diversity in the nominee list for the 87th Academy Awards. When the same thing happened the following year, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee advocated a boycott of an awards show that they felt wasn’t doing the work required to be fully representative of the abundance of Black talent in the American film industry. Jeff Friday, Warrington Hudlin and Byron E. Lewis had known about this troubling tendency for years. They founded the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Acapulco in 1997 in response to the very same absence of recognition of Black talent that Reign, Pinkett Smith and Lee were condemning because, as the festival’s original tagline put it, “Holly wouldn’t”–a pointed reference to Hollywood. ABFF’s senior manager of event productions and operations Raeshon Morris is part of the team that’s been tasked with bringing the best of the ABFF to DC over three days at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market at the end of this month. “I’m a little biased because I get to work here every day, but it really is a very communal experience where you get to share your own story and meet other filmmakers and artists. It’s like a big family,” says Morris of the spirit of the festival, now in its 30th year. The ABFF is held every summer in Miami’s South Beach. Festival goers enjoy a smorgasbord of documentary and feature films, series, panel conversations and visual art from across the US and the African diaspora in addition to comedy showcases, heritage tours, masterclasses and networking events. Thanks to NICE CROWD’s Jeff and Nicole Friday and local partners like EventsDC and Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, we’re set to get a taste of the festival right
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DC’s own Tia A. Smith’s “The Heir” is an exploration of the decisions that a young woman must make when she returns to her grandmother’s home in a DC neighborhood undergoing transformation. The film won the Screening Committee’s Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. On Saturday, you’ll get the opportunity to participate in a moderated post-screening group discussion with the filmmaker.
2029 HBO® Short Film Showcase Saturday, September 26th, 8 p.m. The ABFF’s HBO® Short Film Showcase launched “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler’s career back in 2011. This year’s showcase highlights five short films that embody the best of contemporary Black writing, directing and acting. Highlights include Modupe Thompson’s “The Façade” and Carlton Daniel Jr’s “FLY”.
On Right Now
Poster for Tia A. Smith’s “The Heir.” Image courtesy ABFF. here in Chocolate City. While smaller in scale than the South Beach festival (which this year saw over 8000 attendees soaking up 94 independent films and attending 66 events), the ABFF pop-up at Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market will still offer up a platter of delectable delicacies guaranteed to tantalize even the most discerning film afficionado’s palate.
“The Score” Shakespeare Theatre Company Showing September 11 – October 18 www.shakespearetheatre.org Brian Cox is arguably best known for his formidable character in HBO’s “Succession.” Cox’s Rupert Murdoch-esque Logan Roy packs a punch on screen, but he’s also an accomplished theater actor who’s graced both Broadway and West End stages for more than sixty years. While Cox, playing Johann Sebastian Bach, is without doubt the headliner of English actor and playwright Oliver Cotton’s humorously dramatic “The Score” – opening to American audiences for the first time this month at the Shakespeare Theatre Company after a rousing run at Theatre Royal Bath last year – there’s a pantheon of other stage stars that sparkle alongside him. One of them is Jamie Wilkes, who plays along-
SE PTE M B E R 2026 11
OUT AND ABOUT
year, stepping into an institution that’s had only three artistic directors in its almost 50year history. White caught up with Hill Rag in between rehearsals for a quick chat (Interview edited for clarity and length). How are you feeling in your new role? White: The last seven or eight months has really felt like I’ve been drinking out of a fire hose! There’s never a great time to transition artistic leadership, but I’ve been so moved by the work the institution has done to make me feel welcome.
You’ve stated Steve Yockey’s “Venus” sets the tone for your inaugural season at Woolly Mammoth. What are you most looking forward to when “Venus” opens to audiences on September 9? White: I’ve been a fan of Steve’s writing since the beginning of my theatrical career. His fisheye lens on universal humanity is what we need at this moment. He’s such an imaginative writer and his writing presents so many access points. Also, Kimberly Gilbert (playing Beth alongside Regina Aquino as Nicole) hasn’t been on Woolly’s stage in almost seven years. She’s back and that’s been a lovely moment to bridge Woolly’s legacy and its future.
How are you hoping your work at Woolly will reframe audience’s perspectives?
Jamie Wilkes and Brian Cox in Theatre Royal Bath’s Production of “The Score” last year. Photo by Manuel Harlan. side Cox as Bach’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the court musician to the Prussian King Frederick the Great in 1747. “I’d class Brian as one of the acting legends,” Wilkes says. “Johann is very much Carl’s hero. At drama school you see the actors you aspire to be and the work you want to create, and Brian’s always been up there for me.” Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, “The Score” follows the late Baroque composer’s journey from his home in Leipzig to the court of King Frederick (played by Stephen Hagan) in the spring of 1747 to visit his son. The narrative is based on an actual encounter; during Bach’s visit, he’s challenged by King Frederick to improvise a complex melodic theme, known today as “The Musical Offering.” It’s also a story about conflict between leaders, between rationalism and romanticism, atheism and religion, art and politics. Carl Bach was an accomplished musician in his own right, Wilkes says. “Without him, there wouldn’t be a Mozart, a Beethoven. Frederick was obsessed with music and art. His palace at Potsdam was filled with the best musicians and Carl was one of them.” The younger Bach was instrumental in the transition of music from
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the Baroque to the Classical era in the 18th century. He also popularized the incorporation of the thumb into keyboard playing, now a foundation of modern keyboard technique. It turns out that, much like Carl Bach, Wilkes is also a talented artistic leader. He co-founded Belt Up Theatre as an 18-year-old drama student, which won the Edinburgh International Festival Award in 2008 at the Edinburgh Fringe. Wilkes then founded his second acting company, The Wet Mariners, while studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Behind the Scenes Penn Quarter’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has a new artistic director. Reggie D. White took over from Maria Manuela Goyanes in January this
White: Humor is a powerful and underutilized tool that helps people shift their paradigms. I love comedy. The conditions under which we’re living, we need to laugh. People can expect to see plays that allow them to observe questions being asked about our humanity. Audiences can expect to be charmed but also challenged.
