The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted October 13, 2025
New Café/Bar/Creative Space coming to Barracks Row. A knowledgeable source says the former Ophelia’s Fish House at 501 8th Street, SE, will reopen as a coffee/pastry cafe/creative space by day and a cocktail bar by night. The new venture will be the first all African American woman-owned hospitality venue on Barracks Row. Eat DC reports that it will be called Civic and operated by Andra “AJ’ Johnson.
The Former 7-11 on Barracks Row is on track to reopen as a gift shop, according to several sources familiar with Barracks Row businesses.
Here’s the latest photo of progress on the quick service counter opening at 325 7th Street, SE. Eat DC reported some months ago that according to WaPo food critic Tom Sietsema, the 25 seat space – Maru San – will have no servers and one thing on the menu: Peruvian fish rolls. Photo credit: Maggie Hall
MPD 1st District Commander Colin Hall met with community members in Lincoln Park last Tuesday, and then with ANC6C on Wednesday night. In his remarks to the ANC, he said: Violent crime on H Street NE has plummeted – violent crime in the First District is down 17% and down 12% city-wide – discussed MPD’s relationship with its federal partners on the Crime Fighting Taskforce and said the major difference in the relationship now is that agents are patrolling with MPD – said that MPD knows the community and can direct federal agents to hot spots and other violent areas – that MPD doesn’t engage in ICE activities other than protecting the scene in cases where officer safety is an issue – and crime statistics are being reported the way they have always been reported despite allegations of down grading violent crime to get better stats.
Photos from Walk and Roll to School Day. Local organizers billed the Walk and Bike to School Day as a Unity Walk and urged participants to bring DC flags and wear FreeDC Tee Shirts. CM Charles Allen welcomed and thanked people for showing up, platformed the event’s partnership with FreeDC and asserted that “nobody does this event better than we do.”
FreeDC was on site distributing literature about the renewed campaign to protect Home Rule. MPD cadets who were there to escort bikers and walkers to schools are shown taking advantage of the refreshment table where free coffee, granola bars and tangerines were provided courtesy of the Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization which received a $350 mini-grant from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted October 13, 2025
The Week Ahead…
Tuesday, October 14
ANC7D will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1
Among items on the draft agenda:
Elected District Government Updates
- Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder
- Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS)
- Eboni Rose-Thompson, President, Ward 7, DC State Board of Education
- Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Updates – Districts 1, 5 and 6 invited (TBD)
Community Presentations
- Nash Street NE Pedestrian Bridge Demolition – Kisha Anderson, District Department of Transportation
- DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan – Alex Freedman, DC Office of Planning
Commissioner SMD Reports
Wednesday, October 15
ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- 307 15th Street NE; Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception to construct a two-story with basement rear addition, and a garage with second story accessory dwelling unit, to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit. The official action of ANC 6A resulted in a letter of support approved by unanimous consent during the ANC 6A meeting of October 9, 2025. The recommendation for an additional request for special exception (pending) is that ANC 6A takes no further action at this time.
New Business
- 1371-1375 H Street NE; Zoning Adjustment Application to extend for an additional year, Board of Zoning Adjustment Order, to construct a new, attached, six-story with roof deck, 30-unit, mixed use building.
- 1332 Corbin Place NE; Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception to construct a third story and a three-story with basement rear addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
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 virtual meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
Adoption of Agenda
- Expected motion to amend the agenda to provide for discussion of the use of the National Guard in DC, in contrast to what seems to be the informal consensus of members ANC6B’s Public Safety Committee voiced at a September 29th meeting, who suggested that the best course of action for the ANC would be to ignore the National Guard’s request for recommendations from each individual ANC Commissioner for beautification projects for which the Guard might provide assistance. Subsequently, the ANC6B Executive Committee, in setting the agenda for the October 15 meeting, voted against a motion to invite the National Guard and a representative of the ANC Home Rule Caucus to give presentations, and then failed to agree to a motion to place a discussion of the use of the National Guard in DC on the agenda.
Consent Agenda (TBA)
Community & Commission Announcements and Speak Out
- Office of the Mayor
- Councilmember Charles Allen’s Office
- Metropolitan Police Department
- Reminder of Upcoming Meeting Dates
Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Committee
Renewal of restaurant and tavern licenses
- Barrel – 613 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Renewal with Entertainment & Sidewalk Café endorsements.
- The Eastern – 360 7th Street SE. Renewal with Sidewalk Café endorsement.
- Tune Inn Restaurant – 331 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Renewal with Sidewalk Café endorsement.
- Ginza BBQ Lounge & Karaoke Spot – 526 8th Street SE. Renewal with Entertainment & Summer Garden endorsements. .
- Omakase @ Barracks Row – 522 8th Street SE. Renewal – no entertainment.
- Trusty’s Bar – 1420 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Renewal with Entertainment, Sidewalk Café & Summer Garden endorsements.
New restaurant and tavern licenses
- Awakening Bar & Grill – 520 8th Street SE. Request for Class “C” Tavern license with Sidewalk Café, Carry-out/Delivery, Entertainment Endorsement (inside only). Draft Settlement Agreement under consideration.
- Streets Market – 1442 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Request for Class “B” Full-Service Grocery Store license with Tasting Permit.
Protests and other updates
- Ambar – 523 8th Street SE. Ongoing negotiation regarding settlement agreement and protest hearing. Parties have requested continuance while discussions proceed.
- ALOHA/Tobacco King – Medical Cannabis Retailer (Second Application) – 539 8th Street SE – Second application for medical cannabis retailer license, including Delivery Endorsement. ANC6B has retained legal counsel (Kerry Verdi) to assist with protest.
- Tobacco King Outlet in NW Shutdown (Informational)
Transportation Committee
- Discussion of Issues at Capitol South Metro Station
- Barney Circle Illegal Left Turns
Planning & Zoning Committee
- 624 C St SE, Historic Preservation Application. Postponed
- St. Peter School. Zoning Adjustment Application
- Alley Homes campaign
Capitol Hill Corner Would Also Like You to Know About:
Wednesday, October 15
Congressional Cemetery Holds Community Meeting 2 on Master Plan.
Location: Christ Church, 620 G St. SE
5:30pm (Presentation begins at 6:00 PM)
- “Join us, share your thoughts, and enter our door drawing for great prizes, including VIP tickets to Soul Strolls, jars of our Rest in Bees honey, and gift shop swag.
- This is an important meeting—don’t miss your chance to be heard.
- This meeting, hosted by Christ Church, the cemetery’s owner, is your opportunity to weigh in on the concepts and recommendations that will shape the next decade and beyond at HCC. From preservation priorities and landscape design to programming and sustainability, the Master Plan will be our roadmap for the cemetery’s future.
- Your voice matters. This is a chance to make sure the values and needs of our community are reflected in how we steward this historic landmark for generations to come.”
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-plan-community-meeting-tickets-1758336735509?aff=oddtdtcreator
Folger Theater – Continuing, through Sunday, October 26
Julius X – a re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Julius Caesar through the lens of the American Civil Rights Movement, focusing on the story of Civil Rights leader Malcolm X and drawing parallels between ancient Rome and 1960s Harlem.
Playwright and poet Al Letson, a Peabody Award-winning journalist and the host of the Reveal podcast, champions Shakespeare’s original text, amplifying it with his own verse.
Tickets starting at $20. Go here: http://bit.ly/4mZJ1ve
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 