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MIDCITY FEBRUARY 2013

1250 Taylor St. NW Washington, DC 20011 p. 202 545-0515 f. 202 545-0517 www.bridgespcs.org

Serving Pre-K3, Pre-K4, Kindergarten and 1st grade for the 2013-2014 school year

A new grade will be added each year through 5th grade. INFORMATION / OPEN HOUSE SESSIONS ON THURSDAYS: February 7 & 21 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am March 7 & 14 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am April 11 & 25 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am You must register to attend, limit of 20 people per session. Call (202) 545-0515 to register.

Application deadline March 15th, 2013. Lottery March 22nd, 2013 Apply for admissions at www.bridgespcs.org or by coming to the school. We are building on our strong foundation as an early childhood program. Come be a founding member of the elementary school!

Program Features: Before Care starting at 7:30 am and after care until 6:00 pm. Small classroom size and well trained staff. Individual planning for each student. Hands-on and project-based curriculum. Bridges Public Charter School is free and open to all DC residents. Tuition paid by non-residents.

CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2013 10

08 GO SEE DO 10 Calendar out and about

22 36

Rogue 24 • Emily Clark

Insatiable • Jonathan Bardzik

Retail Therapy • Mariessa Terrell

Jazz Avenues • Steve Monroe

your neighborhood 26

The Nose • Anonymous

E on DC • E. Ethelbert Miller

District Beat • Martin Austermuhle

The Numbers • Ed Lazere

Shaw Streets • Ralph Brabham

Bloomingdale Business • Jazzy Wright

Logan Circles • Mark F. Johnson

kids and family 36

Kids and Family Notebook • Kathleen Donner

at home 43

Changing Hands • Don Denton

44 Classifieds COVER: Squid, lardo, ink, sea grass, and Benton’s 30-month ham broth; at Rogue 24. Photo: Andrew Lightman.

Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com

Look for Next Issue of MidCity DC on March 9 Staff Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com

BEAUTY, Health& Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Mariessa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Hit the City: Joylyn Hopkins • joylyn@joylynhopkins.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Scott Fazzini • scott.fazzini@gmail.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Travel: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com

KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com

General Assignment Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Dana Bell • dana@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ralph Brabham • ralphbrabham@yahoo.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Gwyn Jones • gwynjones@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Alice Ollstein • alice.ollstein@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Linda Samuel • indabsamuel@yahoo.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Jennifer Zatkowski • jenn@hillrag.com

Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Rindy O’Brien • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com HomeStyle: Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com

Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Kyungmin Lee • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com Distribution Distribution Manager: Andrew Lightman Distributors: Southwest Distribution Distribution Information: distribution@hillrag.com Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com. 6 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

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GO.SEE.DO. Frederick Douglass Birthday Celebration

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, around 1818. The exact year and date of Douglass’ birth are unknown, though later in life he chose to celebrate it on February 14. On February 16 (the nearest Saturday), come celebrate Frederick Douglass’s 195th birthday and explore Douglass’s Civil War. The Frederick Douglass House in Southeast DC will have music from the period, reenactors demonstrating a soldier’s life and weapons, activities for kids, and lectures on African American soldiers in the Civil War. At the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. Opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and activities run all day until 3:30 p.m.. Free and open to the public, no tickets required. Swing by and wish Mr. Douglass a happy birthday. 202-426-5961. nps.gov/FRDO

frederick Douglass impersorator at last year’s celebration. Photo: Courtesy of the national Park Service

Chinese New Year Parade in DC

Chinese new Year’s lion dancing. Photo: the aD agency 8 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

On Sunday, February 10, 2013, the Chinese community of the greater Washington metropolitan area will be celebrating the “Chinese Lunar New Year 4711” in Washington, DC Chinatown. The lunar year 4711 will mark the year of the snake. Occupying the 6th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the snake symbolizes such character traits as intelligence, gracefulness and materialism. When it comes to decision-making, snakes are extremely analytical and precise. Contemplative and private, the Snake is not outwardly emotional. He can appear cunning and reticent and works very modestly in the business environment. The Snake will plot and scheme to make certain things turn out exactly as they want them to. The parade starts at 2 p.m., Mayor Vincent Gray will speak at 3 p.m., followed by a special fire cracker presentation at 4 p.m. The Parade starts at 6th & I sts. NW and ends at 6th & H sts. NW. chineseparadedc.com

Green Hat Distillery Tours and Tastings

Green Hat Gin is a truly unique artisanal spirit. Each batch of Green Hat Gin is crafted in this small DC distillery. The result is a super-premium gin that excels both in the finest cocktails and with a small cube in the gin-lover’s neat glass. They mill the highest quality soft winter wheat fresh for each batch and mash it in a temperature-controlled process to release the sugars needed for fermentation. The mash is then fermented to create the “beer” that feeds our distillation process. After being concentrated and clarified in our traditional copper pot still, two more distillations transform the crystal spirit into a refined and gently aromatic gin. In the final distillation, they suspend their hand-selected botanicals inside the still to allow passing spirit vapors to gently extract the right flavor and scent notes. Finished with chill filtering and bottled by hand at the distillery, Green Hat Gin is a Washington original. Cheers! On Saturdays, stop by anytime between 1-4 p.m. for a tour and tasting. New Columbia Distillers LLC, 1832 Fenwick St. NE. 202-733-1710. greenhatgin.com

The New Columbia Distillery

“Lunch Bites” at Anderson House

The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Its mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members. Now a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the principles and ideals of its founders, the modern Society maintains its headquarters, library, and museum at Anderson House in Washington, DC. Once a month on a Friday at 12:30 p.m., you are invited to an in-depth talk by an Society staff member about an artifact, painting, weapon or other item from the Society’s collection. On February 15, learn about “Unique 18th-Century Bookbindings.” On March 15, learn about “Conserving a Portrait of a Revolutionary War Veteran.” The talks are free and there is time for questions and answers. Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-7852040. societyofthecincinnati.org

A Society of the Cincinnati staff member discusses the treasured portrait of Isabel Anderson in the Anderson House Dining Room during a Lunch Bite object talk. Photo: Courtesy of The Society of the Cincinnati

Olney Theatre Center Opens Its 75th Anniversary Season with Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, will open Olney Theatre Center 75th Anniversary Season playing on the Mainstage from February 7 through March 10. Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy and passion you will never forget. In the tradition of Hair and Rent, Spring Awakening is a musical that has captured the heart and soul of a new generation. Based on the Expressionist play that caused a scandal in 19th-century Germany, Spring Awakening features a captivating score by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sate. Spring Awakening is beyond sex and controversial issues. It’s about conversation, one that Olney Theatre Center invites the Washington D.C. metro area to be a part of. Tickets are $32-$65. Olney Theatre Center, celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2013, is an award-winning, nonprofit, Equity theatre. Located just north of DC in Montgomery County, Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round. For more information, visit olneytheatre.org. Spring Awakening Director Steve Cosson. Photo: Courtesy of Olney Theatre Center midcitydcnews.com u 9

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calendar

FEBRUARY Woo at the Zoo

Feb 9, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 PM. Looking for the wildest way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank? Attend the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s fourth annual Woo at the Zoo on Saturday for an opportunity to learn about animal mating, dating and reproductive habits in an honest and humorous forum. Attendees and their “deer” ones will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to decorate sweets for your sweetheart. A cash bar will also be available featuring specialty drinks served in the exclusive Woo at the Zoo commemorative glass. All the fun takes place in the Zoo’s Visitor Center. $30. For 21 years and older. nationalzoo.si.edu

Andean Bears on a “date” last summer when the temperatures were soaring. Photo: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

VALENTINE’S Cupid’s Undie Run. Feb 9, (doors open at noon, run at 2:30 PM). Cupid’s Undie Run is a 1.5 mile underwear-run around the Capitol on Valentine’s weekend to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation. If you’re not running, you’ll want to watch. Pour House, 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-546-0779. cupidsundierun.com

A Drag Valenrine-Salute to the Diva. Feb 11, 8:00 PM. $25. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com

Valentine’s Day Card Workshop. Feb 9, noon-4:00 PM. They’ll have pretty papers and neat valentine-themed stamps to decorate your card. Nothing delivers love better than giving a handmade card to your valentine. Visit the museum’s stamp store and send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark. Free. Free Program. No reservation required. National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202-633-5555. postalmuseum.si.edu

History of Chocolate. Feb 12, 7:00 PM. Food historian Joyce White traces the history of of chocolate from its ancient beginnings in Meso-America to the modern day. This interactive presentation will focus on how chocolate has changed through time in terms of its cultural value and how mechanization has altered its production process. This presentation will be followed by a tasting of hot chocolate the Aztec way, an 18th century-style chocolate tart, a 19th century-style chocolate pudding, the 20th century chocolate bar, and its 21st century incarnation: with sea salt. $12. Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW. 202-337-2288. dumbartonhouse.org

Classical Revolution DC Live Ensemble Performance-Valentine’s Edition. Feb 10, 5:00-7:00 PM. Classical Revolution is more than an ensemble. Classical Revolution is more than a presenting organization. Classical Revolution is a global phenomenon, revolutionizing the way live classical music is programmed and heard. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202-387-7638. busboysandpoets.com

SpeakeasyDC’s Sucker for Love Valentine’s Day Special. Feb 14, 15 and 16. Whether you’re with your sweetie or single, SpeakeasyDC’s 6th annual Sucker for Love storytelling show is a unique and unforgettable way to spend Valentine’s Daylistening to heartfelt and hilarious true stories about loves found, lost, and imagined. $25. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. speakeasydc.org

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Matters of the Heart Showcase at Busboys. Feb 14, 7:3010:00 PM. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202-3877638. busboysandpoets.com

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Mount Vernon Celebrates Black History Month. Through Feb 28. In observance of Black History Month, Mount Vernon highlights the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation home of George and Martha Washington. Throughout the month, a daily Slave Life at Mount Vernon tour explores the lives and contributions of the slaves who lived at Mount Vernon. A wreath laying and presentation occurs daily at the slave memorial site throughout the month of February. Black History Month activities are included in regular Estate admission: adults, $17; children ages 6-11, $8; and children under 5 are admitted free. mountvernon.org Bound for Freedom’s Light-African Americans and the Civil War. Through Mar 2, 2014. This installation will focus on the roles that individual African Americans played during the

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The door on display is a bronze casting made from the original door to King’s cell in the Birmingham city jail. Photo: Courtesy of Newseum Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Feb 24, 2:00-3:30 PM. Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance remembers the glory days of the Harlem Renaissance and the artists who persevered and survived despite the struggles working against them. This one-hour presentation traces the history of this pivotal American movement. A discussion will follow the film. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Changing America-The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963. Through Sept 15. On August 28, 1963, at the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. began his speech by declaring, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity ... In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check.” Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu

Newseum Opens Exhibit Featuring MLK Birmingham Jail Cell Door

To celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, the Newseum opened “Jailed in Birmingham,” a new exhibit featuring a casting of the original jail cell door behind which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was confined after his April 1963 arrest for leading nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Ala. It was in this cell that the civil rights leader penned his historic letter defending civil disobedience. The “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” written in response to a statement by a group of eight white Alabama clergymen, includes the now-famous quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 888-639-7386. newseum.org course of this hard-fought conflict. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F sts. NW. 202-6338300. npg.si.edu A Matter of Worth. Feb 9, 10:30-11:30 AM. Come and bear witness and listen to a dramatic reading of “A Matter of Worth” by Marcia E. Cole. The year is 1855 and every enslaved man, woman, and child is subject to being sold. On this day, someone else makes the call, but 73-year-old Hannah and others have plenty to say as they provide special insight and wisdom. For reservations, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: A Panel. Feb 12, 6:30-8:30 PM. Join them for an enlightening panel discussion on the dynamic role that Frederick Douglass played in the history of Washington, DC during the era of Post-Emancipation. The panelists are Ka’mal McClarin, the curator of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; Dr. Clifford

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L. Muse Jr., Howard University Archivist and Associate Director of the MoorlandSpingarn Research Center; and John Muller, journalist and author of Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Black Studies Center, Room 316, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk “Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One” at THEARC. Feb 14, 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM. The 45-minute show will be performed by one woman, Gwendolyn Briley-Strand, who will transform into over a dozen characters while taking the audience on one of the nineteen journeys Harriet Tubman traveled through The Underground Railroad. Ms. Strand is an expert on the life of Harriet Tubman and has performed this play since 1993 in many schools, universities and organizations throughout the United States. Free. Attendance requires RSVP. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org

Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia. On view indefinitely. From Reconstruction to the second half of the 20th century, baseball, the great American pastime, was played in Washington, DC, on segregated fields. “Separate and Unequaled” looks at the phenomenal popularity and community draw of this sport when played by African Americans. Featured are such personalities as Josh Gibson and “Buck” Leonard, star players of the Negro Leagues most celebrated team, the Washington Homestead Grays. The show also highlights community teams that gave rise to the various amateur, collegiate and semi-pro black baseball teams and leagues. For special viewing hours and tours, call 202-6334844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Tour the Frederick Douglass House. Tours are at 9:00 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM, 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Ranger led tours are the only way to see the inside of the Frederick Douglass house. Tours are ticketed, and there are a limited number of tickets available for each tour. Tour tickets are available by reservation or on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis. Visitors are strongly encouraged to make a reservation to guarantee their place on the tour. Tours last approximately 30 minutes. 1411 W St. SE. 202-426-5960. nps.gov/frdo Martin Luther King. Jr. National Memorial. Visit anytime. The memorial is located at the intersection of Independence Ave and W. Basin Dr. SW. nps.gov/mlkm Trace Your DNA with AfricanAncestry.com. Founded in 2003 by Dr. Rick Kittles and Gina Paige, this Washington, DC based company has helped more than 100,000 people connect with their original roots in Africa. African Ancestry is the world leader in tracing

maternal and paternal lineages of African descent. With the industry’s largest and most comprehensive database of more than 32,000 indigenous African DNA samples, African Ancestry determines specific countries of origin-and in most cases-ethnic groups with the highest level of accuracy. African Ancestry is committed to providing a unique service to the black community, working daily to improve the cultural, emotional, physical, spiritual, and economic well-being of peoples across the African Diaspora. For more information, visit africanancestry.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival. Feb 22-Mar 10. The unique all-arts INTERSECTIONS festival returns for its fourth season bringing together more than 100 performing groups over twelve days. The festival presents intersections of music, theatre, dance, film and spoken word that offer new ways to see ourselves and to celebrate our community and our world. All five Atlas performance spaces will be alive with world premieres and innovative collaborations among artists of all ages, races, cultures and art forms. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. atlasarts.org National Cherry Blossom Festival. Mar 20-Apr 14. Kite Festival, Mar 30; waterfront fireworks, Apr 6; parade and Japanese street festival, Apr 13. .nationalcherryblossomfestival.org Volunteer at the Cherry Blossom Festival. By volunteering for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, its events largely free and open to the public, you support an important event in and for our community. You’ll also have the opportunity to make new friends and have fun. Join us in welcoming the many visitors and residents to the Festival! Go to ww.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ get-involved.