How will you shake things up in your new role? White: More new work for sure, and a deep investment in DC’s arts ecosystem. The talent in DC is unmatched, and I want audiences to see that talent up front and center. More new writers, more ideas and new voices with new things to say. u
SE PTE M B E R 2026 13
OUT AND ABOUT
Spotlight: endlessOM Yoga & Aerial
A
t age 63, after years of playing ultimate frisbee, I am not the most flexible. Remedying this with yoga, I soon discovered my talent for the Fallen Tree pose. To be less facetious, maintaining my balance during even the most basic vinyasa class proved a real challenge. One-legged and inverted poses appeared well beyond my ability. The solution was to take to the air. Shaw’s end-
by Andrew Lightman lessOM Yoga & Aerial is the only studio in DC offering aerial yoga classes. Walking in, I immediately noticed the wonderful aroma and the spare decor. Bare wooden floors and white walls punctuated by plants and decorative mandala murals give the space a calm, relaxed, welcoming vibe. The studio consists of two large practice rooms, each with anchors screwed into the ceiling, an expansive lobby and a dedicated space for healing practitioners. The studio hosts a dozen teachers, as well as weekly guest instructors.
Aerial Yoga
Founder and lead instructor Sara Crosby wants every class at endlessOM to be a full experience for the body, heart and mind with endless opportunities to grow, flow and connect in community. Photo: endlessOM
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Portia Sampson-Knapp turns her practice upside down, transforming familiar shapes into brand-new experiences, which is the essence of aerial yoga. Photo: Kevin Brooks
Using long strips of a low-stretch nylon fabric fastened to ceiling anchors, practitioners wrap themselves in the fabric to strike poses they might never achieve on a mat. These “silks” serve as props, analogous to blocks or straps used in conventional classes. Students employ slow movements rooted in circus arts to bend, invert and stretch the body. Building body awareness in the calm, enveloping fabric, they learn to suspend themselves. “Silk is the best yoga prop. It allows you to access shapes that otherwise would be difficult to maintain,” explained endlessOM founder and lead instructor Sara Crosby. The studio’s aerial classes follow a progressive structure, with prerequisites for advanced classes. The studio provides crash mats. The instructors often function as spotters when students take on new challenges. “I really want people to stay safe,” Crosby explained. Aerial practice is “a blast,” said Crosby, who teaches students to “trust the fabric” to support their body weight as they climb using legs and arms. “We take yoga and we put it up in the air,” Crosby added.
More advanced classes offer complex movements farther off the floor. They include Aerial Strong, Aerial Arts, Aerial Core and Aerial Pilates. There are also heated restorative and yin classes for all levels, as well as a full range of mat yoga classes. The vibe is celebratory. Cheering, students often take photos of each other as they achieve challenging poses. The practice itself creates community, Crosby stated.
Dancing into Yoga
Yoga was not Crosby’s first love. She grew up dancing. In college, she majored in broadcast journalism with a minor in dance. After graduating, she worked as a broadcast journalist and later as a documentary producer. On the side, Crosby taught dance to children. “Teaching movement has been a constant in my life,” she said. Giving a child an early love of movement is crucial. She took a vinyasa class at her gym. “It was all the things I loved about dance but it was a new way to move therapeutically,” she explained. Then
Marissa Jae learns the value of doing less, a lot less, in the aerial yin yoga and heated restorative aerial classes, offered four times a week, because making time for rest is non-negotiable. Photo: Kevin Brooks
a friend took her to a prana vinyasa class, which “changed everything.” It was purposeful, intentional movement. “It was the way I always wanted dance to feel,” she recalled. She trained as an instructor and began teaching in 2011. While on vacation in Alabama in 2017, Crosby tried aerial yoga for the first time. “It felt like a performance: beautiful, powerful and capable,” she recalled. She immediately trained to be an aerial instructor. For the next several years, she taught aerial and prana vinyasa yoga, eventually settling at Yoga Heights, an earlier incarnation of her current studio. In 2024, the owner of Yoga
Heights announced she intended to sell the studio and asked Crosby if she would like to purchase it. Crosby had never considered owning a studio. Then, one of her students approached her in tears, upset that her beloved studio would close. “I am going to save it,” Crosby decided. With the aid of her husband, an experienced general contractor, she bootstrapped the renovation. The new studio opened in January 2025. “Aerial yoga is everything you already love, tied up with a silk ribbon,” Crosby summed up. endlessOM Yoga & Aerial is located at 905 U St. NW. For more information, visit endlessOM.com. ◆
Student Courtney Brown demonstrates how Aerial 101, offered five times a week, helps build strength, control and confidence. Photo: Kevin Brooks
SE PTE M B E R 2026 15
OUT AND ABOUT
Spotlight: The Grace by Andrew Lightman
J
ust past midnight in the wee hours of Sunday morning, I walked out of DC 9. Four hours of standing in the crowded club left me ready for a nosh. Fortunately, The Grace, at 1539 Seventh St. NW, is a late-night culinary oasis. This space, many may recall, housed the second incarnation of Tom Brown’s famed dive bar, The Passenger. The Grace’s aesthetic could not be more different. “It needed a chef ’s hand,” said founder and executive chef Sanjay Mandhaiya, best known for Pappe, a Logan Circle favorite.
A Classic Saloon
Dark red floral-print wallpaper and red leather bar stools contrast with a white marble bar that runs nearly the length of the first floor. An elegant stainless-steel and white-glass display case, housing an expansive liquor collection, comprises the bar’s rear wall. Modern hanging lamps and track
lights cast a warm glow throughout. Small areas at the front and rear of the first floor accommodate comfortable wooden tables. Lit by floor-to-ceiling windows, a smaller bar graces the second floor, which also offers more seating. The walls are punctuated with artwork. The larger oils give the establishment the feel of an English gentlemen’s club. A wall-mounted stag’s head completes the vibe. The idea was to create a The Grace’s interior is a paean to the classic steakhouses of yesteryear. Photo: Hawkeye Johnson Photography modern saloon, Mandhaiya explained. The Grace’s interior brisket, dressed in a red-wine-braised shallot sauce, renovations are nothing compared to Mandhaiya’s it arrives in a bun, topped with American cheese, innovative take on a classic pub cuisine menu. a substantial tomato slice and romaine, and served
Putting the Gastro in Pub
Sanjay Mandhaiya is the executive chef of Pappe, Karravaan and The Grace. Photo: The Grace
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Decades ago, I interviewed the famous chef Michel Richard at the opening of his noted bistro Central. Why did a French chef put fried chicken on the menu? I asked. “Because, mon ami, I love fried chicken,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye. Mandhaiya appears to have taken a similar approach to designing the cuisine at his “gastro pub.” The Grace’s menu features classics: slow-roasted chicken, an English club sandwich, grilled salmon, pasta and a Maryland crab cake. They can be paired with a variety of sides, such as lobster mac and cheese and small sharables like twice-fried cauliflower or mango-coconut shrimp. There are two classic salads and Mandhaiya’s own take on French onion soup. His homage to the classic steakhouse concludes with a chef ’s seafood platter and plates of chilled local oysters. The Grace Burger, however, deserves its own paean. Fashioned from a mix of chuck, short rib and
alongside a sea of hand-cut fries. It is simply sumptuous and requires determination to finish. It is a bargain at $21.75. A more limited, very reasonable late-night menu is available. Noshes include beef sliders, classic wings, the Caesar and tuna tartare toast. The kitchen stays open from Thursday to Monday until midnight and until 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Drawing on its well-stocked bar, The Grace offers a range of The Grace Burger, a confection fashioned from a mix of chuck, short rib and brisket. Photo: Hawkeye Johnson Photography
The lobster mac and cheese. Photo: Hawkeye Johnson Photography
delicious craft libations. The bartenders press fresh sugar cane daily. Any cocktail incorporating this ingredient, such as the Agua Fresca, a personal favorite, the Strawberry Wine, the Ranch Coconut Water, or the Pepper & Corn, earns a place at the head of the line. There are also wines by the glass and a selection of beers. The Grace’s entree and starter portions are as substantial as the prices are reasonable. The mains range from $25.75 for vegetable pasta to close to $50 for a 16-ounce ribeye. Cocktails run between $15 and $19. There is also a very good happy hour daily from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as a substantial brunch.
