The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted, May 11, 2025

ICYMI.  Capitol Hill Pastor’s car destroyed in suspicious garage fire.  The Rev. William H. Gurnee’s car, parked in the garage behind St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill where he is pastor, was destroyed the night of Saturday May 3^rd by a fire of suspicious origin.  In this photo, the fire’s debris has been cleaned up and hauled away leaving the burned out vehicle  behind the church.

The church is at 2^nd and C Street, NE, catty corner from the Senate Hart Office Building.  The fire was apparently set in a dumpster near the garage.  DC fire (FEMS) controlled the blaze and kept it from spreading.  There have been a series of suspicious fires on Capitol Hill stretching across Capitol Hill in the direction of Barney Circle, as previously reported by CHC. https://bit.ly/3E3ZxtW MPD arrested an individual who FEMS observed setting a fire near Barney Circle Thursday night.  FEMS encourages the public to reach out using 202-673-27766 (ARSON) or submit information online https://fmhotline.femsdc.com/HotlineForm  Tips can be anonymous.

ANC6A invites Mayor Bowser to discuss her proposal to build a new NFL stadium for the Washington Commanders on the RFK site.  ANC6A met last Thursday, chaired by Commissioner Dave Wethington.  Noah Glasgow, one of the Mayor’s Ward 6 Community Relations representatives, said he would carry the invitation to the Mayor.  BTW – if you want to talk to CM Allen about RFK, he’s holding his ANC6A Office hours 8:30am – 10am next Friday, May 16, at Hiraya Café, 1248 H Street, NE.  Register here:  https://www.charlesallenward6.com/office_hours_0516

Moral Mondays demonstration at the Supreme Court and US Capitol:  Last Monday, a group of faith-based nonviolent activists continued a recurring action opposing the current federal budget being proposed by the administration and the US House of Representatives.  During a demonstration a week earlier, the Reverend William Barber, one of the group’s founders, was arrested while praying in the Rotunda of the US Capitol.  Barber was ill on May 5 and did not attend that day’s demonstration.  But some 100 other protestors marched to the Supreme Court for a rally and then some proceeded to the U.S. Rotunda to pray where five of them were arrested.  The group’s organizers say they plan to continue demonstrating over the next few weeks to take a stand against an immoral budget that harms people. 

ICYMI The Lobby Bar sets opening date. The Lobby Bar at 224 7^th Street, SE, (across from Eastern Market in the old Boxcar space) will start taking dinner reservations on Friday, May 16.  That probably indicates a soft-opening this coming week. Stay tuned.  Meantime, here’s a look at their menu:  https://www.lobbybardc.com/menu (Uh-oh.  No prices.)

Ducks.  Here’s a photo of a mother Mallard duck which set up a nest to hatch her 12 ducklings on the basement steps of a house on the 300 block of 7^th Street, NE.  April Linton from City Wildlife’s Duck Watch showed up with a box and conveyed all of them to the Tidal Basin.  Duck Watch says that this is a common occurrence in courtyards, parks, and roofs across the city every spring.  Volunteers gather up the ducks and take them to open water.  For more and to volunteer, go here:  https://citywildlife.org/programs/duck-watch/   Photo:  Jay Adelstein. 

How to follow Capitol Hill Corner.  To receive an email when an article is posted on CHC go to the homepage here:  https://capitolhillcorner.org/  On the right hand side of the page there’s a column below “Blog Stats.”   Scroll down to the bottom of the Archives and click on the blue tab that says “Follow Capitol Hill Corner.”  You will automatically be notified as soon as anything is posted.  To stop following CHC go to the same blue tab which now says “Following,” and click it again and return it to “Follow.”

The Week Ahead…

Highlights:

• Wednesday:  ANC6C Presentation:  CM Charles Allen—Ward 6 Update Announcements, see below.
• Friday:  CM Charles Allen holds Office ANC6A community office hours 8:30am – 10am at Hiraya Café, 1248 H Street, NE. 

Monday, May 12

ANC6B Parks & Public Spaces Taskforce will hold an in person only meeting at 7:00pm. 

Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; Second Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s)

Agenda: 

Per Chair Jerry Sroufe:  Two residents to brief the committee on their experiences in dealing with two unique issues that are pertinent to our mission draft: (1) closing public school playgrounds; (2) loading and unloading at the CVS in early morning hours.  Additionally, we have the mission statement and foundational tasks topics carried over from the past meeting.

ANC6B Southeast Library Task Force will hold a hybrid meeting at 6:30pm. 

Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; Second Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s)

• For info on how to join the meeting virtually, go here:  https://anc6b.org/

Agenda: 

Per Chair David Sobelsohn:  At Monday’s meeting we hope to have hard copies of the renovation update, also to learn about negotiations with Washington Gas to relocate its pipes, a problem that could cause DCPL to cut some of the renovation plans or even delay the library’s reopening, currently scheduled for mid-2026.

ANC6C Alcohol & Cannabis Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

• For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/  

Among items on the draft agenda:

Pupatella: discussion of trash disposal amendment

Alcohol Beverage License Renewals

• Junction Bistro Bar & Bakery
• Cafe Fili
• Sidamo Coffee
• Chopsmith
• Morrow Hotel Le Clou Vesper Upstairs at the Morrow
• Cynthia
• Shake Shack
• Cafe Berlin
• Whole Foods Market
• The Monocle
• Nostra Cucina
• Bistro Cacao

Tuesday, May 13

ANC6B will hold a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm. 

Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; First Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).

• For info on how to join the meeting virtually, go here:  https://anc6b.org/

Among items on the draft agenda:  TBD

ANC7D will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

• For more info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1

Among items on the agenda: 

• Swearing in of 7D01 Commissioner Joshua Taborn
• Councilmember Update – Wendell Felder, Ward 7 Councilmember
• Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS) Ward 7 Representative
• Community Presentations
• Dr. Joshua Jackson, Principal and Sanjay Mitchell, Executive Director, Cesar Chavez Public Charter School
  • Engaging Chavez in the Community
• Alex Freedman, Ward 7 Representative, DC Office of Planning
  • DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan
• Hakeem Mumford, Pepco (invited)
  • Consumer Rates

Wednesday, May 14

ANC6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

• For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Charles Allen Ward 6 Update Announcements

Commissioner announcements

DC agency informational announcements

Other community announcements

Consent calendar TBD

Plenary Agenda

Alcohol and Cannabis Licensing Committee

Pupatella’s trash disposal amendment

Renewals—Junction Bistro & Bar

• Café Fili
• Sidamo Coffee
• Chopsmith
• Morrow Hotel  Le Clou Vesper Upstairs
• Cynthia
• Shake Shack
• Café Berlin
• Whole Foods Market
• The Monocle
• Nostra Cucina
• Bistro Cacao   

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development

• 1109 4th Street NE – Special exception from nonconforming side-yard requirements to retroactively allow an already constructed third story with roof deck and three-story rear addition to a two-story principal dwelling.
• 1151 Abbey Pl. NE – Special exception from rear yard requirements and variance from lot occupancy requirements to retroactively allow an already constructed rear deck and staircase addition to a two-story principal dwelling.
• 304-308 K Street NE – Special exception for residential use of an alley lot and two variances, creation of a new alley lot and subdivision into two lots, to allow construction of two semidetached two-story dwelling units.

Transportation and Public Space Committee

• 6th Street commercial traffic – Request for relief from heavy trucks – Christy Kwan.
• 1232 4th Street NE – Ten-story affordable housing project with no parking, public space improvements including new curb and gutter, sidewalk, closure of existing driveway, bike racks, new street trees, benches, plantings, balcony and bay windows.
• 316 Massachusetts Avenue NE – Request to allow additional furniture and equipment to the existing café.
• Request for Zone 6 parking only – Residents seek the following locations to be restricted to Zone 6 parking only – 1 and 2 Terrace Court NE and 100 block of 5th Street NE.
• Safety concerns at 5th and C Streets NE, Stanton Park.
• Update on sidewalk safety—Scott Price

Friday May 16

CM Charles Allen Office ANC6A community office hours 8:30am – 10am at Hiraya Café, 1248 H Street, NE.  Register here:  https://www.charlesallenward6.com/office_hours_0516

Capitol Hill Corner Would Also Like You to Know About: 

Wednesday, May 14, Hill Center Event:

The Fate of America’s Cultural Institutions Featuring Philip Kennicott & Kitty Eisele

Wednesday, May 14 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm | $10 | Register here  https://bit.ly/4d9tLbQ

Sunday, May 18, Hill Center Event:

American Roots Concert Series: Duende Camarón| 4:30 pm | FREE

Duende Camarón is fronted by brothers Mario and Jose Oretea, who were born and raised in Bolivia. After spending time in Spain, they became enamored with Gypsy-Flamenco music and years later began collaborating with the Gipsy Kings. 

The meaning of “Duende Camaron” comes from the influence of flamenco culture in which Duende is a state of mind in which the artist reaches a magical connection with Art and Passion.  “Camaron” is the nickname of Jose Monje Cruz the most influential flamenco singer of contemporary times. 

Watch a video segment and register here:  https://bit.ly/3GRMkp6