MUSIC AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Music at The Howard. Feb 10, A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, $25; Feb 12 and 13, An Evening with Anthony Hamilton, $75; Feb 14, La India, $45; Feb 15, Kenny Latimore, $40; Feb 16, Maysa, $50; Feb 17, Temptation with DJ Twin, $10; Feb 18, Wind Me Up, Chuch! Mondays, $25; Feb 20, K. Michelle, $28; Feb 21, M.O.P., $23; Feb 22, Raekwon; Feb 23, The Ringers, $30; Feb 24, Dawn Richard, Aaron Camper and Bridget Kelly, $22.50; $27; Feb 25, Live! at the Howard Theatre All-Star Variety Show, $25; Feb 27, The Skatelites, $22; Feb 28, Ramsey Lewis, $40; Mar 1, Naughty By Nature, $37; Mar 2, Sandra Bernhard, $40; Mar 3, Fishbone, $22; Mar 4, Trinidad Jame$, $1--; Mar 5, Booker T. Jones, $30; Mar 6, AVERY*Sunshine, $23; Mar 7, Sweet Honey in the Rock, $45; Mar 8,

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Bareto, $22. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com Kirk Whalum and Chante Moore at Lincoln Theatre. Feb 15, 8:00 PM. $55-$75. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolntheatre.org Shirley Caesar at Lincoln Theatre. Feb 23, 8:00 PM. $30-$50. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolntheatre.org The 9 Songwriter Series. Feb 28, 8:00 PM. Founded in 2008 by singer-songwriter Justin Trawick, The 9 Songwriter Series features nine singer/songwriters performing in rotation and often sitting in with each other, providing audiences with a rich, intimate, varied listening experience. $15. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org Suzanne Vega with Justin Trawick at Sixth and I. Mar 2, 8:00 PM. $35. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org Gretchen Parlato at Sixth and I. Mar 9, 8:00 PM. $30. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org

THEATER AND FILM AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD The Minotaur at the Atlas. Through Feb 17. A young man with the head of a bull paces his cage and contemplates his fate. Across the sea a warrior sets sail with just one goal. Between them, a girl is ready to take on the world…as soon as she can win a Connect Four game. In this smart and sexy modern retelling of this famous myth, playwright Anna Ziegler (Photograph 51, Dov and Ali) creates a whimsical, haunting and poignant tale about the difficulty of writing your own story. Rorschach Theatre, Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Our Town at Ford’s. Through Feb 24. Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama presents a timeless commentary on the transience of human existence. Teenagers George and Emily meet, fall in love, marry-and suffer the slings and arrows of everyday life. Wilder transforms their ordinary story into a poignant and captivating exploration of mortality and the interconnectivity of human beings. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. fords.org Cabaret at the Keegan. Through Mar 2. Step into the Kit Kat Klub, a place teeming with seedy nightlife on the eve of Hitler’s rise to power in Weimar Germany. This 8 time Tony Award-winning musical classic, based on Christopher Isherwood’s BERLIN STORIES, depicts the interlocking stories of a cabaret singer, a writer from America, and the deni-

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zens of Berlin, all caught up in the swirling maelstrom of a changing society. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. 703-892-0202. keegantheatre.com The Mother****r with the Hat at Studio. Through Mar 10. An unfamiliar hat in Jackie’s living room threatens his relationship, his parole, and his fledgling sobriety in this intoxicating and cheerfully vulgar look at the complicated recovery from love and other addictions. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org Good People at Arena. Through Mar 10. Enter South Boston’s Lower End, where minimum wage is the maximum wage and hard work and sacrifice don’t ensure success. Facing eviction, single mother and mouthy “Southie” native Margaret Walsh reunites with an old flame who “made good,” hoping that his fortune can somehow improve her own. But not every man wants to relive his past, and with each surprising twist of their meeting they discover the dire costs the truth can hold. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arena-stage.org Hughie at Shakespeare Theatre. Through Mar 17. Shakespeare Theatre, Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org Race at Theatre J. Through Mar 17. The latest work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Glengarry Glen Ross ruthlessly examines guilt, betrayal and racial posturing. Two male lawyers are called to defend a wealthy white client charged with the rape of a black woman, while their female associate betrays an agenda of her own. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 202-518-9400. washingtondcjcc.org The Convert at Woolly. Feb 13-Mar 10. Set in 1895 amid the colonial scramble for Southern Africa, the play follows Jekesai, a young girl who escapes village life and a forced marriage arrangement, ultimately discovering Christianity under the guidance of an African teacher. However, as anti-colonial sentiments rise to a boiling point, Jekesai must choose between her new European God and the spirits of her ancestors. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net ITVS Community Cinema Screening at Busboys. Feb 16, 5:00-7:00 PM. A free monthly screening series, Community Cinema features films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202-387-7638. busboysandpoets.com “Color Outside the Lines” Film Screening. Feb 18, 7:00-9:00 PM. Presented by Words, Beats & Life in partnership with Busboys and Poets this film is the brainchild of one of the world’s most widely recognized black tattoo artists; Miya Bailey. For over 5 years the idea has always been in his head to create a film that not only sheds light on the artform, but also allows the artform to be represented in

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the right way. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202-387-7638. busboysandpoets.com The Game We Played-A Story of Negro League Baseball. Feb 23, 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM. The Our House Theater Company debuts its 2013 theater production of The Game We Played. The Game We Played is an original production that tells the story of the Negro Baseball League through the lives of several prominent African Americans, such as ball players Andrew “Rube” Foster, Satchel Paige, and Josh Gibson, as well as entrepreneurial league owners including Mrs. Effa Manley. For more information about The Game We Played or to find out how children can join the Our House Theater Company, contact Florida Avenue Baptist Church at 202-6673409. $15-$12.50. Florida Avenue Baptist Church, 623 Florida Ave. NW (across the street from the Howard Theatre). FlavBC.org Screening of “Urban Dragons”. Feb 24, 6:00-9:00 PM. Screening of “Urban Dragons” presented by Metropolitan DC Health Consortium. BUSBOYS @ 5th & K, 1025 5th St. NW. 202-789-2227. busboysandpoets.com Tuesdays at Noon National Geographic Movies. Enjoy great selections from National Geographic TV and Channel films, All Roads Film Project, and independent filmmakers. All screenings held in Grosvenor Auditorium. Free. National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. 202-857-7588. nationalgeographic.comwoollymammoth.net

LITERARY EVENTS Nine On the Ninth Monthly Poetry Series. Feb 9, 9:00 PM. Nine On The Ninth is a now legendary monthly poetry series that debuted in October 2005. It’s a feature driven format, which means, the feature opens the show and the open mic follows. They do this to make sure you get the full effect of each and every specially selected feature they bring to the Langston Room stage. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202-3877638. busboysandpoets.com General Stanley McChrystal at Sixth and I. Feb 12, 7:00 PM. General Stanley McChrystal, commanding officer of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, a West Point graduate and a four-star general, witnessed and participated in some of our military’s most challenging struggles. In his work leading the Joint Special Operations Command he steered the collection of staggering amounts of intelligence in order to find and remove the most influential and notorious terrorists, including the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. $15 for 1 ticket; $30 for 1 book and 1 ticket; $40 for 1 book and 2 tickets. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org Washington DC Chef’s Table at Sxith and I. Feb 19, 7:00 PM. In DC, political rivals disagree on just about everything, but there

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is widespread bi-partisan support for our city’s restaurant scene. The nation’s capital and neighboring suburbs boast premier restaurants and inspired chefs who bring even the most hardened adversaries to the table. $10, or receive 2 free tickets with the purchase of the book. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org Story League at Busboys. Feb 20, 9:0011:00 PM. In partnership with Busboys and Poets, every 3rd Wednesday at the Busboys and Poets flagship location at 14th and V Sts. NW, Story League holds a contest, where anyone can come try their hand at telling a 7-minute story onstage for a chance to win a $100 cash prize. After each 5 contests, they hold a Tournament, where the prize amount jumps to $250. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202-3877638. busboysandpoets.com Tuesday Night Open Mic Poetry at Busboys. Every Tuesday Night, 9:00-11:00 PM. For two hours, audiences can expect a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies, musicians, and a different host every week. BUSBOYS @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St. NW. 202387-7638. busboysandpoets.com

ART EXHIBITIONS AND GALLERY OPENINGS Present-Day Oracles at Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery. Through Feb 23. Today we often experience art objects housed in the monolithic walls of a museum, monitored by uniformed guards and security sensors. We self-consciously lean in closer to glimpse the indexical imprint of the artist’s brush upon the paint and to feel close to the moment of inspiration only to forget that our original and historical relationship with the fine art object was quite the opposite; before the advent of modernism, the function and purpose of art was rather to bring us closer to one another, our common truths, and to guide us in our search for meaning and relationship with the divine-however it may have been conceived. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St. NW. 202483-8600. smithcenter.org Reflections in Washington at WVSA ARTiculate Gallery. WVSA ARTiculate Gallery, 1100 16th St. NW. vsadc.org Marcia Wolfson Ray “Rythms” at Hillyer Art Space. “You can’t know the way” is a Taoist saying that sums up Marcia Wolfson Ray’s feelings toward her work. She believes that the mystery at the center of life is echoed in the forms, rhythms and patterns represented in nature. She is inspiried not only by beauty, but also physical properties of objects. And when she creates, she allows for a certain degree of improvisation so that the work could

evolve and dictates its own form. She collaborates with nature. 9 Hillyer Ct. NW. 202338-0680. artsandartists.org Foundry Gallery February 2013 Members’ Exhibit. Through Feb 24. Each month, Gallery 2 features new work by member artists that has not been exhibited before at the Foundry Gallery. So, for an ever-changing and exciting array of new and fresh fine art work, be sure to visit regularly. All art work is created by our exceptionally talented member artists and is available for purchase by the general public. Foundry Gallery, 1314 18th St. NW. 202-463-0203. foundrygallery.org Walter McConnell , “NEW THEORIES” at Cross Mackenzie Gallery. Through Feb 27. The artist will create an original work from his extraordinary stacked porcelain series, “The Theory of Everything” in their gallery. Hundreds of individual pieces of slip cast and glazed porcelain; faux-Ming vases, kitschy figurines, Disney dwarves and grandma’s collectibles-form his now iconic stupa-like forms-this time in evocative, if somewhat sinister, hues. Cross Mackenzie Gallery, 2026 R St, NW. 202-333-7970. crossmackenzie.com Steve Alderton’s ICONS at Touchstone. Mar 1-31. Opening reception: Friday, Mar 1, 6:008:30 PM. For DC-based artist Steve Alderton, the human subjects of ICONS, his new figurative series, are less like realistic representations than they are loose components of a still life painting. Alderton strips his subjects down; the nonessential is cast off, the self is bared whole. As a result, subjects rendered impressionistic in paints transcend the merely visual to reveal what Alderton the artist believes is the human essence: form and spirit. Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Ave. NW. 202-347-2787. touchstone.com Studio Gallery Solo Show: soulprint Angelika Wamsler. Feb 27-Mar 23. First Friday Reception (as part of the Dupont Circle Galleries openings): Mar 1, 6:30-8:30 PM. Artists’ Reception: Saturday, Mar 9, 4:00-6:00 PM. Here are the happenings of your life, the memories printed on your mind, the story you tell. Your thoughts weave them together, making sense of them, keeping the picture alive and colorful, connecting one memory with another. And then there are the marks you get by living your life, the imprints on your soul, the ghost prints of your memories, solely visible to a non-conscious you: fragile and true, pointing to another reality, revealing who you are, fulfilling your call. Studio Gallery, 2108 R St. NW. 202-232-8734. studiogallerydc.com