The Chefs
everywhere. Mandhaiya’s mother was not amused by the mess and punished him accordingly. To this day, many of the recipes at The Grace’s sister restaurant Pappe are rooted in Mandhaiya’s family, albeit reimagined for the modern restaurant. Mandhaiya’s family never expected him to be a chef. Not to sound stereotypical, but as with many Indian children, he was educated as an engineer and pursued graduate studies in the United States. Working in restaurants while in school, he fell in love with the industry and moved up in the kitchens of the Hyatt Hotel chain. After laboring in many of DC’s kitchens, Mandhaiya opened Pappe in 2018, Union Market’s Karravaan in 2025 and The Grace this past July. At The Grace, Mandhaiya installed Courtney Evans as chef de cuisine. Hailing from North Carolina, Evans was a competitor on Netflix’s “NextGen Chef.” She is also a veteran of Charlotte’s acclaimed Leah & Louise restaurant. At The Grace, Evans and Mandhaiya have created a comfortable yet elegant environment where locals can enjoy a delicious repast without pretension. The Grace is located at 1539 Seventh St. NW. For more information, visit www.thegracedc.com. ◆
Chef Mandhaiya’s eclectic approach to cuisine is rooted in his childhood. The child of a decorated Indian diplomat, he grew up internationally, spending time in Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Pakistan and Bhutan. Yet he remained connected to his family’s agrarian heritage in the foothills of the Himalayas. Mandhaiya learned his craft at his mother’s and grandmother’s knees. One day, when his mom had gone off to the market, he tried his hand at frying papadam in a karahi, a common cooking pot similar to a chef ’s pan. Courtney Evans, late of Charlotte’s acclaimed Leah & Louise Unfortunately, the vessel and known for her turn on Netflix’s “NextGen Chef,” is The Grace’s chef de cuisine, lending her expertise to an tipped over, spilling hot oil
eclectic menu laden with refined touches. Photo: The Grace
SE PTE M B E R 2026 17
OUT AND ABOUT
What the Heck Is HYROX? by Graham King, Owner of Urban Athletic Club
I
f you passed the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this past Labor Day weekend, you may have wondered why hundreds of athletes in matching outfits were flooding the streets from Thursday through Monday. From Sept. 3 to 7, one of the fastest-growing fitness races in the world took over the convention center, right here in our neighborhood. Shaw residents saw it, heard it and felt it. And if you haven’t heard of HYROX yet, now’s the time, because this thing is only going to get bigger, and DC is firmly on the map.
What Is HYROX?
If you’ve been in a gym lately and heard someone say they’re “training for HYROX,” you might have nodded like you knew what that meant. No shame. Let me break it down. HYROX is a fitness race ‒ part running, part functional fitness ‒ and it’s moving fast. It launched in Hamburg, Germany, in 2017, built by Christian Toetzke, one of the most experienced mass-participation race organizers in the world, alongside threetime Olympic medalist and world champion Moritz Fuerste and marketing expert Michael Trautmann. Since that first race, it’s expanded to over 11 countries and 30 cities. Some events have drawn over 50,000 athletes and 35,000 spectators. In the 202223 season alone, 90,000 athletes competed. That’s not a niche thing. That’s a sport. What sets HYROX apart from CrossFit competitions or Tough Mudders is that it’s genuinely accessible. The work is hard ‒ don’t get me wrong ‒ but it’s not out of reach. And here’s what really makes it different: it’s the same race every single time. Same course, same stations, same order, everywhere in the world. There’s no mystery. You know exactly what you’re training for, and that makes the preparation feel purposeful.
The Race
Here’s how it works. You run one kilometer, then you hit a fitness station. Run another kilometer, hit another station. You do that eight times. The runs don’t get shorter. The stations don’t get easier. A 1K run precedes each of the eight stations: 1. SkiErg ‒ 1 km 2. Sled push ‒ 50 m 3. Sled pull ‒ 50 m 4. Burpee broad jump ‒ 80 m 5. Row (erg) ‒ 1 km 6. Farmer’s carry ‒ 200 m 7. Sandbag lunge ‒ 100 m 8. Wall balls ‒ 100 reps 8 kilometers of running. 8 stations of work. Most people finish somewhere in the 60-90 minute range,
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Graham King pushing the 335-pound sled in the men’s doubles HYROX race. His partner Doug Luzader waits his turn. Photo: Graham King
depending on division and fitness level. There’s an open division and a pro division, with different weights for each. Open is where most people start, and it’s built for real athletes, not just competitive ones. You can race as an individual, as a doubles team or as a relay. That flexibility is part of what makes HYROX work for such a wide range of people. What also makes the DC event special is the layout. The runs happen on the outside loop. Every station is inside the convention center except wall balls, which lands right near the finish. Spectators can park themselves in one spot and watch their people hit every station. The noise is incredible. It doesn’t feel like a race. It feels like an event.
