Category Archives: Uncategorized

A New Navy Museum on M St. SE – 5 Aspirational Concepts

By Larry Janezich

Posted July 26, 2024

The Navy is relocating its National Museum of the US Navy to M Street, SE, to alleviate security concerns associated with high rise development of the M Street site by private developers and to provide greater public access to the museum.  The site is currently owned by GSA which is engaged in a land swap for a piece of the Navy Yard’s SE corner for the purpose.

The Navy held a preliminary competition to explore the design possibilities for the new Navy Museum, and five major architectural firms were selected to present concepts.  These concepts are not part of the final competition for the design of the museum which will come later in the process.  Rather, this competition was to platform the new museum and stir interest among architectural firms, the public, and the Navy at large. 

In April of 2013, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro unveiled five conceptual renderings from five architecture firms:  Bjarke Ingels Group, DLR Group, Frank Gehry Partners, Perkins&Will and Quinn Evans.  Here are the concepts and an image of the current museum:

Bjarke Ingels Group

DLR Group

Frank Gehry Partners

Perkins & Will

Quinn Evans.

The current National Museum of the United States Navy

For more on the concepts and the April 2023 unveiling, go here:  https://bit.ly/4cXvT5s

The relocation of the Navy Museum from its current location inside the Navy Yard to 5th and M Street, SE – close to Harris Teeters – is possible because of the land swap by which a 15 acre parcel of land in the SE comer of the Navy Yard would be exchanged for a 6 acre parcel owned by the General Services Administration just outside the NW corner of the Navy Yard.  The 15 acre parcel GSA would receive would be opened for mixed use development including retail and inclusionary housing.  Before the swap can be done, the land inside the Navy Yard will have to be zoned for development.  That process is underway and the DC Zoning Commission will take up a Zoning application in the fall. 

Here’s an image of the two parcels.  The SE parcel where the Navy Museum currently resides is at the lower right and outlined in blue. The NW parcel where the new museum will be located is at the upper left and outlined in red.

Here’s a link to a recent CHC post: Photo Essay – Touring the Navy Yard’s Navy Museum https://bit.ly/3xYy6i7

Saturday, July 27:  Opening reception for Capitol Hill Art League Exhibit “CYCLES”

Posted Friday, July 26, 2024

The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) members were invited to submit 2 – or 3 – dimensional works in any media invoking the idea of Cycles.  The resulting work includes repeating patterns, shifting of phases and perspectives, and many notions of the concept of Cycles.  

This members-only exhibition, juried by Joren Lindholm, will be on display in the CHAW Gallery at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) through August 23, 2024.

There will be an opening reception from 5:30-7:00 pm, on Saturday, July 27th, at CHAW, located at 547 7th Street, S.E. Washington, DC, 20003.

Here’s a link to a digital preview of the exhibition:  https://bit.ly/3Wjog2g

Ophelia’s Fish House at 501 8th Street, SE, Barracks Row.

Thursday was Ophelia’s Fish House’s Last Day

by Larry Janezich

Posted Thursday, July 25, 2024

Waiting to see if Ophelia’s Fish House on Barracks Row would close was like waiting for the other shoe to drop.  The shoe dropped Thursday as sources confirmed that the day would be the restaurant’s last.  For months the word on the street has been that Boxcar across from Eastern Market and Ophelia’s would close once their leases were up.  Both restaurants were owned by the Hill Restaurant Group (HRG). 

CHC reported in mid-March – in connection with the death of HRG manager Tom Johnson – that HRG was considering closing some of its Barracks Row venues in the wake of shrinking revenues and lack of foot traffic.  They had just closed the Stadium Lounge and Smokehouse in Navy Yard.  The Washington Business Journal reported that other Hill Restaurant Group outlets could follow as their leases expire.  The outlets on Barracks Row included – Lola’s, Playa Ocho, and Opheila’s Fish House. HRG also owned the Hawk and Dove on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and Boxcar across from Eastern Market.  Boxcar closed several weeks ago.  Those remaining – Lola’s, Playa Ocho, and the Hawk and Dove – continue to operate.

Herb Scott, Jazz Saxaphonist. Photo: Herb Scott

DC Casineros and the Gerardo Contino. Photo: Folger Library

July 26:  Two Free Friday Night Music Events

by Larry Janezicn

Posted Friday, July 23, 2024

Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza features the Herb Scott Band at 5:30pm.