SPORTS, DANCE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Feb 9, 21, 23 and 25. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-628-3200. capitals.nhl.com

Capitol Hill Classic Volleyball Tourney. Feb 16-28. The Metro American Volleyball Club will be conducting their annual “Capitol Hill Volley Brawl” Tournament at the Washington DC Convention Center. This event is a scouting tournament for the best high school volleyball players. Anticipated attendance is 2000 with over 120 six person teams. Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington Wizards Basketball. Feb 19, 22, 23 and 27. Mar 1 and 3. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-SEAT. nba.com/ wizards Bright Beginnings 5K. Mar 2, 8:00 AM. Bright Beginnings supports homeless children and families. At a larger location this year, the Bright Beginnings 5K will start and finish at West Potomac Park. Participants will enjoy a scenic view of the Tidal Basin, Hains Point, and the Potomac River. brightbeginningsinc.org/5k EmpoweRun 5K. Mar 2, 7:30 AM. Race for a good cause! Vort Port International is a 501(c)3 non-profit that empowers impoverished communities through training, education, and appropriate technologies. Rock Creek Park. vortport.org/empowerun Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Through mid-Mar (weather permitting). Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. $7 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under, students with ID and seniors 50 and over. Skate rental is $3. Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-289-3361. nga.gov/ ginfo/skating DJ’s in the Garden-Spin, Cut and Groove. Thursdays through Feb 28, 6:00-9:00 PM. Keep warm on the ice while a DJ spins popular music from the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, including a wide range of musical styles such as Hip-Hop, R&B, Disco, Pop, Rock and Roll, and Soul. Skaters may make requests to guest DJs and twirl across the ice to their favorite tunes. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-289-3361. nga. gov/ginfo/skating Canal Park Ice Rink. Open Monday-Friday, noon-9:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM. Adult fee is $8; children, seniors (55+) and military fees are $7. Skate rental i $3. On Tuesdays, two can skate for the price of one from 4:00-6:00 PM. The park is at Second and M sts. SE, one block from the Navy Yard Metro (New Jersey Avenue exit). canalparkdc.org.

MARKETS Union Market. Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 AM-8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM8:00 PM. The newly-opened Union Market

is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com

CIVIC LIFE ANC 1A. Second Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Harriet Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th St. NW. 202-588-7278. anc1a.org ANC 1B. First Thursday, 7:00 PM. Reeves Center, 2000 14th St. NW (second floor). 202-870-4202. anc1b.org ANC 1B11. Second Monday, 7:00 PM. LeDroit Senior Building (basement community room), 2125 Fourth St. NW. 202-4813462. www.anc1b.org ANC 1C. First Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Health, 2355 Ontario Rd. NW. 202-332-2630. anc1c.org ANC 1D. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. 3166 Mount Pleasant St. NW. 202-462-8692. anc1d.org ANC 2C. First Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 PM. Watha T. Daniel Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW (new location). 202-682-1633. anc2C.org u

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Whatever You Eat at Rogue 24, You Have Never Had It Before by Emily Clark photos: Andrew Lightman

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f you find it, you will eat. Everything about Rogue 24 is intriguing, beginning with its location. Imagine standing on N Street NW, staring at the address where the restaurant is supposed to be and is not. 922 N Street is just a cover. Receive instructions to walk down Blagden Alley – the alley Eleanor Roosevelt once referred to as the seediest in America – turn left and arrive mid-alley at an unprepossessing door. It’s like time travel, and you half expect a slot to open and you hope you remember the password for entry. You wonder if you should be dressed in a feather boa, with a long string of pearls and lacquered cigarette holder, because Rogue 24 is like

Chef R.J. Cooper

the modern version of a speakeasy, down to the still just inside the front door. Housed in a former garage, décor is pleasant and minimal – open ducting, exposed brick walls, plain wood top tables. The front lounge resembles a living room, with low, comfortable couches and strategically placed art.

chef R.J. Cooper, is an adventure, defying any attempt at categorization. Each dish looks like a tiny work of art. We actually saw other diners taking pictures. There are three levels of dining—the Journey, the Progression and the four-course. We chose the Progression, a 16-course tasting menu (the Journey is 24-course), which we paired with their beverage suggestions.

Squid, lardo, ink, sea grass, Benton’s 30-month ham broth

Pleasant Mystery

Kitchen as Nerve Center But the heart of the dining area is also the kitchen, resembling an open, inviting food lab where eager chefs are creating magic and testing the boundaries of what can be done to food. Different servers present different courses and they all know the scoop on each dish. My husband calls it a “gustatory variety show.” You can be sure that whatever you eat at Rogue 24, you have never had it before. And no matter how intently you watch, you won’t get to the bottom of what makes everything so tasty. Rogue 24, the inspiration of owner/

“Everything about Rogue 24 is intriguing, beginning with its location.”

We started with a cocktail in a small glass, called Corpse Reviver #2, a combination of gin, lemon, absinthe and two sweet liqueurs. Our server placed what appeared to be giant tweezers in front of us, but instead turned out to be the lazy person’s version of chopsticks. Our first few courses were madai, a Japanese white fish with coconut,

chilies, coriander, ginger and lime; a crunchy, salty house-fried rice served like a shot; crispy fried shredded artichoke with nasturtium, olive oil jam and parmesan espuma (foam) and tempura nasturtium with tomato jam and lemon. Next came a change of cutlery (this happened with each set of courses), as well as a crisp white wine. An oyster was served with purple potato and crispy sea grass, thrice-compressed watermelon with cheese, boneless rabbit with carrot, flavorful “soil” and bitter orange and sweetbread ravioli with pistachio and brown butter.

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The kitchen is at center stage in the dining room.

A Columbia Valley red wine was next, along with sautéed Virginia peanuts with salt caramel and cornbread, escargot with potato and chanterelle mushroom, oxtail with celery root and onion and sheep’s milk blue cheese with champagne grapes and pistachio.

STILL Eating! Desserts came with a slightly sweet, fizzy Lambrusco. We couldn’t believe it was almost over, or that we could still eat. Passion fruit was drizzled with honey caramel, coconut and white chocolate; a coffee and condensed milk granita arrived on a bed of coffee grounds; and finally, there was a variety of chocolate, followed by tiny sweets arranged on a narrow plate. A description of food can hardly convey the variety of tastes, textures and fascinating ingredients we sampled. Service was impeccable— prompt, efficient and non-intrusive. Rogue 24 is lively but still quiet enough so that diners can converse, a near-perfect dining experience as far as novelty and flavor, service and presentation. But all this imagination and fabulous, unique food comes at a price— a steep one. Rogue 24 is a place for lobbyists and one-percenters, or very special occasions like a major promotion, anniversary or engagement. You eat, you savor, you marvel. In the end, however, you leave feeling a little guilty that you’ve just consumed a meal that represents a week’s salary for an entry-level employee. It’s a one-of-a-kind, one-shot deal, though it’s unbelievable while it lasts. And your presence there, however fleeting, is keeping some very talented and enthusiastic people employed. Those with slender wallets or maxed-out cards can opt for one of the four bar seats and the “Meet the chef-tender” special—three drinks, three snacks, $55. Rogue 24, 922 N Street NW (rear Blagden Alley), 202-408-9724, dinner Tues.-Sat. 6-10 p.m., closed Sun. and Mon. u

Sastuma, lime, pomegranate, burgundy sorrel

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out and about

+ Dining

by Jonathan Bardzik

The Way to a Man’s Heart

Preparing for this month’s column, I asked some friends about their restaurant of choice for a romantic Valentine’s dinner. My friend Mike shared, “I’ll be home with a large pizza and a bottle of vodka, watching Downton Abbey and cheering for Lady Edith.” A little piece of advice: don’t ever ask your single friends about Valentine’s Day.

Small is the New Big

wines, I want to help out the families running mom and pop vineyards. It’s cool to know each producer on a personal level.” Cordial is also stocked with a great selection of beers from the craft and microbrew scene. For wines, Eric is targeting price points in the $12-15 range. “You’re here shopping at the market for food. I want to have something easy that you can grab and bring home for dinner.” For Valentine’s Day, Cordial is teaming up with MC2 Chocolatiers to offer wine and chocolate pairings.

Cordial Fine Wine and Spirits (1309 5th Street NE, www.cordialfinewine.com) just opened at Union Market (www.unionmarketdc.com). Owner Eric Rohleder tells me, “I met the Union Market folks while searching for a flagship location. My philosophy and brand is built to represent small, artisanal producers. Finding an entire market dedicated to that made moving in a no brainer.” Where did Eric’s passion come from? A Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, he scored a job with a distributor while hosting a wine party one night. A move to the DC area, buying for Chain Bridge Cellars, connected Eric with the small, independent producers he has become passionate about. Eric says, “It’s not just about making numbers with big grocery store

Four Feet on the Floor

I was determined to find some romantic dining options. Jason

Eric Rohleder, owner of Cordial Wine and Spirits at Union Market, is passionate about discovering and promoting small, independent producers. Photo by Michele Corbman 22 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

Masa 14 combines Asian and Mexican flavors with delicious results. Photo by Chris Banks

El Centro dining

had already agreed to go drinking with Mike and listen to him discuss the joys of being single, so I rang my brother Alec. Upside: Alec knows food. Downside: we would not be finding out

Next arrived Carne Noodles. It tasted just like take-out lo mein, except it was good. Sweet shrimp, short ribs and earthy wood ear mushrooms topped lightly-sauced noodles.. Happy hour ended with Masa 14’s Tuna Sashimi Flatbread. Finger food at its best, the crisp flatbread was topped with perfectly fresh, meaty tuna, topped with peppery arugula delivering bursts of salty capers and spicy wasabi aioli. We’ll be back for the Duck Confit Enchiladas and Salted Caramel Chocolate Flan.

Taco-Flavored Kisses

El Centro D.F.‘s basement Taquileria offers a romantic, intimate dining environment. Photo by Under a Bushel Photography

if these restaurants were any good for hand-holding, footsie, or staring deeply into each other’s eyes. Stop number one was Masa 14 (1825 14th St NW, www.masa14.com). Their upcoming Valentine’s Day menu, prix fixe at $60 a head, includes three plates to share, along with dessert and a glass of champagne suitable for working up the nerve to ask your date back to your place. Alec and I arrived in time for their daily 5-7 pm happy hour. $4 cocktails and beers left our wallets feeling full enough to skip the $4 smallplate specials and order right off the regular menu. We began with Shrimp and Crab Lumpia, rich with cream cheese and bright with bitter orange Ponzu sauce.

Our next stop was El Centro D.F. (1819 14th St NW, www.elcentrodf. com). Friends had raved about the restaurant as a great neighborhood, weeknight dinner joint, but was it special enough for cupid and kisses? We were seated downstairs in the basement Taquileria. Dimly-lit and cozy with plenty of candles, it sets the right tone for romance. We ordered tortilla soup, Huitlacoche empanadas and Baja fish tacos. The soup, thick and creamy, was rich with crema fresca and Panela cheese. Huitlacoche is a black fungus that grows on corn. This is a rock star foodie ingredient. Not only is the name foreign, it sounds gross but tastes delicious - earthy and rich, like mushrooms. In fact, El Centro pairs it with mushrooms and Oaxaca cheese in their empanadas. For Valentine’s Day you can enjoy El Centro on a budget. For only $35.12 per couple, you can enjoy an app (go for

the Hitlacoche tamales), an entrée (I’d grab the Chicken Mole Poblano), and both churros and trés leches for dessert.

Well Recommended

Alec and I left El Centro and met Jason over at Stoney’s Bar and Grill (1433 P St NW) Over beers we asked our friends about their Valentine’s Day plans. Jaime and Charles are headed to Obelisk (2029 P St NW) where the menu is handwritten every day based on fresh ingredients. At around $75 for five courses it sounds like a deal. He added, “Obelisk is very gay-friendly and a romantic, ten-table restaurant that only takes reservations.” We’ve been warned and will call ahead. Will and Fernando said they usually spend Valentine’s Day at home together (hopefully with more than a large pizza and a bottle of vodka). However, following their March wedding, they dined at Nora (2132 Florida Ave NW, www.noras.com). “That’s probably been our most romantic dinner,” said Will. For Valentine’s Day, Nora has prepared a special menu including a Maine Lobster Bisque with parsnip chips and Applewood Smoked Duck Breast in a maple-sherry sauce that has our mouths watering.