Why I’m Even Writing This
Honestly? I’m not a race person. I got into training to improve my strength and size so I could play basketball better. Added strength and muscle meant more rebounds, improved defense and added durability. It worked, but that was just the start. As I aged, I found myself enjoying the training as much as playing sports. Now I train for longevity, to move well and feel great. Hey, looking good in a bathing suit is a nice bonus! I’ve done 5Ks, a triathlon, 100-mile bike rides. They were great. But they weren’t my motivation. I totally get and support that for a lot of people, signing up for something is exactly the push they need. “I’m registered, now I have to train.” I see it at Urban Athletic Club (UAC) all the time, and it works. It’s just not how I’m wired. That said, I watched HYROX for years before I did anything about it. Then this past March, my friend Doug finally got me off the sideline. We did it together as a doubles team, and it was one of the best athletic experiences I’ve had in years.
What That Day Actually Looked Like
Doug’s a better runner than I am, so we had a plan. After every 1K run, I would start the fitness element. That gave me about two minutes to recover before we had to run again.
The farmer’s carry was something else. I did the first 100 meters, and then Doug grabbed those 53-pound kettlebells, one in each hand, and just took off. Flying. I was relieved! The sandbag lunges were brutal. By that point you’ve run seven kilometers and hit six stations. Your legs have very little interest in lunging anywhere. And then we got to wall balls, the final station, and they felt easy. We’d been training with 20-pound medicine balls. Open division is 14 pounds. After everything we’d just done, that ball felt like nothing. We finished strong, which I didn’t see coming. Ninety-ish minutes after we started, we were done and at brunch with our friends and families. That’s the part people don’t talk about enough with HYROX ‒ it ends. You’re not out there all day. You show up, you get after it and then you go live your life. I also ran into friends I hadn’t seen in years. And seeing our UAC members out there competing, people I coach every week, grinding through burpees and lunges at a real race ‒ that hit different. We cheered each other on, suffered together, celebrated together. The energy in that building was positive from the first heat to the last. There’s something about a room full of people who all chose to show up and work, all cheering for each other, including your own people, that you really can’t manufacture anywhere else.
If You’re Thinking about It
Start with doubles or a relay. Half the work, all the experience. It’s the right entry point. Find a partner who runs at your pace. In doubles, you must run together. A big gap can lead to penalties. Match on strength too. The sled work and farmer’s carry quickly expose any imbalance between partners. Ideally, you want someone in your range, not someone who ends up carrying the load while you recover. If you’re doing mixed doubles, the weights go to the men’s standard. Women in mixed are working at higher loads than in the women’s open division. Know that before you sign up. Train for it specifically. General fitness gets you to the start line. HYROX-specific training gets you through it. Running hard and immediately transitioning to a station is a different kind of hard than most people are used to. You have to practice that. Urban Athletic Club and Cut Seven both have HYROX programming. Either one is a solid place to start building toward it. I spent years on the outside looking at HYROX, thinking it wasn’t really my thing. I was wrong. It was exactly my thing ‒ hard, organized, communitydriven and done in time for brunch or dinner! ◆
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Shaw Streets by Pleasant Mann
Genika Cafe Opens
Genika Cafe celebrated its long-awaited opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Owner Gennet Tebebu was joined by Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto and other members of the Shaw community for the opening. Located on the northwest corner of O and Ninth streets, the cafe is named for the Amharic word for a single-origin Arabica coffee Genika Cafe owner Gennet Tebebu and grown in Ethiopia. The cafe is open for exCouncilmember Brooke Pinto cut the ribbon tended hours, bringing together two experito open the cafe. Photo: Pleasant Mann ences in one place – a refined coffee house and a welcoming neighborhood tavern. It offers a Bar (1840 Sixth St. NW) was designated the Best relaxed space where guests can enjoy exceptional Reason to Believe the Hype about it. (Eebee’s got coffee, fresh food and evening drinks. a similar nod from the Washington City Paper as During the day, Genika Cafe serves its own Best Hyped-Up Place Worth the Hype.) RPM brand of specialty coffees sourced from respectItalian (650 K St. NW) has the Best Bread in town. ed growing regions around the world, served as The magazine declared that the Best Cannabis a drip, pour over, French press or espresso. The Trend nowadays is exemplified by lounges, with roasted beans of the Genika brand are also availDon Fuego (1126-B Ninth St. NW) among the able to take home. The coffee service is complebest. The Pups and Pilates workout at Dog Daze mented by an offering of fresh baked pastries and Social Club (1100 Rhode Island Ave. NW) made craft sandwiches. In the evening, the atmosphere the best list this year. Washingtonian beauty awards shifts into a relaxed tavern experience with beer, include Gloss Bar (1340 Eighth St. NW) for its wine and classic cocktails. scalp treatments and GLO30 (1924 Eighth St. The opening completes the revitalization of one NW) for its use of AI to optimize facials. of Shaw’s worst blights. The building at 1400 Ninth Finally, at the celebration of this year’s Best of St. NW, formerly a Chinese takeout restaurant, had Washington Awards, there was a competition bebeen vacant and dilapidated for more than two detween local restaurants, with over 80 different small cades due to an owner that had unreasonable sales bite samples offered to the attendees. The Critics’ price expectations. At long last, Shaw’s own United Choice Winner was the summer squash sauce with Investments bought the building and renovated and turmeric and nasturtium created by Timothy Buell, expanded it while preserving the historic facade. chef de cuisine at The Dabney (122 BlagTogether with the seven residential units above it, den Alley NW). the former ugly duckling is now a shining star. A number of Shaw establishments also got a shout out in Washingtonian’s list of Shaw Spots Get Recognition Best Cheap Eats, consisting of their 60 faAmid the summer doldrums, Shaw businesses have vorite places to find a great meal for less received quite a few accolades. than $25 dollars. Habesha Market (1919 Washingtonian magazine’s list of the Best of Ninth St. NW), “DC’s most spartan, Washington mentioned a number of neighborrough and ready Ethiopian restaurant,” hood establishments. Shaw’s Laotian restaurant was also “one of its best.” Melange Foods Baan Mae (1604 Seventh St. NW) got the award (2108 Eighth St. NW) was noted for chef for Best Fast Food Riff for its elevated Filao-o-fish. Elias Taddesse’s weaving of Ethiopian Unconventional Diner (1207 Ninth St. NW) won spices into fried chicken dishes. Saints Best Chocolate Cake for its Steffie Kay’s ChocoParadise Cafeteria (601 M St. NW), at late Cake. Business phenomenon Eebee’s Corner
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the headquarters church of the United House of Prayer for All Peoples, was praised as a dependable DC institution. Taqueria Xochi (924 U St. NW) was “One of DC’s go-to Mexican spots.” Andy’s Pizza (808 V St. NW) was also on the list of best cheap pizza places. But wait, there’s more. Maxwell Park (1336 Ninth St. NW) made Wine Spectator’s 2026 worldwide restaurant awards list, achieving Best of Award of Excellence. And Brittany Carlson, co-owner of Shaw’s Lulu’s Winegarden, was chosen by the Washingtonian as one of Washington’s Most Stylish People of 2026.
