Author Archives: ljjanezich

“Medium Rare” Hopes To Open by Thanksgiving, but the October 30 Stop Work Order May Prevent That. The Steak House Will Occupy the Former Fusion Grill on Barracks Row.

The Stop Work Order at the Soon-To-Be “Medium Rare” cited no permits for electrical, plumbing, construction and “other”.

Frager’s Opened Its Temporary Location at 1323 E Street, SE

Mayor Gray was so pleased about the installation of new Flexi-Pave Sidewalk Material on 7th Street near Eastern Market, that he Tweeted about it.

The Week Ahead …..And The Week’s Photos

By Larry Janezich

Monday, November 4

Goldstar Group will reveal plans and renderings for the 41 unit residential building at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue to the community at 6:30 pm at Wisdom, 1432 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

CHRS Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm at Kirby House, 420 10th Street, SE.

Tuesday, November 5

ANC6B  Planning & Zoning Committee, meets at 7:00 pm, at St. Coletta of Greater Washington.

Among items on the agenda:

Sidewalk café for Rose’s Luxury at 717 8^th Street, SE.

Construction of a rear addition to Oxxo Cleaners at 405 8th Street, SE.

Wednesday, November 6

ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 6:30 pm in Hill Center

Among items on the agenda:

Update on Performance Based Parking Expansion.

Presentation by DDOT on new Flexi-Pave sidewalk material.

Discussion of fiscal year 2014 sidewalk repair lists.

Thursday, November 7

ANC6B ANC Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center

Among items on the agenda:

License Renewals for Pour House, 18^th Amendment, Trusty’s Bar, Hawk n Dove, Lola’s, The Old Siam, Phase I, Remington’s, Bachelor’s Mill Back Door Pub.

Request for substantial change to license of Tortilla Coast to permit entertainment.

Withdrawal of Amendments to Settlement Agreements, Hill Center and Belga Café.

CHRS Zoning Committee meets at 7:30pm at Kirby House, 420 10th Street, SE

PSA 107 meets at 7:00pm in Southeast Library

Anita Jefferson of Geeda’s Hand Poured Candles, Chairs the Eastern Market Application Advisory Committee

Want to Be an Eastern Market Vendor?  It’s Not Easy

by Larry Janezich

Capitol Hill Corner took a look at the application process for acceptance into the family of vendors at Eastern Market, a group distinct from the two flea markets that operate on the Hine playground/parking lot on Saturday and Sunday.  The process is a rigorous one aimed at maintaining high quality and diversity of products.

Potential vendors, falling into one of five categories (Arts and Crafts, Antiques & Collectibles, Ethno Specific, Farmers, and Prepared Foods) fill out applications which were created in 2009 by merchants, vendors and the Market Manager.  The applications establish the criteria upon which each applicant is judged in order to qualify for joining a pool from which vendors are selected by Market Manager Barry Margeson, based upon the needs of the Market.

The largest group of vendors is the artists and crafters – individuals who personally make their own art or crafts and sell in person.  The applicant is required to demonstrate that the product is handmade.  The goal is to find products that are unique.  Applications are not accepted from product lines already well represented such as jewelry, graphic t-shirts, photography, soaps, candles, or lotions.  The applicant is required to submit a list of specific types of products, a biography or artist’s statement, a description of the product, a list of elements of the product the applicant does not make, names of two different suppliers of the applicant’s raw materials – with copies of receipts, a description of the process used to create the product, an explanation of the product’s uniqueness, pictures of each product, a picture of the applicant vending elsewhere or a schematic of the applicant’s booth, and a copy of the applicant’s DC Sales and Use Tax Certificate. 

Similarly detailed applications cover the other four fields of vending.  Each one emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the vendor and the Eastern Market customer.

Once Market Manager Margeson receives an application, he turns it over for evaluation to the Application Advisory Review Committee, headed by Chairperson and vendor Anita Jefferson.  The Advisory Committee is comprised of all vendors with a permit to operate at Eastern Market.

Applications are usually reviewed by some 5 to 7 vendors in the particular category under which the applicant falls, with the occasional participation of “outliers” – vendors with an interest in the process whose products are not necessarily related to the product of the applicant.  Committee members review the applications, apply a specific set of criteria to the information submitted by the applicant, and award points according to how well the applicant meets the criteria.  The process is necessarily somewhat subjective, and market manager Margeson has the final say.