From the Balkans, With Love

Last week we headed to the Hill to try newly-opened Ambar (523 8th St SE, www.ambarrestaurant.com). The love child of Serbian ex-pat Ivan Iricanan, Ambar serves up traditional and

modern Balkan food. General Manager Uros Smiljamic explained that the small plates menu was designed because of the unfamiliar cuisine. “Our guests are taking a risk. With small plates you can try many different dishes and make sure you find something you like.” We loved everything we ordered. We started the night with traditional beef and pork kebabs, hearty and balanced perfectly by sugarysweet red peppers. Jason ordered beautifully grilled calamari, smoky with a bit of citric acid, well balanced by bitter chard. At the recommendation of friends we had run into downstairs, we tried the almond and walnut crusted chicken. The crust was thin and perfectly crisp with an apple-wasabi slaw that was sweet and creamy. If you’re thinking of checking out Ambar for Valentine’s day, make your reservation now for the $35 prix fixe menu. Judging by the number of our friends who have already eaten there in the past week, it’s going to be busy. Jason and I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day. We’ll be out to dinner enjoying a romantic evening. Hopefully together. Jonathan Bardzik is a demo chef and food writer in Washington, DC. When fresh produce is in season he can be found each Saturday morning cooking outside at Eastern Market. You can find out what Jonathan serves Jason at home to keep him around by visiting his blog www.whatihaventcookedyet.com or his Facebook page of the same name. u

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out and about

+ Shopping

RETAIL THERAPY by Mariessa Terrell

VIOLET Boutique • 2439 18th Street NW

Fashionette Query #100: Ever since I switched to carrying an oversized faux leopard bucket bag, I can never seem to find my kabuki pressed powder when I need it. Dumping the contents every time I have to blot is getting tiresome. Can you help? Simone B: VIOLET boutique owned by Julie Egermayor carries the most delightful makeup and coin baggage by Printed Wild. This new brand is the brainchild of Eva Calonder, a local designer with a vibrant imagination and meticulous craftsmanship. Eva not only hand paints all of the designs on the bags, she also hand cuts all the stencils and lettering. Eva’s keen appreciation for color is self-evident. Crack open the Printed Wild coin purse with owl detail and see the luscious burgundy with pink lining for yourself. Priced from $18 to $28 in light, bright colors that are easily spotted; even in a faux leopard bucket bag. Vibrant cosmetic baggage

SMASH RECORDS • 2314 18th Street NW

Fashionette Query # 101: I am gearing up to compete for the 2013 DMC World DJ Competition in London. This time I’m benching the MacBook Pro and going all vinyl. Any idea where I can find phonographs priced to move in the District? Simone B: Smash Records is a rocker’s paradise. Purveyors of used LPs, CDs, and rubber soled kicks (Converse and Vans), it is the one place where you can find enough variety to create your very own Grey remix. If you look to the left below the “Dance with Dolly [Parton]” album, you will find my all-time favorite soundtracks. The Bond Films 007 section with “Diamonds Are Forever” and “James Bond 21st Anniversary Instrumental Album” is sure to resonate in London and beyond.

007 rock star

IDLE TIME BOOKS • 2467 18th Street NW Parisienne boarding pass

Fashionette Query #102: My tablet (featuring my favorite Agatha Christie boxset) was stolen two days ago and I am leaving for Paris in the morning. I can’t imagine being on a plane for 7 hours and 41 minutes without something decadent to read! Where can I find an inexpensive book at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday? Simone B. Idle Time Books has remained a go-to shop for gently read books for over 30 years. I especially like the travel section on the first floor that features fiction from around the world. Paris is a favorite destination for many of the featured writers. My favorite is “Paris! Paris!” featuring quaint short stories by Irwin Shaw alongside black-and-white ink sketches by Ronald Searle. Ooh la la.

TORO MATA • 2410 18th Street NW

Fashionette Query 103: I just spent $3,000 to move into a tiny one-bedroom in SW. As a result I barely have enough money left to buy pizza for the movers. Still, I’d like something new to fit in with my minimalist black-and-white decor. Any suggestions? Simone B: Living in an international city has many perks. I re-

Mod spotted terracota

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cently visited Toro Mata and was amazed to see handcrafted preColumbian pottery. Owner Hector Zarata imports the black-andwhite terracotta vases directly from Peruvian master artist Santodio Paz. Using a pottery technique that is over 3,000 years old, Santodio covers his pottery with classic Peruvian symbols arranged in graphic geometric patterns. Mod works well for $45-$185.

Mariessa Terrell, aka Simone Butterfly, Fashion Investigator, does her sleuthing at yoohoodarling.com and @SimoneBtrfly. u

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+ Music

February Highlights: Joshua Redman, Feb. 7-10, Blues Alley ... Ralph Peterson, Feb. 8-9, Bohemian Caverns ... Kris Davis Quintet, Feb. 7, Bohemian Caverns ... Janine Tributes Ronnie Wells, Feb. 8, Westminster Church ... Jason Moran & The Bandwagon, Feb. 9, Kennedy Center ... Debra Tidwell, Feb. 14, Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital ... Antonio Parker, Reginald Cyntje, Feb. 15, Westminster Church ... Sine Qua Non, Feb. 15-16, Twins Jazz ... Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Feb. 15-18, Hilton Hotel, Rockville ... Kenny Rittenhouse Septet, Feb. 20, Blues Alley ... Olli Hirvonen Quartet, Feb. 22, Kennedy Center ... Lenny Robinson Quartet, Feb. 22-23, Twins Jazz …

February Birthdays: James P. Johnson, Joshua Redman 1; Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz 2; Eubie Blake 7; Chick Webb 10; Machito 16; Stan Kenton, David Murray 19; Nancy Wilson 20; Tadd Dameron 21; James Moody 26; Mildred Bailey, Dexter Gordon 27.

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

“Sonny Stitt ... No one had a harder time dealing with Charlie Parker’s legacy than this superb musician, whose sound and ideas on alto saxophone sounded so like Bird’s that he switched to tenor in order to be seen and heard as his own man.” Antonio Parker blows his hot alto saxophone, along with trombonist Reginald Cyntje, Feb. 15, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

A Month for Honoring Them All

Celebrating African American History Month for us jazzophiles brings back the heritage of many, including those like Edward “Sonny” Stitt, born in February 1924 in Boston, who had a DC presence later in his life and died here in July 1982. A dynamic, hard-living musician and man, Stitt has a February birthday along with other top horn men like Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, James Moody, David Murray, and Joshua Redman. Take the recording “Jazz Masters 50 -- Sonny Stitt” on Verve, 1995. Listen to the verve and vitality and creativity on tunes like “I Got Rhythm” and “Easy Living,” “Just Friends,” and “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” among others. Or try this: “Among his best sessions is a summit meeting with Sonny Rollins and [Dizzy] Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie: The Sonny Rollins/Sonny Stitt Sessions, Verve). Rollins’s tone may be huskier and his lines more inventive than Stitt’s but their churning solos on the blistering ‘Eternal Triangle’ ... are not easily distinguishable.” (From “Jazz Portraits” by Len Lyons and Don Perlo,William Morrow and Company, 1989.) Celebrate our great horn men’s birthdays for African American History Month, and for Sonny Stitt remember that for all he went through, his legacy shines on its own merits.

– ”Jazz: A History of America’s Music,” by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns (Knopf, 2000).

In Person... Hill Center Jazz

On a chilly mid-January night the large crowd making its way up the stairs of the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital off Pennsylvania Avenue SE kept coming and crowded into the music room, where a group led by Eric Wheeler warmed things up with some finger-popping jazz. It was the debut of the Hill Center Concert Series, thanks to director Burnett Thompson. With the music jumping, the crowd bobbing their heads and enjoying wine and other refreshments at the break, it turned into a very special night. Wheeler, a DC native, has become a bassist much in demand, appearing with Cyrus Chestnut, Pharoah Sanders, Benny Golson, and others -- when he is not leading his own group. That night at the Hill Center his band mates included John Williams, trumpet, John Lamkin, drums, and Noble Jolley on piano. The group shone on Wheeler originals like “Introduction” and “Somewhere Forever,” as well as standards such as “Cherokee” and “Central Park West.” A stirring start for Hill Center Jazz. Next up is “An Evening with Vocalist Debra Tidwell,” Feb. 14. See hillcenterdc.org.

In Person... Sankofa Jazz

And speaking of starts, Friday night jazz has begun at Sankofa Cafe

on Georgia Avenue, with vocalist Imani Grace headlining an impressive group of young artists. Grace, 21, member of the award-winning Howard University Afro Blue vocal ensemble, delivered an entrancing set of music one Friday last month, especially with her dramatic phrasing on tunes like “I’ll Remember April,” “Gentle Rain,” and “All Blues.” She was supported well by pianist Colin Chambers, drummer Cedric Edmon, and saxophonist Kenny Nunn, among others. See sankofa.com.

MAJF Preview

Larry Willis, The Cookers, Bobby Watson, Gregory Porter, Orrin Evans, Tim Warfield, Todd Marcus with special guest Don Byron, Carmen Bradford, Sharon Clark, Paul Carr, and many more entertain at the third annual Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Feb. 15-18 in Rockville. See midatlanticjazzfestival.org.

DC Jazz Fest news

The DC Jazz Festival is to receive a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of the 2013 festival, scheduled June 5-16. The award is one of 832 Art Works grants, which “total $23.3 million, span 13 artistic disciplines, and focus primarily on the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing works for the benefit of audiences nationwide,” according to DCJF information. u midcitydcnews.com u 25

the nose

by Anonymous

ear Readers, can you tell The Nose the significance of the numbers: $140 million, $58 million, $240 million and $417 million? The Nose knows you can. Yes, they are the DC budget surpluses of the last four years celebrated by Natwar “Not That” Gandhi, Mayor Vincent “Can’t Find His Shadow” Gray and the members of our highly esteemed DC Council. Budgeting is an arcane science perhaps best left to more mathematical individuals than yours truly. At its root, it involves making a predication of future revenue and then matching expenditures to that estimate; a simple matter of arithmetic rather than calculus. One might excuse one underestimate due to the unexpected windfall from the taxation of a large estate; or a few million more generated by traffic cameras. However, when Gandhi repeatedly underestimates future revenues, it is obvious, at least to this poor scribbler, this is the result of a deliberate strategy. Here is how it works. • The CFO (Creative Fiscal Obscurest) significantly underestimates coming

year’s fiscal revenues; The Mayor and DC Council cut programs in an annual bloody ritual largely driven by deficit panic; • At year’s end, there is a major surplus; and Councilmembers proclaim a budgetary Christmas; • The Mayor insists the surplus be added to the rainy day fund; • Patting himself fulsomely on the back, our sainted CFO touts the growth of the fund to Wall Street and the public as evidence of his prudent management. What is the end result of this senseless charade in fictive budgeting you may ask? Cuts to the very programs that make the District a decent place to live. Gandhi’s games also prompt the Council to throw the District’s less fortunate citizens under the bus. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” goes the famous Chinese proverb. Dear Readers, we have now been fooled FOUR times! Perhaps they did not have School House Rock in India when Natwar was coming up. Here is a version certain to appeal to DC Councilmembers: •

417 is a magic number. Yes it is, it’s a magic number. Somewhere in the ancient, mystic, accounting fraternity You get 417 as a magic number. Forget the past and the present and the future! Abandon Faith, Hope, and Charity! Being Heartless, Ruthless and Hardhearted Gives you 417 as a magic number. It takes millions to build a stadium. It takes millions to make a convention hotel stand. It takes millions to win an election. It takes millions to pave bike lanes. To balance a budget requires a million cuts. Every budget cut has a million impacts. No more, no less. You don’t have to guess. When it’s 417 you can see, It’s a magic number. A Mayor and his Council made a city budget, Yes, they did. Then Natwar said, “Cut! Cut! Cut!” And they got 417 as their magic number. Perhaps it is time to send Gandhi to the District’s new community college for a refresher course in Excel. What say you, Dear Readers? Have a comment for The Nose, email thenose@hillrag.com u

26 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

Is This My Month or

Are You Just Happy to See Me? by E. Ethelbert Miller

t’s February again. Should I celebrate Black History Month or just St. Valentine’s Day? Which is more difficult – being black or falling in love? What I love about DC, is that it’s a city where history can jog or walk alongside you. This city is almost Ground Zero if you want to remember the Civil War. I keep thinking one day I’m going to run into Walt Whitman caring for black youth near Gallery Place. The world keeps changing and now and then I notice that I’ve been moving a little slower. I also find old habits and behavior slipping away without a wave or a hint of a good-bye. I would hate for Black History Month to disappear like Saturday mail or bus service in Southeast Washington. With all this post-racial lint and ash being attracted to black bodies one never knows. I can see Black History Month ending like a librarian deselecting a collection of books. Before I lived in D.C., I lived in the South Bronx. In the years before rap music, the cold air would blow down Longwood Avenue and come February one thought about getting out of school on Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays and about cutting out hearts for Valentine’s Day. There was only Negro History Week then. Teachers made bulletin board displays and George Washington Carver appeared like the old black man on the box of Uncle Ben’s rice. No one told me that the historian Carter G. Woodson started the whole thing back in 1926. It was 1959 and I was into playing baseball even in the snow. I was nine and blackness was seen primarily in the rocks of coal being delivered to my apartment building. My father worked in the postoffice, having come to America from Panama, his

father staying behind resulted in his roots being cut in half like a canal across his heart. I came of age without any real knowledge of segregation or the Civil Rights Movement. I was the baby in the family protected from my own ignorance. Looking back on my childhood, I wish I had been given more than a flu shot of Negro History Week. Even today my body needs more than a month of Black History. The present continues to be a dangerous place to live. I walk these DC streets, I ride the buses, I listen to the profanity of school children, I see and no longer see the homeless, or the men with dirt and construction mud on their clothes, women waiters, secretaries, busboys, government workers, and everyone from Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Bosnia, Korea, North Carolina and Louisiana. History descends and pulls all of us into a strange gumbo. How best to make sense out of all these ingredients? What is the history of all this? At times we all need to see the green lights. We need to know when to – go. Hopefully, an understanding of history provides a roadmap. How many times have I been lost in this city? A neighborhood changes, we give a street a different name. What will be the “history” of all this new construction around town? Will Black History Month one day be taught and celebrated in a city with just a few black people? Will Chuck Brown be just a street and Duke Ellington a building? Memories are the things we cannot forget. There is so much Black History I still know nothing about. Every month there is something new to learn. Lincoln is in the movies – true Emancipation is still a coming attraction. Be sure to check out the trailer this month. u

midcitydcnews.com u 27

your neighborhood

+ District Beat

The Race Begins!

ouncilmember Jack Evans (DWard 2) may be the only member of the D.C. Council crossing his fingers for U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ron Machen to bring the hammer down on Mayor Vince Gray. Why? Because it’s as good a chance as the longest-serving member of the city’s legislature will get to finally move up to the sixth floor of the Wilson Building. With Gray gone and a hastily called special election leaving candidates little time to organize and fundraise, Evans would be able to call upon his wellheeled supporters to quickly stock his campaign coffers with the money needed for the electoral sprint. With a large bankroll and a small electorate to convince, Evans could finally satisfy his longstanding wishes to become mayor, albeit only until the end of Gray’s term in early 2015. With 2013 upon us, it’s time to start the mayoral prognosticating again. Too early, you say? Nonsense: the 2014 primary is next April, hardly 15 months off. If candidates with true aspirations haven’t already put a date on when they plan to announce their intentions, they’re already behind the curve. (See Fenty, Adrian.) And even more pressing is the fact that Machen continues investigating Gray’s 2010 campaign, leaving open the possibility that he could resign and a special election could be suddenly called. In that circumstance, Evans would be at a significant advantage. But in any other normal circumstance—Gray finishes out his term unscathed—Councilmembers Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), both of whom are likely contenders, would quickly become the frontrunners in the 28 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

by Martin Austermuhle race to replace Gray. Both are candidates that come well-prepared for their respective mayoral bids, enjoying similar benefits and drawbacks that would make a matchup between the two interesting to watch—and hard to call.