Alley Fest 2026
Alley Living Together, the neighborhood association of the residents of Blagden Alley and Naylor Court, held its annual Alley Fest the evening of Aug. 26. Subtitled the Homecoming Edition, the night saw the community share hot dogs, drinks and memories about the revitalization of the alleys over the years. Former alley resident John Fishell serenaded the crowd with acoustic versions of 90s grunge classics. Videographer Todd Clark reported on his progress producing a documentary on the history of the alleys.
Shaw National Night Out 2026
Shaw held this year’s National Night Out, its celebration of public safety in the neighborhood, on the evening of Aug. 4 at the Kennedy Recreation Center. There were free food and beverages for everyone and a distribution of backpacks for neighborhood Kids line up to receive backpacks for school at Shaw’s National Night Out. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, courtesy of Shaw Main Streets
#dineinshaw #drinkinshaw #shopinshaw #loveshaw
NEW SHAW LOCATION!
Coco Robotics delivery carts outside Shaw’s Beau Thai restaurant. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, courtesy of Shaw Main Streets
students. Attendees included Jeffrey Caroll, the interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, and members of the Third Police District as well as representatives of District agencies and services. The US Secret Service was there, and the US Park Police brought one of its horses to the event.
Immaculate Conception Pet Blessing Oct. 4
Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church will hold a blessing of pets on Sunday, Oct. 4, the feast day of Saint Francis. The blessing will start at 12:45 p.m. outside the church. Refreshments will be provided. The event is sponsored by the Ladies Sodality. ◆
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Coco Delivery Service in Shaw
Carts from the autonomous food delivery service Coco Robotics have been seen in front of prominent Shaw restaurants lately. The autonomous carts are delivering restaurant meals in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and San Jose and are expected to reduce food delivery costs by 20%. Coco intends to “help local businesses grow, make delivery more affordable, reduce unnecessary car trips and build technology that fits naturally into the communities it serves.” The District Department of Transportation has given permits to Coco Robotics and other personal delivery device (PDD) services to operate in a one-mile service area with up to 25 devices for now.
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Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor.
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BULLETIN BOARD blessings for animal companions. Animal Reiki may support relaxation and stress reduction, emotional balance, comfort for aging animals, recovery following illness or medical procedures and greater trust between animals and caregivers. Every animal responds differently; some may become sleepy or relaxed, seek closer contact or simply enjoy the calm atmosphere. sacredinkjournaling.com.
About The DC Arts Center’s Pen Pal Project
Photo: Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery Nights Return
Every second Thursday of September, October and November from 6 to 9 p.m. in the East Building, the National Gallery of Art offers free themed events bringing together art, live performances, gallery experiences and artmaking. The lottery for passes opens Monday through Thursday the week before each event. In September, American Icons celebrates the people, places and symbols that shape our shared and personal stories. Monster Mash in October offers a Halloween-inspired evening of costumes, music and creative surprises. Gratitude closes the season in November with opportunities to reflect, create and celebrate community. This fall’s National Gallery Nights are Sept. 10, Oct. 8 and Nov. 12. nga.gov/nights.
Studio Theatre’s 2026-2027 Season Announced
Here’s the lineup: Wish You Were Here, Sept. 23 to Nov. 1. Salme’s getting married and her four best friends get her ready in a flurry of tulle and teasing about the wedding night ahead. Handle With Care, Oct. 14 to 25. Handle With Care is literally a show in a box, without pre-made scenes or a script that precisely dictates when to enter and exit. Wilderness Generation, Nov. 18 to Jan. 3. Four cousins return to the family homestead to pack up their grandmother’s house in Tidewater Virginia. We Had A World, Jan. 13 to Feb. 21. Joshua’s grandmother calls with a mission: She’s dying, he’s a playwright and it’s time for him to write about the family. Liberation, March
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24 to May 9. It’s 1970 in Ohio; feminism is promising change and journalist Lizzie wants in. Soon she’s meeting weekly with five other women learning to tell the truth about their lives. Wine In The Wilderness, May 12 to June 20. Bill is sheltering in his apartment during the Harlem riots of July 1964 when friends arrive for refuge, bringing a woman they want him to meet. Studio Theatre is at 1501 14th St. NW. studiotheatre.org.
Reiki Animal Blessing
On Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 to 11 a.m., Unity of Washington, DC, 1225 R St. NW, hosts a “Reiki Animal Blessing” bringing together animal lovers, pet owners and community members for connection, wellness and
The DC Arts Center’s Pen Pal Project is a neighborhood initiative preserving the art of correspondence while fostering connection and dialogue within
Adams Morgan. Participants are matched through a brief survey and receive a welcome letter at The DC Arts Center introducing their pen pal and outlining the exchange. From this first letter, a correspondence begins, defined by anticipation and continuity. The project seeks to cultivate a more engaged and connected neighborhood. All materials are provided, and participants of all writing backgrounds are encouraged to take part. dcartscenter.org/penpals.
Grounding Our Dreams/Dreaming New Ground: Art Enables at 25 Opening Reception
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5:30 to
Nic with Jon
Capitol Hill Porchfest (Come for the music, stay for the community.)
On Saturday, Oct. 10 (rain date, Oct. 11), 2 to 6 p.m., dozens of bands play front porches, stoops and yards across Capitol Hill. The festival is free, outdoors and all ages; dogs are welcome if they are fine with crowds. Porches are across Capitol Hill, Hill East, Lincoln Park and Barracks Row, walkable end to end in about half an hour. Take Metro to Eastern Market, Capitol South, Potomac Avenue, Stadium–Armory or Union Station. Street parking is limited. Bikeshare is available throughout Capitol Hill. capitolhillporchfest.com.
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.
DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust
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HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down DC4ME years or older who have fallen behind on DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with down HPAP provides interest free loansoptional forofinsurance down serves as a deferred co-administrator and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. payment assistance to D.C. government employees. this DC Department of Housing and Community Qualified District homeowners can receivegovernment up serves as afull-time co-administrator of to Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer DC4ME is offered to current District this DC Department of Housing and Community program. employees, including employees of District governmentDevelopment’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public program. Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/ DC4MEemployer providesfalls mortgage assistance borrower’s under the oversight with of theoptional Council down payment assistance to D.C. government of the District of Columbia. DC4ME is offered full-time yearsemployees. or older who have fallen behind to oncurrent insurance and District tax payments as a resultemployees, of their reverse mortgage. government including employees Qualified District homeowners receive to of or District government-based instrumentalities, DC4ME VA Loan Product years older who have fallencan behind onup insurance
independent D.C. Public Charter Schools, and tax payments as a result of is their reverse mortgage. The DC4ME VA agencies, Loan Product a VA mortgage product and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's Qualified homeowners canHousing receive up to Agency offered byDistrict thefalls District of Columbia Finance employer under the oversight of the Council of (DCHFA). In addition to the traditional VA benefits, like no the District of Columbia. DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance, this down payment assistance to D.C. government product includes 3% assistance, funded by DCHFA, that employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time DC4ME provides assistance optional District employees, including employees can begovernment used towardmortgage eligible closing costswith or prepaid items. COVID-19 payment assistance toinstrumentalities, D.C. government ofdown District government-based This makes the DC4ME VA Loan Product one of the most employees. DC4ME isD.C. offered to Charter current full-time independent agencies, Public Schools, DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to affordable and accessible loan options for qualified militaryand organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's District government employees, including employees those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 employer falls under the oversight of the Council of ofconnected District government-based instrumentalities, borrowers. pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of the District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's for up falls to six months. employer under the oversight HomeAdvantage DCof the Council of the District of Columbia. HomeAdvantage DC makes homeownership in Washington, COVID-19 D.C. more accessible by offering eligible buyers DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistancebelowto those affected by thefinancing impacts of theflexible COVID-19 market mortgage with assistance options. pandemic. Qualified borrowers canhomebuyers receive a loan ofa choice COVID-19 The program provides qualified with up toMAP $5,000COVID-19 per month provides to put toward theirassistance mortgage to DC financial ofup financing structures, including options with and without for to six months. those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 down payment assistance, to support the purchase pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loanof ofa home in the District of Columbia. Qualified home buyers up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for upbe toeligible six months. may for financing with or without down payment 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG assistance, depending on their needs.
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Visit www.DCHFA.org how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. Visit www.DCHFA.org 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.
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The Invisible Line Photo: Courtesy of the artist
The Skin of Discomfort at Dupont Underground
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Through Oct. 4, Dupont Underground presents The Skin of Discomfort, featuring monumental textile patchworks by Chilean artist Paola Podestá. Podestá transforms traditional quilt-making into both a bold aesthetic medium and political metaphor. Through massive textile installations, the exhibition confronts contemporary topics including feminism, environmental justice, fracking, natural resource depletion, immigration and mental health. By assembling disparate fabric scraps into unified compositions, Podestá illustrates how societal struggles are interconnected and invites reflection on building a more equitable future. Dupont Underground is at 19 Dupont Circle NW (red entrance next to the Dupont Circle Starbucks on 19th Street). dupontunderground.org. 7:30 p.m., join MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, for an opening reception celebrating Grounding Our Dreams/ Dreaming New Ground: Art Enables at 25, on view on the fifth floor through Jan. 18, 2027. Art Enables supports the creative and professional growth of artists with disabilities and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026. As DC’s only studio and gallery representing artists with disabilities, Art Enables presents the exhibition in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. It explores the grounded, lived experiences of individuals with disabilities alongside the drive to dream toward something new—the what is and the what could be. These dualities appear throughout the artists’ work: past and future, earth and sky, confinement and expansiveness, shadow and highlight. dclibrary. org/grounding-our-dreams-dreaming-new-ground-art-enables-25.
Yasmin Elhady’s Not Exactly a Nun at Woolly
What happens when a Muslim woman who has spent years helping audiences laugh at cultural expectations turns the spotlight on her own? Comedian, attorney and Hulu’s Muslim Matchmaker co-host Yasmin Elhady takes center stage in Not Exactly a Nun, her first solo theater show, for five performances, Sept. 25, 26 and Oct. 2, 3 and 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. At its heart, the show is about the identities we inherit, expectations we carry and courage it takes to decide who we want to become. General admission, $42.50; students, $30.25. woollymammoth.net.
Studio Theatre’s 20262027 Season Announced
Here’s the lineup: Wish You Were
Here, Sept. 23 to Nov. 1. Salme’s getting married and her four best friends get her ready in a flurry of tulle and teasing about the wedding night ahead. Handle With Care, Oct. 14 to 25. Handle With Care is literally a show in a box, without pre-made scenes or a script that precisely dictates when to enter and exit. Wilderness Generation, Nov. 18 to Jan. 3. Four cousins return to the family homestead to pack up their grandmother’s house in Tidewater Virginia. We Had A World, Jan. 13 to Feb. 21. Joshua’s grandmother calls with a mission: She’s dying, he’s a playwright and it’s time for him to write about the family. Liberation, March 24 to May 9. It’s 1970 in Ohio; feminism is promising change and journalist Lizzie wants in. Soon she’s meeting weekly with five other women learning to tell the truth about their lives. Wine In The Wilderness, May 12 to June 20. Bill is sheltering in his apartment during the Harlem riots of July 1964 when friends arrive for refuge, bringing a woman they want him to meet. Studio Theatre is at 1501 14th St. NW. studiotheatre.org.
District Running Collective’s District 19 Race Registration Opens
District 19, on Sunday, Oct. 4, in Anacostia, is a crew-led race experience created by District Running Collective. Featuring 5k, 19k and 19mile distances, the event was built as a community-centered experience rooted in storytelling, culture and the city itself. It brings runners from across the nation together to celebrate movement, community and running culture. Registration is $65 for the 5k; $75 for the 19k; and $85 for the 19-miler. districtrunningcollective.com.
Dead Man’s Run 5k at Congressional Cemetery
Join Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 5 to 7 p.m., for its annual fall 5k fundraiser.
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The race begins inside the cemetery before continuing onto the Anacostia Trail for a spooky evening run with music, costumes and fun. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for best individual and team costumes, top finishers, age-group winners and best team time. The flat, fast course is USATF certified and starts and finishes inside the cemetery, with an out and back on the Anacostia Trail. Water is available at the start/finish and halfway point. $40. congressionalcemetery.org.