Scott is a star on the Washington, D.C. Jazz scene. While studying at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts under the award-winning educator Davey Yarborough, he performed with renowned trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock.  For more, go here:  https://bit.ly/3PzUeCI

The concert series comes to Eastern Market Metro Plaza through the efforts of Barracks Row Main Street and the Department of Parks and Recreation.  CM Charles Allen secured funding in the current FY DC Budget to program the performance space at the Plaza.

Free Folger Friday with DC Casineros and the Gerardo Contino Band at 5:30pm.

Join the Folger for a relaxed summer evening with food, drinks, music, dancing, poetry, and more. It’s a chance to discover new artists and performers and explore the Folger’s galleries and gardens.

Join us this Friday, July 26 for free dance demonstrations and lessons followed by live music.

Activities begin at 5:30pm and attendees may enter or leave as needed. Picnics are welcome and drinks will be available to purchase. The Folger is open until 9pm, so stay after the performance to visit the exhibitions; timed-entry passes are recommended.  Go here:  https://bit.ly/3SmbwH3

Union Kitchen’s new outlet location at 430 8th Street, SE.

Here’s a photo of the on-going build-out through the obscuring film which covers the windows.

Progress on Union Kitchen Coming to Barracks Row

by Larry Janezich

Posted July 24, 2024

At last, Union Kitchen has posted a sign announcing their prospective arrival on Barracks Row at 430 8^th Street, in the space formerly occupied by the Subway shop.  There’s no word on an anticipated opening date, but there has been an uptick in build-out activity. 

The café/grocery will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer specialty grocery items and housewares in the 1400 s.f. storefront space.  Owners had hoped to open in the fall of 2022, but the permitting and buildout took longer than expected.  This comes as good news for a Barracks Row which has recently seen the closure of Lavagna and As You Are. 

Union Kitchen, a local chain which bills itself as a “food business accelerator,” is headquartered at 1369 New York Avenue, (see here:  https://www.unionkitchen.com/  ).  Neighbors in Northeast are familiar with one of Union Kitchen’s 6 outlets at 538 3rd Street, NE.

Photo Essay – Touring the Navy Yard’s Navy Museum

By Larry Janezich

Posted on July 22, 2024

The Navy Museum on the grounds of the Washington Navy Yard is readying to relocate to a proposed new building at 5^th and M Street, SE, outside of the restricted area and open to the public.  The new museum will be a showpiece of modern architecture and though it hopes to open in late 2025, the timing – and the cost – appears to be uncertain at present.

Those interested in naval history – especially in armaments – can still book a free tour of the Navy Yard Museum on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, through Eventbrite https://bit.ly/3We9c67 or by emailing the museum at NHHC_NMUSNNavyMuseum@us.navy.mil.   There is a morning tour and an afternoon tour, and reservations need to be made a couple of weeks in advance.  Access is convenient for Capitol Hill residents – through the O Street Gate off 11^th Street, SE. 

The tour features armaments, historic buildings, and the museum. 

Here’s the National Museum of the US Navy – a former naval gun factory – which opened to the public in 1963. 

Nearby is the Cold War Gallery, currently closed.  Our guide – Education Specialist Mike Galloway  –  said that the Naval History and Heritage Command which oversees all of the Navy’s museums was ordered to retract their footprint at the location, so the artifacts from this Gallery were moved into storage or for restoration, awaiting the opening of the new museum.    

This is what you see when you walk through the entrance of the Navy Museum. 

The first exhibit one encounters is the “fighting top” from the mast of the USS Constitution – the oldest commissioned vessel in the US Navy, which is berthed in Boston.  The Constitution’s three masts carry platforms called” fighting tops.” In battle, Marine sharpshooters fired down on the enemy’s decks. 

The Corsair fighter bomber was one of the most effective U.S. aircraft used in WWII and the Korean Conflict.   

A WWII Japanese kamikaze plane used to attack U.S. warships.    

Two .38 caliber turret mounted guns used against enemy aircraft from the USS Reno – an Atlanta-class light cruiser designed and built to specialize in antiaircraft warfare.

The tour continued outside of the Museum.  Galloway said that the first mission of the Navy Yard was ship building, but since the 1960s the mission has been administrative – pushing papers – and ceremonial.  The Navy Yard has historically been a largely civilian enterprise because of the large number of laborers involved in ship building.   In addition, to artifacts and ceremonial functions, the Navy Yard serves as a depot for the storage of armaments. 

Here’s a photo showing three types of armaments at the Navy Yard – experimental, historically significant guns, and trophy guns captured by the US Navy during battles.  The cannon in the foreground is a trophy gun captured from the Confederate Army during an attempt to blockade the Potomac River. Also pictured is Mike Galloway, our guide.