Location, Location, Location

First, Bowser. She hails from Ward 4, which for long has posted high turnout (42 percent in the 2010 primary, higher than any other place in D.C.) and served as a decisive bellweather in citywide elections. Lose Ward 4, the thinking goes, and you stand to lose the election. (In 2010, Fenty lost it to Vince Gray, all but sealing his fate; last November David Grosso took a significant number of votes from Michael Brown on his way to the big upset.) For now, Ward 4 seems to be safely behind her: in last year’s April primary, Bowser fended off five challengers, taking just shy of 65 percent of the vote. But not only is Ward 4 her base, but it will also play a role in helping Bowser define herself and her candidacy. During a January swearing-in speech that could just as well have doubled as an official announcement of her decision to enter the mayoral race, Bowser used Ward 4 to establish her citywide bonafides. “In Ward 4, we are a perfect microcosm of the city. We are black and white and Latino. We are Christian and Jews, we are straight and gay, we are east of the park and west of the park. We’ve lived in D.C. for five decades and we’ve lived here for five minutes. We’re Democrats and Republicans. We are dreamers,” she said. Wells is no less well-situated. Ward 6 is now the biggest single ward in the city with 69,367 registered voters in

2012. It also boasts some of the precincts with highest turnout and the single-fastest growing precincts. In the 2010 election, Wells won 75.10% of the vote in the Democratic primary. With the 2011 redistricting, Ward 6 now stretches from Shaw to the Anacostia River, encompassing demographic diversity that is the envy of much of the divided city. It is the only ward to touch all three quadrants and both rivers. In November, Grosso used Ward 6 precincts to help carry him to victory, racking up impressive margins in parts of Capitol Hill that Brown could not overcome elsewhere.

Crafting and Managing an Identity

Both Bowser and Wells have good places from where they can launch their campaigns, but they’ve also been careful in crafting and managing their identities on the council- especially Wells. By becoming the guiding voice on the council for a livable and walkable D.C., Wells has shored up support among the new urbanists across the city. More so than Bowser, Wells has crafted an issue-based identity for himself over the last few years and pushed legislative initiatives to support it. On the environmental side, his crowning achievement was the Anacostia Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009, the so-called “Bag Bill,” which put a tax on plastics bags to fund cleanup of the river. He also has waged a quixotic crusade for ethics and campaign finance reform in the face of opposition from his colleagues on the dais. He was a strong supporter Public Trust’s campaign to ban corporate contributions to DC elections. His recent oversight

of the libraries and parks, has allowed him to make a name for himself outside of Ward 6. Wells has just taken over the helm of the Judiciary Committee, which will no doubt garner him even more District-wide attention. While Bowser has played it a little more safely, she has avoided the controversies that bedevil many of her colleagues with a laser-like focus on constituent services. With new residents, she has played up her associations with Fenty. Alternatively, she has diligently represented the concerns of old African-American residents on issues of taxation and parking. Dogged in her oversight role as chair of the Committee on Government Operations, she has been a consistent advocate of open government. There, Bowser guided the adoption of comprehensive ethics legislation in late 2011, which garnered her citywide attention.

Timing and Challenges

Both Bowser and Wells have been quietly laying the groundwork for their mayoral bids for quite a while. Wells openly said last July that he was eyeing a run. In January, he promised to launch an exploratory campaign in order to raise money and hire staff. Bowser has remained mum on her plans. However, after crushing all comers in last year’s Ward 4 Democratic primary, she opted to spend money on her campaign—including ads placed on 14th Street bus lines. She can count on strong support from old Fentyites such as political consultant Tom Lindenfeld and former councilmember William Lightfoot. That’s not to say that both don’t have obstacles to overcome. While

Bowser isn’t far from Fenty on many things, she’ll still have to carefully balance when to make the association and when to avoid. Ward 1? Sure! Ward 7? Maybe not. As the chair of the council’s Economic Development Committee, she will certainly have access to money, and a higher citywide profile. However, she’ll also have to handle accusations that she’s a tool of the city’s most prominent developers. Finally, if Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) runs, she’ll face the likelihood that they’ll be fighting for some of the same votes. Wells, on the other hand, will have to overcome the difficult stigma of being a white candidate in a city that largely still isn’t. Being the dean of livable and walkable DC may engender support among people enamored with bike lanes, but it can still be a hard sell to communities that have more pressing needs. Yet, Wells has had a great deal of experience reaching out to those communities during his tenure overseeing Human Services, and at his perch at Parks and Rec. Undoubtedly, the public will see a toughtalking Wells at the helm of the Judiciary Committee. He will seek to balance any Bowser fiscal advantage by recruiting a set of true-believing volunteers to staff his effort.

Finding a Path to Victory

Wells and Bowser are both compelling candidates; and what makes this contest even more interesting is how each will find their way to victory. In this, Bowser has more options. She’ll play up her Fenty acolyte credentials when she wants, while stressing her Washingtonian roots to long-term residents skittish about the new urbanism. If Orange doesn’t run, she will work hard to secure the city’s eastern wards while pulling

(continued on pg. 31)

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midcitydcnews.com u 29

your neighborhood

+ The Numbers

DC is Swimming in Cash

When Will it Spend Some of It to Make DC Stronger?

he District’s financial fortunes have turned around stunningly from the Great Recession. The city ran a $400 million surplus last year, and tax collections in 2013 are even better than in 2012. With the city’s population growing at the fastest rate in decades and construction cranes continuing to dot the horizon in many neighborhoods, things are looking good. You might think this would have prompted discussions about neglected investments that the city could now afford to make. You’d be wrong. Mayor Gray wants to put the 2012 surplus in reserves, to help improve DC’s bond rating. And despite obvious signs of growing coffers this year, the CFO has declined to officially certify the new revenues – out of concern that federal budget cutbacks will kill DC’s economic buzz. To borrow from The Rime of the Mariner, there is water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink. That may change soon. Mayor Gray has signaled an interest in restoring cuts to programs that were left under-funded in the recession, such as programs that help build affordable housing. That is good news. While building up savings is fiscally responsible, so is making targeted investments that meet high priority needs and improve DC’s the quality of life. The good news is that it looks like DC will have resources to save some and spend some. DC’s rising resources also are an opportunity to tackle some thorny problems. Prior to the recession, for example, the city started a process to end chronic homelessness, but that effort has stalled for years. DC Public Schools Chancellor wants to raise test scores at the lowest-performing schools, yet hasn’t been given any new resources to do so. This enthusiasm needs to be dampened a bit by the outlook for the federal budget. If there are deep cuts, DC will have to make up for reduced grants 30 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

by Ed Lazere in transportation, education, health care and more. And if cuts in the federal workforce are steep, the DC area will feel the effects especially hard. While that calls for some caution, it shouldn’t hold DC’s leaders back from making some smart uses of the growing revenues.

Mayor Gray’s plan is to place 100% of any surplus into savings, to build up reserves that fell in the recession. The goal is to save $700 million in two recently created reserves. That is a lot of money to set aside, when there are school library shelves that are bare and funds to help victims of domestic violence are depleted. We at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute have always taken a spend some/save some approach to the city’s annual surplus. That said, the savings million target should be reached soon, probably a year from now, and Mayor Gray says it will be ok to spend the surplus at that point. Beyond that, the city’s tax collections this year appear to be so strong that we can save the full surplus and still have resources to spend to improve education, health care, housing, and more.

Tax Collections Coming In Strongly This Year – But Not Officially

DC’s $400 Million Surplus: Wow!

Every January, the District finds out how our budget fared in the previous year, when the audit of city finances is released. Dr. Gandhi, the CFO, always steers the District’s financial ship to have at least a modest surplus – since a deficit could bring back a federal control board. But we never know just how large it will be. It is sort of like the city’s Christmas bonus, a month late. Apparently we were good boys and girls last year. Revenues in 2012 were $400 million higher than expenses, both because tax collections were higher than expected ted and because expenditures were lower than expected.

DC’s good financial news isn’t just about last year’s surplus. Tax collections are pouring in this year at a rapid clip, not because of rate changes but because the economy is doing so well. As of the first quarter of the city’s fiscal year, cash reports show collections are 18 percent higher than a year before. Imagine your salary rising 18 percent, or getting 18 percent return on an investment. That is how good the news is. Except that the increase has not been officially recognized yet. The CFO has declined for an entire year to make any estimates of tax collections for 2013, even though such forecasts are supposed to be done every quarter. The reason? Dr. Gandhi has cited federal budget uncertainty to delay making projections of 2013 revenues. In particular, deep cuts from “sequestration” could lead to cuts in federal employment and contracting, which would

n n y s C n e

t r l . s n ,

t s t e f e r n

y s d i , n d

(continued from pg. 29) hurt the DC region. Yet when the next revenue forecast comes out – in February – the CFO will have four months of actual tax collections for 2013 to look at, and it will be hard for him to ignore that reality. The federal budget picture remains unclear, and probably will for some time. DC needs to move ahead and adjust economic and revenue forecasts as new information becomes available.

So What Can DC Do with its Growing Revenue?

To start, the District can restore programs that were cut in the recession. Funding for affordable housing fell one-fourth in recent years, even though rents in the city continued to rise in the recession. Beyond restoring cuts, DC can make some bold investments to tackle problems that have vexed the city for years--such as eliminating chronic homelessness. During the winter, families have a right to shelter, and the system gets overwhelmed, leading to reliance on motels to house some families. Starting April 1, the District’s obligation ends, and families get turned away even if they have no safe place to go. With growing resources, the city can tackle homelessness year-round and in a way that gets families out of shelters as fast as possible. Education is another area ready for transformation. Later this year, the city will release a study on the adequacy of funding for DC schools. Contrary to popular perception, DC does not spend a lot more per-pupil than suburban jurisdictions, if special education is taken out. The DCPS chancellor wants schools with proficiency rates hovering around 25% to gain 40 points over five years. That cannot be done without added resources for things such as longer school days. Finally, the District could use its newfound resources to make a number of smaller investments, such as extending library hours and enhancing library collections, better funding of job training programs, and expanding Capital Bikeshare. There will be those who argue that the District should return the surplus through tax cuts. And that may make sense in targeted ways. But

in enough of Ward 3’s votes to narrow Wells’ options for victory. While Wells rests his hopes on Ward 6. He will contest Bowser in the city’s eastern half. That’s not to say Wells is a rival to be taken lightly—if anything, he’s managed his two terms with surprising political skill, and he’ll likely organize an enviable campaign organization. All the while, Evans will simply be hoping that Gray is forced to resign before April 2013. Martin Austermuhle is the Editor-in-Chief of DCist.com and a freelance writer. He lives in Columbia Heights. u

if the city is thriving now, with its current tax system, the argument for reducing taxes to improve competitiveness is weak. A 2011 poll of DC voters found that maintaining good services is far more important than holding taxes down. It is great news that the District is a stronger city than it has been in a long time. The test for the Mayor and DC Council will be how they use the city’s growing resources to make it even stronger. Lazere is the executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderateincome DC residents. u midcitydcnews.com u 31

your neighborhood

UNCF Headquarters Relocates to Shaw

In October 2012 the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) quietly relocated its headquarters from Fairfax, Virginia, to the new tower at 1805 7th St. NW known as The Offices at Progression Place. One hundred UNCF employees work at the nonprofit’s new office, which occupies half of the commercial space sitting atop the ShawHoward Metro station. UNCF plays a critical role in enabling more than 60,000 students each year to attend college and to get the education they need. It also provides operating funds for its 38 member colleges, all of them private institutions that offer a small-college experience at tuitions averaging more than 30 percent less than those of comparable colleges and universities. On the ground floor a 5,000 square foot College Knowledge Center will someday be the destination for individuals and student groups from across the nation seeking to access unique college informational tools.