According to Jefferson, “We do not get to say who comes or doesn’t come in.  We give Barry Margeson a pool of people he can select from to meet the market’s needs.”  Margeson says he can accommodate a maximum number of 125 vendors, with about 115 in operation on a typical fall Saturday and Sunday.

The other categories of vendors must meet equally rigorous criteria.  The Antique and Collectables includes sellers of antique, vintage and/or collectible items.  Vendors must provide proof of purchase and legitimacy of product – an authenticity certificate.  Examples of antique products include furniture, tin boxes, cameras, postcards, and bottles.

Ethno-specific means sellers of imported handcrafted goods indigenous to a certain country – designed in, produced in, and representative of the country of origin.  Authentication is required.  Only products that are unique to the market and not already represented are accepted.  Some of the criteria looked for include a vendor’s connection to the country of origin and whether money from product goes to help the producers remain in the community.

Farmers include individuals who personally farm, grow, or produce their products and sell in person.  Products must be intended for consumption off premises.  Applicants must have – where applicable – a food service facility license for state where the applicant has a production facility, a license of USDA certified processing facility for livestock, a DC Food Handler’s license, third party certification for designation of sustainably grown, organic, naturally grown, and/or humane products –  and a map of, deed for, and directions to the farm.

Prepared Foods is for the vendors who sell products that customers can consume on premises as they are shopping.  Ideally, a portion of the production process takes place on site.  Only products that are unique to the market and not already represented are accepted.  Applicants must show a food service facility license from the state where the product is produced as well as a Food Handler’s license.

New applications are solicited every three months.  During the Application Advisory Committee meeting in October, the Committee discussed opening up a new application period and noted that there is currently no vegan food or candy in the prepared food categories.  The group recommended that the call for new applicants should target product types that are under-represented at the Market.

Capitol Hill Corner will report on the weekend flea markets which set up weekends on the Hine site in the near future.

The issue which brought the Hazmat team to 9th and D the morning appears to have been gasoline leaking from the tank of the white van parked near the intersection.

Hazmat officials solve leaking gas tank issue with sand and a plastic bucket

Officials inspect the underside of a white van near 9th and C Street SE

DC Hazmat Unit Blocks C Street, SE near 9th Street

At 9:45am Saturday morning, DC Fire and Hazmat Units blocked the intersection of 9th and C Streets, SE, while officials appeared to inspect the underside of a white van.

Options School Principal Dr. Simon Earle, Options Receiver Josh Kern, and Councilmember Tommy Wells meet community on Options Charter School

A light turnout for the community meeting on the future of Options.

Public Charter School Board Char Scott Pearson outlined the process for moving forward on deciding what happens to Options

Residents Voice Opinions on Options Charter School

Councilmember Wells Hosts Community Meeting to Hear Neighbors

by Larry Janezich

A small crowd of some 30 people attended a community meeting hosted by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells on the future of the Options Charter School.  The school went into receivership on October 3rd under the cloud of alleged financial management by school administrators.  Josh Kern was appointed receiver (see CHC  http://bit.ly/18Tpxjp) by the court, and he was joined at the meeting by Options principal Dr. Simon Earle and Public Charter School Board (PCSB) Chair Scott Pearson.

The organizers of the meeting came under fire from some in the audience who faulted the lack of notice of the meeting to parents of children attending Options.  Others faulted school administrators for failing to open and maintain lines of communication with the community.  When asked who the meeting was for, Councilmember Wells replied that it was for the people “who came tonight.”  Kerns stepped up to say it was his responsibility to reach out to parents and promised a follow up meeting in the near future for parents only.

A number of residents attending the meeting used the opportunity to cite specific examples of serious misbehavior of Option students on their way to or coming from school.  Several residents pointed to examples of unprofessional behavior by Options staff as well as lax supervision, as well as failures of school representatives to respond to residents when concerns were raised.  One resident raised the issue of the campaign contributions totaling $3,000 that Councilmember Wells had received from Board members for his mayoral bid, contributions he subsequently returned.