An anchor from the USS Enterprise – the first nuclear aircraft carrier in the world.  It took part in numerous missions and battles from 1961 until 2012. 

Galloway says tour members always ask about the high tower at the Navy Yard – the Range Finding Tower and Optical Shop.  During the WWII naval gun factory era, the Navy Yard manufactured long range optics – rangefinders – in the building.  The gunsights were calibrated at the top of the tower, based on known distances – such as the Washington Monument and the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria. 

Here’s a photo of one of the two titanium pressure hulls from the Navy’s submersible – the Alvin – that discovered the wreck of the titanic in 1985.  Behind it is the Navy Museum from another angle. 

A number of large pieces are found the park which lies between the Museum and the Anacostia River.  Here’s a photo of a 16 inch gun – a weapon this size was only mounted on the biggest battle ships. 

This is a steel plate test shield used as a target to test how large a projectile from a cannon had to be to penetrate a ship’s hull.  Civil War era Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren, who founded the Navy’s Ordnance Department, worked at the Navy Yard and was known for inventing a number of large-caliber guns for the Navy.   Dahlgren oversaw testing of cannon which afforded entertainment for by-invitation-only Washington insiders.  The admiral was a friend of President Abraham Lincoln who enjoyed watching the tests.  Lincoln spent the afternoon of April 15, 1865, at the Navy Yard with Dahlgren.  Later that evening he attended My American Cousin at Ford’s Theater. 

To follow – the proposed designs for the new Navy Museum at 5^th and M Streets, SE. 

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from Last Week

By Larry Janezich

Posted July 21, 2024

FOX 5 brought its live television cameras and crews to Eastern Market on Friday for the FOX 5 Zip Trip – the weekly Friday series that highlights the best spots to visit in and around DC.  The event includes product demonstrations and interviews to highlight local businesses and the community.  The live airing took place 6am -11am.

Mayor Bowser showed up for an interview. 

There event merited an unusually large MPD presence, reflecting Eastern Market and DGS concerns that a live television and a large crowd on Capitol Hill increased security risks.  Commander Colin Hall, MPD, 1^st District, was on hand, maintaining his practice of keeping a high profile in the community.   DC Fire Department and EMS was also present. 

Barry Margeson, Eastern Market Manager, worked behind the scenes to coordinate logistics and access on behalf of the Department of General Services. 

Despite record breaking heat, ANC6B Commissioner and Chair Edward Ryder (far left) and 1^st MPD District Commander Colin Powell led a safety walk and talk last Tuesday night in the neighborhood around 13^th Street, SE, and Potomac Avenue last.  That location is close to the triangle park at 12^th and Potomac Avenue which was the scene of a shooting last week which resulted in the wounding of four individuals.  Two of the victims were hospitalized with critical injuries.  Hall said that “quite a bit of gunfire had been exchanged” and that it was still an active investigation.  MPD is seeking the driver of a Blue Nissan. 

ICYMI, by all accounts, Boxcar, the neighborhood bar/pub across from Eastern Market, has closed.  Boxcar was part of the Hill Restaurant Group, owned by William Sport and managed by Tom Johnson until his death in March.  The closure was not unexpected.  Johnson’s death came as the Hill Restaurant Group was considering closing some of its Barracks Row spots in the wake of shrinking revenues and lack of foot traffic.  Stadium Sports Bar and Smokehouse, the group’s sports bar in Navy Yard, closed last February.   

Ophelia’s Fish House – another HRG restaurant – was mentioned back in March as a candidate for closure once the lease runs out.  If that happens, it would leave HRG with three operating restaurants on Capitol Hill:  The Hawk and Dove, Lola’s, Playa Ocho. 

Also ICYMI, Lavagna on Barracks Row at 539 8th Street, SE, quietly closed up shop a few weeks ago.

The Week Ahead…

Monday, July 22

ANC6B Public Safety Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm. 

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Administrative: Update on Public Safety Committee Chair & Appointment of Vice Chair.
• Guest Speaker (Invited): Office of CM Brianne Nadeau Regarding Office of Unified Communications (aka 911 Call Center) Oversight,
• Guest Speaking (To be invited):  Potomac Gardens Representative to Discuss ANC 6B Engagement.
• Open Discussion: Next Steps on Gun Violence Reduction Strategic Plan Roundtable Event with other ANCs.
• Open Discussion:  Promoting NVRDC as a Community Resource.
• Open Discussion:  Expanding ANC 6B Public Safety Committee Meeting.
• Community Shoutout & September 23 Meeting.