New headquarters of UNCF at 7th and S streets NW. Photo: Ralph Brabham 32 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

Shaw Streets by Ralph Brabham

UNCF is seeking funds for the construction of this $3 million facility and hopes to partner with DC Public Schools to construct it. The nonprofit’s move into the District has both strategic and symbolic implications. It improves UNCF’s accessibility to key government and players, reinforces UNCF’s federal agenda, and enhances its ability to fundraise in the District.

New Restaurant, “Table,” Opens

On Friday, January 18, behind barricades set up for Inaugural festivities at the Convention Center, Vintage Huntress Coal Oil sign marking entrance to Shaw’s newest restaurant opened its Blagden Alley Social Club. Photo: Ralph Brabham doors at 903 N St. NW. Owned by Chef Frederik de Pue of 42 Catersauce. Table also offers a selection of ing and formerly executive chef at Smith Commons, Table is de Pue’s cheeses and charcuterie in addition to wine and craft beers. breakout solo restaurant project. Table is open for dinner only: “It’s been a longer road than I Tuesday through Wednesday from anticipated to get Table open,” said 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Thursday de Pue.”But we’re all very ready and through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to excited to get people in to experience midnight; and Sunday from 5:00 p.m. the space, to taste the food we’ve been to 10:00 p.m. There are plans to add working on, and to enjoy thembreakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch selves at our new spot.” De Pue aims beginning in February and through to make the 50-seat restaurant an neighborhood spot that favors open the spring. For more information visit Table’s seating (no reservations), a place website, TableDC.com. that offers a intimate and reliable dining option with seasonal ingredients and simple preparations – all Carriage House on view in the contemporary open Conversion in Blagden kitchen on the ground floor. The menu will change to reflect Alley Brings Style product availability and seasonal- and Supper ity, offering dishes like Burgundy Anna and Dan Kahoe – ownsnails with white beans and spin- ers of hip U Street furnishings and ach, bison hanger steak, garlic frogs’ accessories purveyor GoodWood legs, and other rare or atypical DC (1428 U St. NW ) – have renovated menu items. Regular offerings in- a Blagden Alley carriage house and clude mussels Provencal, tagliatelle turned its lower level into another with tomatoes, ricotta, and basil, and notable destination in the Shaw area. hazelnut fritters in chocolate lemon Dubbed the Blagden Alley Social

Club, the gorgeous venue will be the scene of regular supper clubs and other intimate events like wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. Dating from the late 1800s, the structure was built by a coal oil dealer named Samuel Huntress. A mural bearing the name Huntress Coal Oil adorns the wall above the entrance to the space. Those interested in attending a supper club should stop by GoodWood on a Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday and ask for Anna.

Barre Workout Venue Opens in Blagden Alley

In November 2012 Xtend Barre DC opened in Blagden Alley, in the same structure as Bell Architects (1228 9th St. NW ) – a few doors away from Long View Gallery’s back entrance and a stone’s throw from Rogue 24. Xtend Barre DC is a franchise of a burgeoning brand. Xtend Barre combines the ballet barre with Pilates for a high-intensity workout. The multi-level classes are geared to challenge bodies of any age, gender, or fitness. The Xtend Barre system aims to strengthen, lengthen, and stretch the body from top to bottom to create a long and lean physique without added bulk. Xtend Barre DC is owned by Kelly Griffith, who is an instructor at the studio. Griffith also owns a Pilates studio in Georgetown called Fuel Pilates. She introduced the Xtend Barre to Fuel and to Washington in September 2010. For more information, including class schedules and pricing, visit Xtend Barre DC’s website, xtendbarredc.com. u

Bloomingdale Business by Jazzy Wright

Petition Crops Up to Support Dog Park

Depending on whom you ask, a new dog park may be coming to the Bloomingdale area. Area residents calling themselves the Eckington Dog Park Association started a petition in January to build a dog park on the grounds of the Harry Thomas Recreation Center. The group is asking the DC Department of Parks and Recreation to set aside land for a dog park as the department considers redesign plans for the Play DC program, a citywide playground improvement project. The dog park advocacy group reached out to John Stokes, chief of staff at DC Parks and Recreation, to identify possible sites for the dog park. Thus far the group has narrowed the selection to two sites for a 5,000 square foot dog park. But everyone isn’t so happy about it. In mid-January Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Joyce Robinson-Paul collected signatures on petitions opposing the dog park. Robinson-Paul did not immediately respond to MidCity DC for comments. It should be noted that Robinson-Paul is not the neighborhood commissioner for Eckington.

More Legislation from Councilmember McDuffie

At the start of the year Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie introduced three bills aimed at promoting campaign finance reform and economic activity. Working with Chairman Phil Mendelson, McDuffie introduced the “Money Order Tiered Contribution Limit Amendment Act of 2013,” a bill that would limit money order contributions an individual can contribute to a political candidate. The bill creates a system of caps on the maximum amount of a money order contribution to a political campaign. “It is imperative that the Council take serious action toward campaign finance reform,” said McDuffie in a press release. “It’s important that we balance the desire for political participation with the regulation of money orders, which have been used as a means to conceal the identity of the underlying donor. This approach allows donors to utilize money orders in an amount proportional to the scope of the race they are supporting, and discourages those who seek to use money orders to conceal donor identity.” Councilmember McDuffie, along with Councilmembers Tommy Wells

and David Grosso, introduced the “Distillery Pub Licensure Act of 2013,” a bill that creates a distillery pub license to capitalize on the rise of local handcrafted small-batch breweries and spirit distilleries that have popped up in DC. “The District is considered one of the most brewerydense areas in the country, and I am pleased that many of these breweries are located in Ward 5,” said McDuffie. “This bill will bring a significant economic impact to our Ward and the city by creating new jobs and tax revenue generated by increased sales of craft distilled spirits.” Finally, McDuffie introduced the “Medical Marijuana Cultivation Center and Dispensary Location Restriction Amendment Act of 2013,” a bill to quell neighborhood fears that Ward 5 will become saturated with marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries. The legislation would limit the number of cultivation centers in a ward and allow for two dispensaries per ward. At this writing five of the six cultivation centers approved for registration in the city are located in Ward 5. “It is important not to allow these cultivation centers and dispensaries to disproportionately fall upon one Ward,” said McDuffie. “The residents of my ward consider the location of

Conductor Bruce Henderson at the NSO Concert

five cultivation centers and one dispensary to be more than their fair share. Ensuring that cultivation centers and dispensaries are equitably distributed across the city’s wards will facilitate both balance and access.”

Orchestra, Mayor Celebrate Emancipation Proclamation Anniversary

On Sunday, January 13, 2013, the National Symphony Orchestra teamed up with the Florida Avenue Baptist Church Choir to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with a moving concert for the second annual “In Your Neighborhood” concert series. The event series took place at landmark locations in the U Street, Shaw, Logan Circle, and Howard University neighborhoods, acknowledging the significance of the 1863 proclamation that freed slaves in Confederate territory. DC Mayor Vincent Gray attended the event, and local WUSA newswoman Andrea McCarren was spotted at the church with her family. As part of the concert the Florida Avenue Baptist Church Choir and the National Symphony Orchestra performed “Emancipation Jubilation,” an original composition by Florida Avenue Baptist Church Minister William H. Sydnor, Sr. The concert also featured songs and hymns from the African diaspora, as well as readings from the writings of former slaves. Bruce Henderson, director of the Olton Singing Society, served as the conductor of the church concert. Rita Shapiro, executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, said, “We have been greatly honored to participate in an event so significant to our nation’s history.” u midcitydcnews.com u 33

your neighborhood

n the annual winter ritual, Phil popped out of his Pennsylvania groundhog hole earlier this month to get his version of the weather forecast. Around here however, most people have pretty much been hunkered down during these bone chilling days of February. That is, until that other annual winter ritual called the Super Bowl! On Super Bowl Sunday, lots of folks in Logan and U/14 shivered through the streets to get to bars and restaurants to watch the Baltimore Ravens knock the heart out of the San Francisco 49ers! Two popular spots to watch the pigskin combatants were Stoneys on P Street and Ben’s Next Door on U Street. These restaurants are known for a sports-friendly crowd and cheers went out predominantly for the victors from up-the-road in B’more. Undoubtedly, lots of establishments were full on Super Bowl Sunday and if Phil is correct, the crowds will be rushing back to fill indoor and outdoor restaurant seating again real soon. He didn’t see his shadow which means that we may soon see an end to the near freezing temperatures of late January and early February.

Logan Circles by Mark F. Johnson

running at the corner of 14th and T across from St. Ex. This will be at least the third business that has made its way across town from the Hill to U/14. Peregrine also started in that area. But, as this is Logan Circle, pretty much any

that may finally be headed across town to H Street, NE? Aside from many, many residents in search of more affordable housing to purchase in DC’s new, now, next neighborhood I mean. There is scuttlebutt that Whole Foods

4th. This area has been transforming at scary fast rates, certainly compared to the longer and more measured U/14 transformation when it started in earnest about 15 years ago. But does the Atlas area, as H

will open its third city location near 7th and H NE, in a building planned for but yet to be redeveloped into condos and retail. It should be noted that a new Giant is about to open at 3rd and H NE on the ground floor of a handsome apartment building that takes up the entire block between 3rd and

Street NE has become known by many, have the demographics that stores like Whole Foods like in order to locate there?! The neighborhood is seriously looking more like 14th Street as increasingly more Loganites shop at stores like Hunted House and Daily Rider and eat at restaurants

Restaurant Bites

And one of the spots folks may be rushing to is European-style Bar di Bari, slated to open in the nearly completed Northern Exchange condo complex at the corner of 14th and R Streets. No final word on when the place will open yet, but they’ve applied for a liquor license and have signaled the intent to open a sidewalk café as well. Up the street, in the District rentals complex, plans still call for Ted’s Bulletin to open its second location. The restaurant, which opened on Capitol Hill, a few years back is following family member Matchbox, now up and 34 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

Pink is not in Pixies Outdoor Color Scheme

restaurant that can afford the space and believes it has half a chance in DC, would want to be here.

Cross-Town Traffic Steadily Picking Up

What has P Street had for years

like Boundary Road, Le Grenier and newcomer Batter Bowl Bakery, located across from the soonto-open Giant Foods at 3rd and H Streets. Many of these weekend wayfarers are discovering the coolness of the strip as they meet at Union Market. While it is true that Logan Circle is losing residents, there’s always as many if not more seeking to live here. Case in point, a high civil rights official in the Department of Education who came to DC to work in the Obama Administration is about to vacate his Kingman Place apartment to return home to Los Angeles to accept a job with a law firm that he “just couldn’t refuse,” he says. As he packs boxes for the movers to drive across country, an Australian couple new in town are out shopping for furniture to put into their U Street rental because they “left everything in Sydney” for the husband to come to DC to take a contract position with the World Bank. They say they love the U/14 area and are looking forward to living here for a while. However, says the wife, “we’ve been scouting out the H Street area and we do like what we see.”

Pretty in Pink?

Not according to the landlord who owns the property that Miss Pixies has rented for the last three or so years. The once bright pink façade has peeled off like flimsy daisy petals. It has now gone battle ship gray and more nearly conforms to the look of the new condo next door at the southwest corner of 14 and R Streets. The change may reflect that Bodysmith gym has moved upstairs. Psychologically-speaking, it is probably more fitting to beat a body into shape in a place that sports a more hard hitting color. As this is the month for Valentine’s, may we all see red! u

midcitydcnews.com Redmens Masonry Brickwork & Stonework Specialists • All Types of Masonry • Steps, Patios & Walkways • Historical Preservation & Restoration

No Job too Small

571-215-2504 Over 20 Years of Experience midcitydcnews.com u 35

kids and family

+ Notebook

Summer Youth Employment Program

cepts at the Pizza Playground. Donate now and help promote children’s interests in conservation. With your support, they can add slides, a simulated farmer’s garden, rubber play surfaces, and shade structures! As a special thanks to those who join the Pizza Party with a donation of $100 or more, they will be invited to an exclusive VIP pizza party event when the renovations to the playground has been completed! This is one party you won’t want to miss! Donate at nationalzoo.si.edu/ Support/AnnualAppeal.

Help Support the National Zoo’s Kids’ Farm

Story Time Celebration at MLK Library

Mayor Gray and the DC Department of Employment Services have announced that the application process for the District’s 2013 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has opened. The program will provide six weeks of meaningful employment and work-readiness training to District youth this summer. The online application for the 2013 SYEP is available to District residents between the ages of 14 and 21 at summerjobs.dc.gov.

