The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted May 3, 2026
Last Sunday, Congressional Cemetery held its Spring Fair. Batalá Washington DC – this all woman drum band led a joyous procession through the cemetery to the Circle of Life for the dedication of a new bench for reflections and contemplation. Batalá’s music is dynamic samba reggae rhythms from Salador, Bahia. Photo: Sharon Metcalf
The Circle of Life. The Circle of Life is a recent installation of land art or earth art which celebrates nature’s perseverance. The site comprises a 60 foot circle of linden trees aligned with the points of a compass and serves as an observation site of the sun’s path during solstices and equinoxes. It celebrates and pays tribute the natural environment, invites meditation and reflection. It was created by a group of friends interested in Congressional Cemetery in partnership with Congressional Cemetery and a testimony to those who choose green burial as a simple and sustainable end to their existence. Photo: Sharon Metcalf
Congressional Cemetery Executive Director Mark Hudson and Circle of Life Designer & Arboretum Partnership Coordinator Sharon Metcalf untie the ribbon, inaugurating the newly installed bench with a Nature Sacred journal, making it available so visitors can leave a reflection or drawing for the next passersby. For more, go here: https://bit.ly/48C3qCh Photo: Sharon Metcalf
More on trees. Here’s an early spring image of the “Moon Tree” on the Grounds of the West Front of the US Capitol, near the Botanic Garden. So named because the seed for the American Sweetgum was carried around the moon on the historic Artemis I mission in late 2022. It was planted on the Capitol Grounds on June 4, 2024, in honor of NASA’s Artemis missions, part of a long-term plan to explore the moon and eventually Mars.
Barracks Row has been getting a lot of attention recently. Here’s one of Capitol Hill BID’s “Men in Blue” working to bring spring to 8th Street, SE.
Last weekend, a couple of young fishermen were testing the waters of the Anacostia near the RFK Stadium site.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted May 3, 2026
The Week Ahead…
Highlights:
- Tuesday: MPD discusses juvenile curfews
- Wednesday: 6B Transportation Committee hears DDOT presentation on I-695 Ramp Project
- Thursday: 6B Planning and Zoning Committee continues consideration of Wingstop’s application for a fast food exemption for a new carryout on Barracks Row.
- Friday: CM Charles Allen holds Community Office Hours at CIVIC on 8th at 8:30am.
Tuesday, May 5
ANC6B ABC Committee will hold a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm
Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; Second Floor, Conference Room 1 (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
ABC renewals
New liquor license applications
Protests and Other Updates
- CIVIC on 8th Settlement Agreement
- Restaurant vendors blocking alley behind 300 block of 7th Street, SE
MPD First District Citizen’s Advisory Council (CAC) will hold a virtual meeting at 6:00pm.
Among the items on the agenda is a discussion of juvenile curfew issues.
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://1dcac.com/
For the entire Agenda go here: https://1dcac.com/
Wednesday, May 6
ANC6B Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:30pm. (Time change this meeting only.)
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
DDOT presentation on I-695 Ramp Project
Continued discussion on Traffic Circle at Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, SE.
Resolution on Priority Bus Lane for Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge
Thursday, May 7
ANC6B Planning & Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
Application of Wingstop/Emerald Wings for an exception to the fast food restrictions on Barracks Row
Friday, May 8
- Friday: CM Charles Allen holds Community Office Hours at CIVIC on 8th at 501 8th Street, SE, 8:30am – 10:00am. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3P2gNVM
Capitol Hill Corner Would Also Like You to Know About:
FREEDC EVENTS for May
Go here to see a list of upcoming events for this week and to sign up to join FreeDC: https://freedcproject.org/
Tuesday, May 5
Cajun Dance on Capitol Hill.
7:30 to 9:30pm, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A Street, SE.
Lively Cajun French music from southwestern Louisiana. Dance to two steps and waltzes played by the Capitol Hill Cajun Orchestra (led by members of the Capitol Hill Billies). All ages welcome; free admission. Next Dance, June 2.
Wednesday, May 6
Hill Center
7:00 pm – 9:00pm $12
At Issue: The Campaign to Undermine the 2026 Midterm Elections with David Becker, Executive Director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, Democracy Docket Senior Reporter, Matt Cohen, and New York Times Reporter, Nick Corasaniti
For tickets, go here: https://bit.ly/4tNJogB
Friday May 8
Eastern Market Metro Plaza
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Celebration Performances
5:00 PM – 6:30pm
Aloha Boys – Hawaiian group – Free
Friday, May 8 – 10
Folger Consort
2:00pm and 8:00pm
An English Garden: Friday, May 8 – Sunday, May 10 – Tickets $20-50
Folger Consort presents a program of Elizabethan songs and instrumental music interspersed with short readings of poems and gardening advice from contemporary authors. The Folger will welcome back audience favorite soprano Emily Noël and an ensemble of viols and lute for this springtime program, curated by Mary Springfels
Get Tickets here: https://bit.ly/4uhs6sa
Friday, May 8
Hill Center
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Ms. Niki In Concert – Tickets $10
Nicole “Ms. Niki” Addison is a classically trained singer/songwriter from Washington, D.C. One of family music’s most compelling and talented new emerging artists, Ms. Niki is a member of the GRAMMY-nominated 1 Tribe Collective’s All One Tribe album featuring “Rainbow.” Described as a new age cross between Mary Poppins and Ms. Frizzle. Ms. Niki is sure to please audiences of all ages.
For more and for tickets go here: https://bit.ly/4tMLEEJ
Saturday May 9
Congressional Cemetery
11:00am – 12:30pm
Tickets: $11.20
Mostly Mothers: The Eternal Maternal Guided Tour
Congressional Cemetery is the final resting place of many mothers. Some were biological mothers, like Lucy Bell, who devoted her life to fighting for her family’s freedom from slavery. Sarah Reed was an expectant mother who died reportedly trying to save her stepchildren during an explosion on the steamship Wawaset. Some mothers are metaphorical, like Barbara Gittings, “Mother of the Gay Rights Movement,” and Flora Adams Darling, the founding mother of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812.
This Mother’s Day weekend, we invite you on a stroll to learn about the history of mothers of all kinds, through the lens of Congressional Cemetery.
Find more information and tickets go here: https://bit.ly/4t7qdx5
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 