A Rosedale librarian rose to offer that her interactions with Options students after school had been very positive, and others spoke of the need to encourage community interactions with the school that are broader than fault-finding or problem-solving.

Kerns pledged to undertake training programs for staff and other unspecified measures and to come back to the community after a period of time to ask for a judgment on whether the changes have had a positive impact.

Asked how the process to decide what will happen to Options will unfold, Pearson said that the seven member PCSB will meet December 16 to make a decision or whether to revoke the Options School Charter.  He said that if the board found that “the school had engaged in a pattern of financial mismanagement the board must revoke the charter.”  That event would in turn trigger a process involving more meetings with the community and parents.  Options would have 15 days after a vote to revoke to request a hearing.  That hearing must occur within 30 days of the request, but Pearson said it would happen as soon as a week after the request.

The board would then decide whether it would be in the best interests of the students to bring in another operator for the school – and it appears that would depend on the ability of receiver Josh Kerns to get the school back on its feet – or to close the school.  It is unclear why the Public Charter School Board, which has arguably been derelict in its oversight duty regarding Options, was left to decide the fate of the school.  In any event, parents and the community will know the fate of Options before the enrollment for the next semester in early February.

Among those in attendance tonight were the two current candidates for the Ward Six Council seat Charles Allen and Darrel Thompson.  Only a single commissioner from ANC6A wherein Options lies showed up for the meeting – Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert.  The ANC has urged PCSB to keep the school open but relocate it to a larger unspecified building.

Thompson received a warm welcome from commissioners and residents at Thursday’s ANC6A meeting at Maury School

Thompson addresses residents in the Eastern Market neighborhood

“…we need job creation at every level…need to focus on middle and pre-school issues…”

Ward 6 Candidate Darrel Thompson Stumps for Ward 6 Council Seat

“This position should not be inherited – you should have to earn it.”

by Larry Janezich
Darrel Thompson campaigned on Capitol Hill the past few days, after time spent working the NOMA Gallaudet and Waterfront Metros.  On Thursday night, he appeared at his neighborhood ANC6A meeting and at an Eastern Market neighborhood meet and greet on Sunday.  Thompson launched his bid to succeed Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells on October 6, 2013.

On Sunday, Thompson said that if elected, he would draw from his 20 years of experience working in politics, and in particular his record of working on DC issues (including local autonomy and DC Statehood) while Deputy Chief of Staff for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Thompson told a group of neighbors: “This position should not be inherited – you should have to earn it.  There shouldn’t be a handful of people saying, ‘You’re the guy.’ You should have to earn it.”

Thompson was born in DC and he and his wife are longtime Ward Six residents.  In addition to working for Reid, Thompson was the former Chief of Staff to Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate Campaign.  He is a graduate of Morgan State University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

So far, Thompson has raised $60,000 $60,000 to support his candidacy for Ward 6 City Council.  The DC Democratic Primary – which, for all intents and purposes is the real election in DC – is April 1, 2014.

The Week Ahead ….and Photo Essay on Saturday Anti-Spying Rally

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, October 29

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the ANC’s November meeting.

Wednesday, October 30

ABRA meets at 1:00pm at 2000 14^th Street, NW, Suite 400S .

On the agenda are matters concerning several bars/restaurants on H Street, NE, including a request to change hours of operation and sales for Sahra Hooka Lounge, 1200 H Street; and requests to terminate Settlement Agreements on Rock N Roll Hotel, 1353 H Street and on H Street Country Club, 1335 H Street, NE.

 Scenes from the Anti-Spying Rally, Saturday, October 26, 2013

Several thousand protesters rallied on the West side of the Reflecting Pool in front of the U.S. Capitol on Saturday.   There was a heavy media presence with at least 15 television organizations represented including television media from Germany and Spain.    Following are images captured mid-way through the rally.

View of the rally from the east side of the reflecting pool

Anonymous – the collaborative international hacktivist group – was pulled over by police and redirected away from the U.S. Capitol

The Speaker’s Stand

Anti-Spying Rally, in front of the U.S. Capitol, October 26

Rock group “Yacht” revs up the crowd with “Party at the NSA”

Crowd Shot, Anti-Spying Rally, October 26

Former Senior NSA Exec Thomas Drake, Whistleblower, recipient of the 2011 Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling and co-recipient of the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII) award.