Designed for children three to eight, the Pizza Playground at Kids’ Farm draws youngsters to the Zoo’s critical mission in a fun, inventive way. They can learn where food comes from as they crawl, climb, and run through the Zoo’s giant Pizza Playground. Here, conservation concepts are reinforced through hands-on play. To make the playground super deluxe, they need to raise $305,000. Of the numerous families that visit the Zoo, many with young children head straight to the Pizza Playground. They’d like to continue to give these parents the opportunity to relax and their children the chance to explore new con36 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

This special story time for ages 3 and older will focus on friendship through the exploration of stories, rhymes and songs that emphasize what it means to be a great friend. Feb 14, 10 a.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk\

Sat. Morning at the National Free Performances for Children

On Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. there are free live performances for children in the Helen Hayes Gallery. Tickets are required and distributed first come-first seated. Tickets are dis-

n Donner

by Kathlee

Students compete in LEGO robotics event at Discover Engineering Family Day. Photo: Kevin Allen

Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum

On Feb 16, 10 a.,m.-4:30 p.m., the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality. Celebrate National Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on, and fun-filled festival. This is a free, drop-in program. $5 donation suggested. Program and activities are most appropriate for children ages 5-13 with adult supervision. Registration is not required. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-272.2448. nbm.org At Discover Engineering Family Day visitors can:(1) FLY Become a rocket scientist and explore aerodynamics (2) BUILD Learn to build a suspension bridge using only basic items (3) EXPLORE Discover the concepts of mechanics and motion using a wind tube (4) MAKE slime and learn the properties of a “semisolid” (5) DESIGN and construct a structure to help protect from a tsunami (6) INVENT a pop-fly lever and see how high it launches a ping pong ball (7) MEET an astronaut and (8) DISCOVER alongside Curious George and Cat in the Hat from WETA and PBSKids.

tributed 1/2 hour prior to performance. One ticket per person in line. The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. 202-7833372. Feb. 9-The Maestro. In the tradition of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, an eccentric mute conductor makes musical mayhem with the kids serving as his unwitting orchestra. Young and old will laugh with delight when high art and slapstick comedy intertwine in a musical morning filled with chaos and confusion! Feb 23-Theatre IV: Sweet Chariot. Upbeat and inspirational, the talented singers and actors of Sweet Chariot combine dazzling a capella spirituals with oral histories of former slaves who were interviewed during the 1930s Federal Writers Project. Their first-hand accounts of the joys and agonies of everyday life, and their efforts to escape to freedom across the Ohio River, provide a unique window on our AfricanAmerican history. Mar 2-Mary Ann Jung: Pee Wee Pirates. Ahoy there, Maties! Set sail with Captain Jean, The Pirate Queen, on a rollicking ‘round-the-world adventure in sailing! In this fast-moving and interactive show, kids are asked to volunteer for duty hoisting the rigging, swabbing the decks and looking for land while learning details of foreign cultures the world over. Mar 9-The Bog Band and Shannon Dunne Dance Company. Celebrate the Irish in all of us with a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day show of traditional Irish music and dance! The Bog Band, a group of young musicians totally mad for traditional Irish music, will be joined by the Shannon Dunne Dance Com-

THE DANCE INSTITUTE OF WASHINGTON

HOSTS A SPECIAL WINTER

OPEN HOUSE

“Fall in Love with Dance” March 2nd, 3 – 7 p.m. March 3rd, 3 – 5:30 p.m. “Dance Like No One Is Watching” - Mark Twain In commemoration of the Dance Institute’s 25th Anniversary, this Open House is an open invitation from the students and teachers of DIW to participants of all ages, from children to adults and senior citizens, to come and discover what the buzz is all about. “Fall in Love with Dance” will offer free sample dance classes, mini performance exhibitions, dance program auditions, and a fun registration drive for DIW’s 2013 Summer Programs.

202.371.9656 www.danceinstitutewa.org 3400 14th Street, NW in Columbia Heights capitalcommunitynews.com u 37

pany which specializes in “Old Style“ dance steps.

MARCH WITH KIDS at the Alliance Française

Do you want your child to... Receive a COLLEGE PREP education? Learn from CARING teachers? Enjoy HIGH-TECH classrooms in a SAFE environment? Select from Technology, Art, Music, Journalism and other ELECTIVES? Participate in ATHLETICS and AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS? Attend the same school as their SIBLINGS?

They can – at Perry Street Prep! Our Lower School serves PreK (age 3) – Grade 8 Our Upper School serves Grades 9-12

CALL US FOR A TOUR: 202.551.0823 or ATTEND AN INFO SESSION: Wed. Feb. 6, 13 and 27 and Mar. 13 or Sat. Feb. 23, Mar. 16 • We are free to all DC residents. • We open with a free breakfast at 7:15 a.m. • Free Shuttle to Metro station at 4:00 p.m.

On Mar 9, 10 a.m., there will be a kid’s author visit and art workshop. Catherine Pineur is the author and illustrator of a collection of Belgian stories loved for their vibrant sense of life and color. Children are invited for a special reading with the author followed by an egg-painting workshop. $35. On Mar 29, 6 p.m., view the film Ciné Môme: Le renard et l’enfant (The Fox and the Girl). Free. One morning as she’s walking, a young girl spies a fox along the trail. She is so entranced that she forgets to be afraid, allowing all barriers between the two to fall away. And so begins an incredible friendship, through which she will discover a secret, wild world. Alliance Française, 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW. 202-2347911 francedc.org

Presidents’ Family Day at the American Art Museum

Start off your Presidents’ Day weekend at a patriotic family day at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. Enjoy a variety of crafts and performances dedicated to our nation’s past leaders. Stick around to meet some special guests, and pose for your own Presidential portrait. Feb 16, 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., American Art Museum, 8th and F sts. NW. americanart.si.edu

Registration for DPR Summer Camp Begins

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announces its summer camp registration, dates and information for the 2013 Summer Camp season. For Summer 2013, DPR will offer a new rolling registration period through Thursday, Feb 14 for District residents. Open Registration for non-District residents will open on Monday, Mar 4, at 10 a.m. During the rolling registration period, a specific group of camp sites will open for online registration each day at 10 a.m. Once the online registration is open for a particular camp, the registration will remain open until all the camp spaces are filled. Please make 38 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

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OPEN HOUSE Monday February 25th 9am - 10:30am ABOUT US: •

Founded in the fall of 1999

•

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

•

Pre-school – 5th Grade

•

Independently run with a strong Board of Trustees

•

Challenging Curriculum

•

Exciting Creative Arts and Technology Program

•

Positive school culture

•

Open to all DC Residents

Open Enrollment for Preschool – 5th Grade February 1st-March 15th (All DC residents) 5300 Blaine Street, NE Washington, DC 20019 202-398-6811

Please visit us at www.artstechacademy.org

midcitydcnews.com u 39

The First Hebrew Language Immersion Public Charter School in DC

Darrin D. Davis, Principal Broker/Owner

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY NOW ENROLLING: 2013-2014 School Year Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 The only Hebrew Language Charter School in the United States where children will learn all subjects in both English and Hebrew. Innovative learning culture and commitment to early literacy and numeracy. Diversity and global citizenship.

Learn more and Enroll online:

www.SelaPCS.org 202-670-SELA (7352) Application Deadline: March 15, 2013 Lottery Date: March 22, 2013 (if applications for a particular grade level exceed available space)

Like us: Facebook.com/SelaPCS

Specializing in real estate sales, property management & development in Washington, DC neighborhoods East of the Anacostia River. Register for our real estate workshops! 2412 Minnesota Ave. SE, Suite 101 Washington, DC 20020

202-678-REAL(7325) info@AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

note of the registration dates for the camp (or camps) of your choice to ensure that online registration is initiated on the correct date. Registration can be completed online or in person at the DPR summer camps office located at Columbia Heights Recreation Center, 1480 Girard St. NW 4th floor. Space fills on a first-come, first-serve basis and enrollment is subject to availability. It is recommended that parents create an online DPR account for all campers in the DPR registration system prior to the registration period, in order to be best prepared. DPR’s summer camp will consist of four, two-week camp sessions starting on June 24 and ending on Aug 16. Most camps will operate Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. with before care from 8-9 a.m. and after care from 5-6 p.m. There is an additional charge for before and after care. Select DPR camp sites will offer the Free Summer Meals Program. Children attending camps that do not offer the free summer meals program must bring their own lunch and snacks. DPR does not maintain waiting lists for summer camps. Additional information can be found at summercamps.dc.gov or by contacting the Summer Camps office at 202-671-0372. The Summer Camps office is open Monday-Tuesday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

“Artful Conversations”

Designed for children (8-11) and adults to participate in together, this series of programs uses observation and discussion to explore works of art in the collection. Led by museum educators, each program looks at one work of art in the galleries, accompanied by activities such as sketching, writing poetry, or making connections between works of art. Approximately seventy minutes. Sign-in for Artful Conversations will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and will continue until all spaces are filled. Many museum visitors spend only seconds looking at a work of art. Find out what you can discover when you spend an hour exploring one work of art! See-Wonder-Haiku on Feb 9 and 10 at 11:30 and 1:30; SeeWonder-Connect. Mar 9 aand 10 at 40 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

he nd

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Pre-School – 8th Grade

Intellect Inquiry Imagination Integrity Located 3 blocks from U Street Metro Station Green/Yellow Line 1328 Florida Avenue NW 202-248-6825

midcitydcnews.com u 41

11:30 and 1:30. Sign up at the East Building Ground Level, Information Desk. nga.gov

DC United Training Program Open for Registration

The 2013 D.C. United Training Program is open for registration and the winter session is just around the corner, starting on Sunday, Feb 3. The Training Program, which is available to the 9-11 and 12-13 age groups, presents a key opportunity for participants to be identified and scouted for United’s PreAcademy squads and the recently introduced age 14 Academy Team. Commencing in the fall of this year, the 13-14 division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy will consist of current Academy clubs and select sides from outside the current Academy structure. The Training Program will be conducted during the winter, spring, summer and fall and each session will feature six two-hour long practices over six different weekends. Players will train like D.C. United’s Academy and First Team players at the RFK Stadium Complex, and this elite program will feature a competitive environment with a focus on individual technique and tactical understanding. Program participants will also receive a ticket voucher to a D.C. United home game. To select a program, click korrio.com/groups/d-c-united/ programs. If you have any further questions or need assistance, contact Program Manager Mikael Tigrett at 202-587-5468.

Movement with Books at MLK Library

Thursdays and 11 a.m., jump, wiggle, bounce, shake and move with a librarian and books. Children will explore movement for different body parts using rhymes and songs, and increase their creativity through fun story recall and story telling activities. For ages 3-5. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk

OCTO Launches DCPS High School Online Application

The District Office of the Chief Technology Officer has announced the recent launch of a new web-based High School Online Application (HSOA) system for DC Public Schools (DCPS). HSOA allows incoming high school students to apply to one or more of the six specialized high schools by completing a single online application, ranking each selected school in the order of pref42 u Midcity DC | FEBRUARY 2013

erence. A specialized high school is a school with no boundaries that has specific admission requirements and selection criteria. Specialized schools include Banneker Senior High School; Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC); Duke Ellington School of the Arts; McKinley Technology High School; Phelps Architecture, Construction, and Engineering High School and; School Without Walls Senior High School (SWW ). For current DCPS students, HSOA communicates with DC STARS to retrieve and pre-fill student data making the application process faster and more efficient. Each specialized school has its own unique admission requirements, and based on the school selections made by the student the system displays the appropriate questionnaire. Additionally, HSOA sends an automatic email notification to individuals designated to complete student recommendation forms. Once submitted, the application is instantly available to the school administrators for review. Applicants can access their submitted application at any time, modify school rankings, view the status of recommendation letters, and learn their final acceptance results. To learn more about HSOA, visit hsca.dcps.dc.gov.

DCPS Announces Innovative Internship Program for Students with Disabilities

DCPS has launched a new career-focused mentoring program for high school students with disabilities. The program, called Competitive Employment Opportunities (CEO), will connect high school students with disabilities to professional mentors who work in a range of competitive occupations. Approximately 20 students will participate in the program. The CEO program consists of weekly professional development classes, guided email correspondence with mentors and a career-focused final project. Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to obtain summer employment through paid internships at their assigned mentor agency. Current agency partners include NASA, The Architect of the Capitol, The HSC Foundation, Northrop Grumman, Socially Ahead, Capital Area Asset Builders, and The Advisory Board Company. DCPS students have been informed about the program by school staff and were encouraged to apply online. The application process included an online application as well as an in-person interview. The level of student interest was very high, as over

seventy students applied for only twenty slots. DCPS will provide a stipend of $8 an hour to enrolled students throughout the duration of their professional development training and summer employment. DCPS will also encourage students to open savings accounts through the Capital Area Asset Builder’s Individualized Development Account Program. This will allow students to obtain 1:1 matched savings on earned income for up to $1,000 to be used for postsecondary opportunities.