ANC6A Community Outreach 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:

• Announcements & Updates – Reminder of Sunday morning cleanups on I Street – People’s Front of H Street Group     
• Grant application from Guerilla Gardeners of Washington DC
• Grant application from Atlas Performing Arts Center
• Atlas Alliance Youth event
• H Street Alliance Bingo Night at Ben’s Chili Bowl

Tuesday, July 23

ANC6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing 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: 

• Discussion of a new application for a medical cannabis license at Luxury Soil at 775 H Street, NE.

Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:

Saturday, July 27

Opening reception for Capitol Hill Art League Exhibit “CYCLES”

The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) members were invited to submit 2- or 3-dimensional works in any media invoking the idea of Cycles.  The resulting work includes repeating patterns, shifting of phases and perspectives, and many notions of the concept of Cycles.   

This members-only exhibition, juried by Joren Lindholm, will be on display in the CHAW Gallery at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), from July 23 through August 23, 2024.

There will be an opening reception from 5:30-7:00 pm, on Saturday, July 27th, at CHAW, located at 547 7th Street, S.E. Washington, DC, 20003.

Tonight – 5:30pm – Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza features Josanne Francis Steel Pan Band in Concert at 5:30pm. 

By Larry Janezich

Posted July 19, 2024

Josanne Francis is known internationally for her mastery of steelpan.  She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Strathmore Music Center, Times Square, and at the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival.  Here’s a link to her website:  https://www.josannefrancis.com/

The Friday Night Live concert series will continue through the summer and comes to Eastern Market Metro Plaza through the efforts of Barracks Row Main Street and the Department of Parks and Recreation.  CM Charles Allen secured funding for the artists. 

by Larry Janezich

Posted: July 16, 2024

Eastern Market Board Seeks Candidates for Open Seat

The death of Thomas C. Kuchenberg on April 13, 2024 – who served for many years as the community representative on the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) – left vacant the seat assigned by statute to be occupied by an Independent Community Representative. Regulations require the posting of the vacancy and the procedure for filling the seat. Accordingly, below is a copy of the notification issued by EMCAC.

PRESS IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

EMCAC – Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee 

Election of INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE 

The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) will have an election by its members for the seat of Independent Community Representative. This will be done during its scheduled meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the North Hall at the Eastern Market. 

To qualify for election to a two-year term, the EMCAC Independent Community Representative is required to be a resident of the District of Columbia. Additionally, the individual so selected shall not be an officer, director, or chair of any committee in any of the Capitol Hill Community Organizations represented on the EMCAC, or a sitting Commissioner of ANC 6B. Election is by simple majority of the standing EMCAC members. 

If you would like to put your name in nomination, we ask that you submit your name and short resume by September 15, 2024 to EMCAC at Jackie_Krieger@yahoo.com.  

EMCAC is the District’s legislatively-established body entrusted with advisory and oversight responsibilities for the operations, management, and renovation of Eastern Market. Current members include representatives from ANC 6B, the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, the Eastern Market Preservation and Development Corporation, Stanton Park Neighborhood Association, Ward 6 Council Office, the Office of the Mayor, a Community Representative, and representatives from the South Hall, the Farmer’s Line, and non-food merchants at the Market. 

We cordially invite the community to all of our meetings. They are generally held on the last Wednesday of each month in the North Hall at Eastern Market, 7^th Street and North Carolina Avenue, SE. Your comments or involvement on any of our committees is welcomed.  

For additional information or questions, please contact: Jackie Krieger, Vice Chair, by text or call at 202-543-1120 or e-mail at Jackie_Krieger@yahoo.com.   

Follow the Market at www.easternmarket-dc.org 

New Caribbean/Afro Restaurant Coming to H Street NE

by Larry Janezich

Posted July 15, 2024

Last Thursday night, ANC6A voted to support a restaurant liquor license application for a new restaurant opening on H Street NE.  AG Restaurant will occupy the space at 816 H Street, formerly home to Dirty Water, Wasted, and TPK.   

Owners Donna Scott-Dadzie and husband Ralph Dadzie are from West Africa and come to DC via NYC and lately from Richmond – where they own the upscale Bellos Lounge and Restaurant serving Caribbean and African cuisine including  jollof rice, fufu and curry, soya burgers, jerk chicken wings, and cocktails named for African cities.  Donna is executive chef and the couple owns the building.  Here’s a link to the Bellos website and menu:  https://www.belloslounge.com/

The liquor license application includes a stipulated license, allowing them to operate immediately while the restaurant liquor license is being processed.  It also includes an entertainment endorsement – Donna says they may have live entertainment at brunch.  The venue has an occupancy load of 166 occupants.