12 New Sunday Vendors Coming to Eastern Market

by Larry Janezich

Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson told the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (chaired by Donna Scheeder) last night that recent efforts to recruit new vendors for Eastern Market’s outside Sunday operation have been successful and listed twelve new vendors with new products who have appeared or will appear on coming weekends.  The Eastern Market outside vending – a separate operation from the Saturday and Sunday independent flea markets on the Hine playground/parking lot – can accommodate a maximum of 125 vendors under the farmers’ shed, on 7^th Street, on the plaza outside the North Hall, and in front of the Rumsey Swimming Pool.  Typically, there are some 115 vendors on a Saturday or Sunday during the fall season.  According to Margeson, he currently solicits for new vendors in five categories every three months to create a pool from which to fill the Market’s needs.  The categories are Farmers/Growers/Producers, Artists and Crafters, Antiques/Vintage/Collectibles, Ethno-Specific Importers, and Prepared Food Vendors.  The application process is rigorous and applicants must pass review by vendors who already operate at the market.  Margeson says, “We do our best to fit in everyone who comes out. There are only a set number of vendors who are permitted to sell at Eastern Market. We try to keep it to a level where we aren’t turning people away on the beautiful days and where there is still a pretty full market on the rainy or snowy days.”

The new products, vendors, dates at the Market, and illustrations of the products follow:

Wood Wall Art

Leah Boelman uses reclaimed wood, paints it, and stitches yarn through drilled holes to create folksy, whimsical, unique pieces.  Sunday, October 27 and on select coming Sundays.

Leather Accessories

Katie Stack transitioned out of costume making for theater companies to run a small business making a line leather bags and wallets.  Most of the leathers used are factory remnants.  Each piece is designed, patterned and cut and stitched in her home studio.  Every Sunday between now and Christmas.

Water color paintings and Chines calligraphy on scrolls.

Bertrand Mao studied Chinese calligraphy and painting for over 60 years.  He says, “My paintings express a poetic state of mind.  I often finish a painting by adding a poem or verse reflecting my mood and thoughts at the time….”  Sunday November 10 and on select coming Sundays.

Encaustic Paintings

Sarah Baker creates paintings by layering hot beeswax on wood and incorporating images from magazines, her own drawings and prints, and oil pastels.  Layers are fused with a blowtorch or iron and texture results from the either smoothing or tooling the wax or from the incorporated pieces.  Select coming Sundays.

Paper Cuttings

Voyo Woo learned paper cutting in his native Southeast China and creates intricate modern pieces which depart from the traditional style.  Select coming Sundays.

Prints

George H Smith uses traditional printmaking techniques – gouges to incise the plates and a press to transfer inked images to paper.  He also makes “abstract, cosmologically inspired paintings” on roofing tarp as well as mixed media wall masks. Every Sunday through the holiday season.

Vegan Delights

Zoheret Coats of Zoe’s Vegan Delights makes vegan food to be sold on the Rumsey Aquatic Center Plaza – pita bread with stir fried vegetables and falafels with fresh vegetable garnishes. Sundays starting November 3 through the holiday season.

Candies, Cookies, Tarts and Cakes

Megan Murray of Thunder Pig (trained in L’Academie de Cuisine’s Professional Pastry School) makes all-natural locally-sourced pastries.  Sundays starting November 9 through the holiday season.

Metalwork

Michele Edwards sells metalwork fashioned from lids of oil drums designed and made by craftspeople in Croix-des Bouquets, Haiti.  The salvaged metal is cut and hammered into art symbolic of Haiti culture and its voodoo traditions. Select coming Sundays.

Functional Wood Art

Brian Butters turns wood to make both functional wooden bowls and artistic wooden pieces.  Select coming Sundays.

Collages

Mitch Delsack creates collages using 200-300 images from Life Magazines from the 1940s and 1950s glued to canvas and covered with shellac.  Select coming Sundays.

Wood Furniture

Craig Dreyer makes wood furniture from mostly salvaged materials – his work includes chairs made from doors and tables made from rulers.  Every Sunday through the holiday season.