Options Student Wins Capitol Hill Spelling Bee

Options Public Charter School student Julien Ingram became this year’s Capitol Hill Spelling Champ by correctly spelling “homogeneous” in a competition that had 32 contestants (6th through 12th grade) and lasted 13 rounds. Mya Ballad, a very talented 6th grader at Options, was the runner-up. Since 1996, Options has served as a model for effectively including and educating youth who have failed in traditional learning environments (particularly low-income, African American males). With a general education and full-time therapeutic transition and socialization program, Options offers alternative programs, which motivate students to stay in school by giving them the requisite social skills to increase their self-esteem, effectively manage anger and frustration, and achieve academic excellence. optionsschool.org

Mardi Gras Family Day at Anacostia Community Museum

Can’t make it to Mardi Gras in New Orleans? No worries. On Feb 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., come celebrate it at the Anacostia Community Museum in a day of exciting activities including entertainment, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, dancing, and costume contests. When you walk through the museum doors don’t forget to sign up for the Adornment Workshop with Januwa Moja-Nelson who will dress you up in wonderful raiment for a free keepsake photo to take with you to remember this fun-filled day for the whole family. Whatever your age is, there is sure to be something to interest you at the Mardi Gras Family Day. This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 202-633-4875 or email ACMinfo@si.edu. Anacostia Com mun ity Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu u

ROOFING Changing Hands +

at home

Changing hands is a list of residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. This list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. 610 INGRAHAM ST NW 513 JEFFERSON ST NW 5017 9TH ST NW

SHAW

77 P ST NW

U STREET

1481 FLORIDA AVE NW 1227 T ST NW

$275,000 $269,900 $257,499

2 3 5

1718 CORCORAN ST NW #2 1816 NEW HAMP. AVE NW #405 1737 P ST NW #202 1414 22ND ST NW #7

$536,500

KALORAMA

$814,000 $855,000

3 3

Neighborhood FEE SIMPLE BLOOMINGDALE 2205 FLAGLER PL NW 2417 1ST ST NW 2415 1ST ST NW

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1482 CHAPIN ST NW 3547 13TH ST NW 763 COLUMBIA RD NW 644 KEEFER PL NW 1002 COLUMBIA RD NW 719 OTIS PL NW 776 IRVING ST NW 761 HOBART PL NW 604 COLUMBIA RD NW

DUPONT

1752 CHURCH ST NW

KALORAMA

2430 20TH ST NW

Price

$620,000 $600,000 $500,000

3 6 3

$1,001,000 $910,000 $635,000 $575,000 $553,900 $515,000 $391,753 $333,000 $332,000

5 6 4 3 4 4 2 3 3

MOUNT PLEASANT 1877 MONROE ST NW

OLD CITY #2

1734 6TH ST NW 135 P ST NW 1608-/2 MA MARION ST NW 1848 8TH ST NW 1724 6TH ST NW 1431 3RD ST NW 15 N ST NW

PETWORTH

5301 4TH ST NW 4207 4TH ST NW 4313 4TH ST NW 629 QUINCY ST NW 5418 8TH ST NW 809 JEFFERSON ST NW 224 JEFFERSON ST NW 306 EMERSON ST NW

$612,100 $582,000 $559,000 $549,000 $490,000 $355,000

2 2 2 2 2 2

70 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #403 $308,000 1818 1ST ST NW #1 $577,750

1 3

$1,525,000

$1,210,000

$5,495,000 $6,250,000

6 7

$750,000

$1,332,094 $700,000 $691,000 $565,000 $435,000 $433,000 $401,500

9 4 2 3 2 3 3

$644,450 $575,000 $565,000 $453,333 $450,000 $389,000 $343,200 $305,000

4 3 3 4 4 4 4 3

CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS

3901 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #419 $240,000

CENTRAL

2425 L ST NW #339 616 E ST NW #855 2301 N ST NW #110

CLEVELAND PARK

3800 39TH ST NW #E-131 3100 WISCONSIN AVE NW #B6

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

1451 BELMONT ST NW #404 2819 11TH ST NW #2 1215 PARK RD NW #1 1020 GIRARD ST NW #2 929 FLORIDA AVE NW #8007 1361 IRVING ST NW #15 1531 PARK RD NW #7 1427 CLIFTON ST NW #1 3609 13TH ST NW #1 1417 CHAPIN ST NW #201 732 LAMONT ST NW #103 754 PARK RD NW #04 1308 CLIFTON ST NW #302 1464 HARVARD ST NW #9 1300 TAYLOR ST NW #2 732 LAMONT ST NW #402 3318 SHERMAN AVE NW #204 754 PARK RD NW #03 739 NEWTON PL NW #104 3900 14TH ST NW #704 1523 PARK RD NW #B-3

DUPONT

1830 JEFFERSON PL NW #15 1520 16TH ST NW #401 1625 Q ST NW #103 1612 Q ST NW #6 1401 17TH ST NW #701 2141 P ST NW #904 1714 SWANN ST NW #3 2141 P ST NW #205

2123 CALIFORNIA ST NW #G8 $749,000 1840 VERNON ST NW #401 $415,000 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #202 $304,900

2 1 0

LEDROIT PARK LOGAN

BLOOMINGDALE

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HTS 2910 EDGEVALE TER NW 3025 WHITEHAVEN ST NW

2516 17TH ST NW #4 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #211 2516 17TH ST NW #3 2516 17TH ST NW #2 2505 17TH ST NW #3 1725 LANIER PL NW #4B

1 0 1 1

1 U ST NW #A

CONDO ADAMS MORGAN

$260,000 $257,000 $397,777 $550,000

$818,000 $560,000 $385,000

2 2 1

$429,000 $170,000

2 0

$740,000 $715,000 $605,000 $567,000 $525,000 $490,000 $480,000 $470,000 $430,000 $405,000 $390,000 $380,000 $374,900 $347,500 $315,000 $310,000 $260,000 $259,000 $249,000 $202,400 $110,000

2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 1

$615,000 $599,000 $549,999 $466,250 $430,000 $425,000 $389,000 $299,990

2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1

1314 MASS. AVE NW #601 1101 L ST NW #102 1309 Q ST NW #1 1735 JOHNSON AVE NW #F 1300 N ST NW #115 1501 VERMONT AVE NW #1 1200 Q ST NW #201 1300 N ST NW #512 1010 MASS. AVE NW #902 2125 14TH ST NW #225

MOUNT PLEASANT 1678 OAK ST NW #17 1885 MONROE ST NW #4 3324 18TH ST NW ##6 3324 18TH ST NW ##7 3324 18TH ST NW ##5 3324 18TH ST NW #8

OLD CITY #2

1600 8TH ST NW #2 811 4TH ST NW #1205 1426 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #A 1340 Q ST NW #23 1539 9TH ST NW #2 1748 CORCORAN ST NW #3B 1539 9TH ST NW #1 1605-1607 7TH ST NW #7 1931 17TH ST NW #104 1711 MASS. AVE NW #620 1440 N ST NW #P24 910 S ST NW #2

PENN QTR

440 L ST NW #709 440 L ST NW #813 616 E ST NW #801

SHAW

1816 5TH ST NW #3

U STREET

1939 12TH ST NW #203 2020 12TH ST NW #T-03 1706 U ST NW #303 2212 11TH ST NW #3 1418 W ST NW #406 2020 12TH ST NW #204

WEST END

2301 N ST NW #714 2501 M ST NW #607

WOODLEY PARK

3100 CONN. AVE NW #440

$539,000

$399,999 $275,000 $1,175,000 $699,000 $529,900 $374,000 $335,000 $239,900 $615,000 $499,000

1 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 1 1

$623,000 $499,000 $479,900 $451,000 $449,900 $432,900

2 2 1 1 1 1

$878,000 $765,000 $750,000 $659,000 $646,000 $427,500 $385,000 $325,000 $257,000 $240,000 $35,860 $895,000

3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 2

$432,500 $415,000 $422,000

1 1 1

$486,000

$450,000 $395,000 $284,500 $620,000 $469,000 $399,900

1 1 1 2 2 1

$700,000 $355,000

2 1

$358,000

FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS MODIFIED BITUMEN SKYLIGHTS 10% OFF SHINGLES WITH SLATE THIS AD CHIMNEY REPAIRS COATINGS & PAINTS GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS ALUMINUM & VINYL SIDING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED “50 Years Experience”

All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners

G&G

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

202-425-1614 Licensed & Insured

Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time! Over 20 years of experience

Comprehensive Design and Maintenance Services · Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features · Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes • Trees & shrubs, formal & informal gardens • Custom Masonry, Fencing and Iron work · Restoration and Enhancement

WINTER GARDEN SPECIAL (With This Coupon) exp 02/28/2013

10% off new clients and new installation

15% off any design

Derek Thomas / Principal Certified Professional Horticulturist, Master Gardener; Member of the MD Nursery and Landscape Association & the Association of Professional Landscape Designers

301.642.5182

www.thomaslandscapes.com

THOMAS LANDSCAPES

Full -Service Landscape Design & Maintenance Firm

capitalcommunitynews.com u 43

CLASSIFIEDS AIR CONDITIONING

To place a classified in HILL RAG, please call Carolina at 202.543.8300 x12 or email: Carolina@hillrag.com.

ELECTRICIAN

AIR CONDITIONING

LANDSCAPES

PAINTING

Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time!

Polar Bear

· Comprehensive Design and Maintenance Services · Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features · Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes • Trees & shrubs, formal & informal gardens • Custom Masonry, Fencing and Iron work · Restoration and Enhancement

AIR CONDITIONING PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.

202-333-1310 www.polarbearairconditioning.com

LICENSED BONDED INSURED FALL & WINTER SPECIALS FREE ESTIMATES

Over 20 years of experience

301.642.5182

www.thomaslandscapes.com

HEALTH & FITNESS CLEANING SERVICES S TANDARD C LEANING S ERVICE I NC . Commercial & Residential

TONY’S BOXING GYM

& FITNESS CENTER PROFESSIONAL & AMATEUR BOXING LESSONS s • All Types of Exercise Machine • Diet Counseling & Nutrition • Olympic Free Weights • Free Personal Training • Seniors Welcome · Handicap Accessible

Ana Julia Viera 703.719.9850 • 703.447.9254 Days Free Estimates • Bonded & Insured References Upon Request 15% Discount New Customers

9-5711 202-88nt Olive t Rd, NE 1216 Mou

THOMAS LANDSCAPES

Full-Service Landscape Design & Maintenance Firm Derek Thomas / Principal - Certified Professional Horticulturist, Master Gardener. Member of the MD Nursery and Landscape Association & the Association of Professional Landscape Designers

OPPORTUNITIES

INCOMOERTUNITY OPP

WANTED: Independent...motivated... profit-driven entrepreneurs! Our business is exploding. Need business partners. Will train.

Our website just got a whole lot better!! capitalcommunitynews.com

• • • • •

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER

B C I

2 44 ◆ Midcity DC | February 2013

PLUMBING

ROOFING

WHS PLUMBING & HEATING Superior Service and Quick Response

We are Repiping & Drain Cleaning Specialists · Competitive On The Spot Pricing · Same Day, Nights, Weekends & Emergency Service · Licensed Plumbers and Gasfitters · Underground Domestic Water and Sewer Line Leak Detection · Underground Pipe Locator

Hill Family Owned & Operated Call William at

(202) 255-9231 20 years of experience Licensed, Bonded and Insured LSDBE Certified

www.whsplumbingandheating.com

FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS MODIFIED BITUMEN 10% OFF SKYLIGHTS WITH SHINGLES THIS AD SLATE CHIMNEY REPAIRS COATINGS & PAINTS GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS ALUMINUM & VINYL SIDING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

“50 Years Experience” All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners

G&G

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

202-425-1614 Licensed & Insured

Keith Roofing

EXPERT WORKMANSHIP

REASONABLE PRICES!

Residential/Commercial • Over 40 years in Business Chimney Repairs • Storm & Wind Damage Repair

ROOFING

Johnston & Johnston Roofing “Try a new coating vs. a roof replacement.”

• FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST • WATERPROOFING • ALUMINUM ASPHALT COATING • SLATE REPAIRS • SHINGLE REPAIRS • CHIMNEY REPAIR

• ALL ROOF REPAIRS • ROOF REPLACEMENTS • GUTTER REPAIR • GUTTER REPLACEMENT • INQUIRE ABOUT OUR SPECIALS • FREE ESTIMATES

We install new rubber and shingle roofs

• New or Re-Roofing • Tear-Off & Replacement • Flat Roof Specialist • Copper, Tin, Sheet Metal & Rolled • Seamless & Flat Roofs • Re-Sealing • Tar, Asphalt, Gravel, Hot Coats • Modified Bitumen • Ask about our gutter specials

Our Prices Won’t be Beat!

DANIEL PARKS Roofing & Gutters

NO JOB TOO SMALL!!! “Stopping Leaks is Our Specialty”

EMERGENCY REPAIRS WE DO IT ALL RUBBER & FLAT ROOFS WATER PROOFING SLATE ROOFS LEAK REPAIRS METAL ROOFS GUTTER REPAIRS SHINGLE ROOFING CHIMNEY REPAIRS FACIAL/SOFFITS ALUMINUM ROOF COATING

202-489-1728 Licensed, Bonded & Insured Free Estimates Senior and Government Discount 10% SPECIALIZING IN SEAMLESS GUTTERS

TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS call Carolina at 202.543.8300 x12

Insurance Claims • Free Estimates • 24Hr. Service

Fully Insured • Licensed • Bonded

“No Job Too Large or Small” Senior & Military Discounts Available!

202-486-7359

All Work Inspected by Owner...Deals Directly with Customers! All Work Fully Guaranteed

AFFORDABLE & PROFESSIONAL

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Family owned & operated 40 Years Experience

202.637.8808

202-607-4038 202-487-7182

WELDING

LICENSED, BONDED, AND INSURED

FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST WE STOP LEAKS! • Roof Repairs • Roof Coatings • Rubber • Metal • Slate

• Tiles • Chimneys • Gutters • Waterproofing • Roof Certifications

We Do Everything!

BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC. LIC. BONDED. INS

75 years in service

BBB

Member

202-223-ROOF (7663) midcitydcnews.com ◆ 45

Tell Them, â€œShaw Main Streets Sent

Me!â€?

Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Vincent C. Gray, Mayor.