DMV arts landscape. Washington Glass School: 25 Years of Glass & Community, Sept. 18 to Oct. 31, celebrates its quarter-century milestone. The exhibition brings together founders, resident artists and alumni to explore the “Glass Secessionist” movement—a philosophy centered on storytelling and the marriage of glass with mixed media. From monumental public works to intimate sculptures, the pieces reflect a legacy of mentorship and technical innovation. Opening reception is Saturday, Sept. 19, 5 to 8 p.m.; artist and curator talk, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 to 4 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange is at 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD. Gallery hours are Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sundays. pgparks.com/facilities/brentwood-arts-exchange.
AARP and DACL Annual Community Health, Wellness and Resource Fair
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter and DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) at their annual Community Health, Wellness and Resource Fair at River Park, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. Participants include AARP, DACL, Office of the Attorney General, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Metro Access and Transport DC, DC Board of Elections, PEPCO, Arena Stage, Southwest Library, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, DISB, Office of the People’s Counsel, IRS, Social Security and Councilmember Charles Allen’s Office. Contact jonesbettyjeantolbert@gmail.com with questions.
The Supreme Court’s Online Ticketing Reservation System
Through this system, members of the public can apply for tickets to Supreme Court argument or nonargument sessions. Three weeks before each Court day, lottery results are announced and tickets issued electronically to selected applicants. The Supreme Court holds roughly 60 to 75 oral arguments each year. Arguments are generally held Monday through Wednesday, two weeks each month between October and April. Most days, the Court hears arguments at 10 and 11 a.m.; a third, if scheduled, typically begins at 1 p.m. About two to four months before a monthly argument session, the Court releases a calendar listing cases to be argued. ticket. supremecourt.gov/onlineticketing/Request.
“Soul Strolls” at Congressional Cemetery
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Congressional Cemetery’s annual Soul Strolls returns this fall with its 2026 theme, “Becoming America,” exploring the tension between the nation’s founding ideals and realities of American history through stories of people interred at the cemetery. Twilight tours take place Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, with
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DPW’s Food Waste Smart Bins Hit a Milestone
Erin Kaleel of Feel Handbags
Smithsonian Craft2Wear
On Sept. 25 and 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 80 artists from across the country showcase and sell art and crafts, including jewelry, wearable art and accessories, at the Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Dr. SW, National Mall entrance. General admission, $25; students with ID, $15; multiday, $45. smithsoniancraft2wear.org.
In August 2023, DPW began the Curbside Composting Pilot Program, which has since transitioned to the Residential Food Waste Collection program. Since its inception, DPW has provided curbside collection to 12,000 DPW-serviced households, keeping more than six million pounds of food scraps out of the city’s trash. DPW is also celebrating collection of 1,000,000 pounds through its Food Waste Smart Bins—equivalent to about 50 fully loaded trash trucks. At Alethia Tanner Park on Aug. 24, DPW Director Anthony Crispino and the agency’s composting experts highlighted the drop putting DC over the 1,000,000-pound mark. dpw.dc.gov.
AFI Latin American Film Festival (Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Bem-vindo!)
lantern-lit walks and immersive performances by costumed interpreters. Through the lives of activists, agitators, freedom seekers, reformers and ordinary citizens, “Soul Strolls: Becoming America” examines how generations of Americans challenged, expanded and redefined the nation’s founding ideals. Live music, with themed cocktails and food available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged. Select tours offer family-friendly times and ASL interpretation. VIP packages include a private tour group, complimentary drink ticket, swag bag and exclusive character performance. $40. congressionalcemetery.org.
The AFI Latin American Film Festival at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD, is Sept. 16 to Oct. 7. One of North America’s largest and longestrunning showcases of Latin American cinema, the 37th annual festival features award-winning films, conversations with filmmaker guests and embassy-hosted parties. Films from Spain and Portugal celebrate Ibero-American cultural connections during National Hispanic Heritage Month. General admission, $14; seniors, $11; matinees, $10; children, $8. silver.afi.com/calendar.
Brentwood Arts Exchange’s Washington Glass School: 25 Years of Glass & Community
The Mid-City DC Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. Send your notice to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆
Founded in 2001, the Washington Glass School has evolved from a local studio into a pillar of the
REAL ESTATE
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. Neighborhood
Price
BR
1344 Girard St NW 4025 Kansas Ave NW 1421 Meridian Pl NW 3731 9th St NW 1421 Monroe St NW 1202 Irving St NW 1011 Otis Pl NW 3547 16th St NW 1009 NW Irving St NW 1349 Irving St NW 1434 Perry Pl NW 1216 Shepherd St NW 432 Newton Pl NW 737 Morton St NW 1408 Newton St NW 3815 10th St NW 512 Quincy St NW 1366 Newton St NW 418 Luray Pl NW 528 Taylor St NW 631 Keefer Pl NW
$1,650,000 $1,199,990 $1,185,000 $1,135,000 $1,100,000 $1,025,000 $1,011,100 $995,000 $950,000 $922,500 $900,000 $887,550 $868,000 $850,000 $788,000 $725,000 $660,000 $575,000 $570,000 $530,000 $425,000
5 6 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 6 3 4 3 3 3 3
$1,625,000 $1,610,000 $1,146,000
3 3 4
$878,000 $610,000 $545,000 $410,000
4 3 3 3
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
DUPONT
2011 Hillyer Pl NW 1747 Swann St NW 1622 Florida Ave NW
ECKINGTON
148 Todd Pl NE 140 U St NE 2126 4th St NE 2114 4th St NE
KALORAMA
1823 Phelps Pl NW $8,590,000 6 2347 Ashmead Pl NW $2,310,000 6 2230 NW Decatur Pl NW $2,275,000 4 1944 Calvert St NW $1,603,000 6
LEDROIT PARK
146 U St NW 1928 2nd St NW 2306 1st St NW
LOGAN CIRCLE
1103 P St NW 1440 Swann St NW
$1,135,000 $670,000 $600,000
4 3 4
$2,195,000 $1,608,000
7 3
$830,000
3
$920,000
4
410 N St NW $1,013,000 1604 8th St NW $999,000 $785,000 427 R St NW 617 Rhode Island Ave NW $780,000
3 3 3 3
NOMA
626 Morton Pl NE
OLD CITY #2 86 P St NW
SHAW
Condo
ADAMS MORGAN
2380 Champlain St NW #203 $717,000 2 1810 Kalorama Rd NW #B1 $610,000 2 2337 Champlain St NW #305 $557,500 2 2432 Ontario Rd NW #1 $534,000 2 1 2426 Ontario Rd NW #401 $489,000 1949 Calvert St NW #1/2 $380,000 1
BLOOMINGDALE
43 Quincy Pl NW #1 207 Florida Ave NW #3
$780,000 $590,000
CENTRAL
1010 Mass., Ave NW #804 $1,010,000 1111 25th St NW #819 $610,000 $460,000 1150 K St NW #1109 777 7th St NW #UNIT #1124 $280,000
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
1369 Parkwood Pl NW #3 $915,000 $875,000 2534 11th St NW #1 1306 Monroe St NW #2 $840,000 1435 NW Clifton St NW #7 $755,000 3039 16th St NW #302 $710,000 3815 14th St NW #5 $649,900 1613 Harvard St NW #405 $639,000 1443 Chapin St NW #302 $635,000 $589,000 2750 14th St NW #603 1107 Harvard St NW #R $540,000 1463 Harvard St NW #2 $475,000 1437 Spring Rd NW #25 $385,000 4010 Kansas Ave NW #2 $324,000 1421 Spring Rd NW #101 $249,900 $239,000 1457 Park Rd NW #408 1451 Park Rd NW #111 $211,000
3 2 2 1 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 1 1
DUPONT
2150 Florida Ave NW #PH4 $800,000 2 $795,000 2 1737 Willard St NW #7 2141 P St NW #503 $750,000 2 1280 21st St NW #409 $585,000 2 1330 New Hampshire Ave NW #301 $449,000 1 $435,000 1 1502 17th St NW #10 1615 Q St NW #T1 $399,999 2 1545 18th St NW #303 $338,150 1 1 1711 Mass., Ave NW #628 $260,000 1 1727 Mass., Ave NW #502 $241,000 1260 21st St NW #314 $233,000 0
ECKINGTON
1625 Eckington Pl NE #421 $599,000 1948 3rd St NE #D $440,000
2 2
KALORAMA
2029 Connecticut Ave NW #73 $3,500,000 3 1935 Belmont Rd NW #1122 $1,150,000 3 $935,000 3 2107 S St NW #A 2127 California St NW #704 $795,000 2 2510 Cliffbourne Pl NW #300 $480,000 1 1953 Calvert St NW #D $465,000 1 2007 Wyoming Ave NW #14 $449,000 1
LOGAN CIRCLE
1600 13th St NW #B $2,175,000 4 1427 Rhode Island Ave NW #PH01 $2,095,000 2 1440 Church St NW #406 $1,250,000 2 1401 Q St NW #505 $1,190,000 2 $975,000 2 1222 11th St NW #2 $750,000 2 1311 13th St NW #305 2125 14th St NW #401 $730,000 2 1239 Vermont Ave NW #709 $539,000 2 $515,000 2 1210 R St NW #B15 1117 O St NW #2 $507,500 2 $429,000 2 1011 M St NW #208 1300 N St NW #214 $415,000 1 $370,000 1 1245 13th St NW #311 1245 13th St NW #414 $364,000 1 $307,500 1 1 Scott Cir NW #801 u
SE PTE M B E R 2026 27
KIDS & FAMILY
Dead Man’s Run Kids’ Race
Dead Man’s Run, Congressional Cemetery’s annual fall 5K fundraiser, is Saturday, Oct. 10, 5 to 7 p.m. The race begins inside the cemetery and continues onto the Anacostia Trail for a spooky evening run with music and fun. The 5K is $40. The children’s run is free for children with a parent, guardian or friend registered for the 5K; otherwise, the fee is $5. Register for the children’s race in the chapel on race day; a parent or guardian must sign a waiver. Prizes are awarded to top finishers and the best individual and team costumes. Costume contest registration is on race day near the starting line. congressionalcemetery.org.
Violet Vibes: A Community Celebration
Family Day at Lincoln’s Cottage
Photo: Natasha Lamalle
Homecoming Family Day is Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at President Lincoln’s Cottage, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. During the Civil War, the Lincoln family called the Cottage home, and Tad Lincoln spent three summers exploring the grounds and playing with friends, soldiers, animals and family. Homecoming invites families to enjoy the grounds with a free day of activities encouraging self-expression, curiosity, connection, empathy and belonging. Enjoy arts and crafts, story time, pony rides and a petting zoo, live music, Cottage and grounds tours, Zumba and family workouts. Food truck concessions are not included. Valid identification is required at the security gate. lincolncottage.org.
The Annual Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest
Every year, the National Park Service hosts an oratorical contest at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. Students ages six to eighteen of all abilities are invited to memorize and perform part of a Douglass speech before a panel of judges, experiencing the transformative power of language that Douglass discovered as a young man. This year’s contest is Nov. 17 to 21, with both online and in-person participation. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-selected basis until timeslots are filled or Nov. 10, whichever comes first. First-place winners will be invited to perform at the annual Frederick Douglass Birthday event in Washington, DC, in February 2027 or at a program at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in July 2027. nps.gov/frdo/ learn/kidsyouth/oratorical-contest.
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On Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., at 101 District Square SW, wear your favorite shade of purple and join the National Museum of African American History and Culture for Violet Vibes, a family affair at The Wharf honoring a decade of the museum’s guiding vision: A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story. Help celebrate ten years of stories that have not only shaped America, but the full complexity of the African American lived experience. nmaahc.si.edu.
Library of Congress Upcoming Monthly Family Days
On Sept. 19: Mark the 50th anniversary of the American Folklife Center with activities, displays and a new exhibition, “Alive in Many Hands: 50 Years of the American Folklife Center.” On Oct. 17: As part of the Library’s commemoration of America 250: It’s Your Story, October’s Family Day honors Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. On Nov. 14: Explore the role of family recipes in Thanksgiving traditions and learn about fall festivals around the world. On Dec. 26: Use winter-themed imagery from the Library’s collections to create holiday cards, bookmarks and more. These programs are held on the mezzanine level of the Library’s Jefferson Building from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free, but tickets are required for the Jefferson Building. Register for tickets at loc.gov. NPS employee showing children newspapers in
front of a statue of Frederick Douglass at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.
Dance Classes at St. Marks
Beginner tap class for teens and adults is on Wednesdays 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday ballet classes for kids beginning on Sept. 14 are: pre-ballet for four-year-olds; ballet for kids five and six; and ballet for seven and eight-year-olds. Musical Theatre Dance Classes for ten-years-old and up are on Fridays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. St. Marks is at 301 A St. SE. Visit and register at stmarksdance.org.u u
SE PTE M B E R 2026 29
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