Most Saturday mornings you find Tarek Fhad sitting in the window of Peregrine Espresso drinking coffee and drawing. CHC asked him about his drawings.
Fhad said, “It’s kind of like yoga – a place which makes me happy and a place that makes me use my creative mind that’s an escape from everything – I just live in that drawing for an hour or hour and a half.”
Swing…
Originally from Lebanon, Fahd says he’s been drawing for 30 years. It started with what sounds like a voyage of self-discovery while he was studying interior design in college. In those days, he would draw sketches of people during breaks between classes. He says, “I started drawing people doing different things and saw how they’re connected to different parts of their lives and I was able to find my own character in the people that I drew.”
Now, he doesn’t draw people like he did then. He draws designs – “But,” he says, “I still have people in my patterns. There’s always a hidden person in my patterns – so it always starts with a person hidden in the pattern and with a moon, and the whole pattern builds around them.” He has hundreds of these sketches.
Le Balcon…
Asked if he had thought about commercializing his art, he said: “I never thought about doing the full commercial thing. I don’t want to put it on T shirts and pillows and like all that. What I want to do is I want to be able to draw and enjoy it…. For me art has to be accessible to everybody … I enjoy drawing and it’s something that is part of me and if I can share it with the people around me and they’re happy that makes a huge difference to me.”
In keeping with making his art accessible, he thought of a way to do that through Etsy. “So I have an Etsy store and you can buy a digital download for $1.99 and print it and color it. I wanted a store that was not a chore – involved in packing and shipping….”
Big windows, small cities…
He says, “I’m originally from Lebanon I grew up in Lebanon and I’ve been in the United States for almost 20 years. I came here and loved it and I decided to become a citizen. I’m influenced by both Lebanon and the United States and I try and put all of that in my drawings.
I made a choice to become an American and there are a lot of beautiful things in this country and a lot of beautiful things in Lebanon and drawing is a way of trying to find where you belong and I belong in-between those two countries. The United States offered me a lot of opportunities – I drew in coffee shops in Lebanon I still draw in coffee shops here and finding a way to mix those influences in my art is very interesting for me.”
On a random week night…
Professionally, Fahd is now a data analyst. He and his wife – an engineer – live on Capitol Hill. He helps her in her community volunteer work as a bee keeper at Congressional Cemetery.
Thanks to those who showed up to say thanks to the veterans who we remember for their sacrifices in our wars.
Here’s where the Memorial Day Parade started on Constitution Avenue, NW.
TAPS is the national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources to all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community.
“PTSD Pulling for Veterans” refers to a non-profit organization, Pulling for Veterans, which uses trailers to raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans. They offer low-cost trailer rentals for educational purposes, serving as “rolling billboards” to educate the public about PTSD and its impact on veterans.
Here’s a video of the sounding of Taps at the National Native American Veterans Memorial following the laying of a wreath on Monday afternoon. The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) hosted a ceremony to recognize the contributions of Native veterans. American Indians and Alaska Natives enlist in the U.S. military at the highest rates per capita of any group in the nation.
Wednesday, May 6, The Hill Center held a reception for the Capitol Hill Art League’s Juried Art Show, which opened Man 6 and runs through September 8. The entries were judged on the body of work submitted by individual artists. Here are the winners:
First Place: Mixed Media on canvas by Anne Barnes.
Second Place: Watercolor on paper by Tara Hamilton.
Third Place: Photos on archival paper by Rindy OBrian.
In other news, here’s a couple of photo updates on the progress on two previously-announced fast food restaurants coming to the 400 block of 8th Street, SE – Barracks Row.
Popeyes at 409 8th Street, SE.
Taco Bell at 411 8th Street, SE.
The Week Ahead…
Monday, May 27
Memorial Day. Trash and Recycling pick up slides one day.
The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC, will take place on Monday, May 26, on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets NW. The parade will begin at 2:00 PM, preceded by musical performances at 1:00 PM. For more go here: https://americanveteranscenter.org/avc-events/parade/
Tuesday, May 27
ANC6B will hold a virtual Executive Committee Meeting at 7:00pm. The meeting will include several items that were tabled from the May full meeting.
(At the Executive Committee Meeting the agenda for June will be discussed, voted upon, and adopted. At this meeting, PRIOR to the agenda for the June meeting being adopted, the Executive Committee will address the following items that were tabled during the May full Commission meeting due to time limits,)
People’s Front of H Street, Sunday Clean ups in 6A01, May 31, 2025 Block Party. Understanding the ANC6A Grant Application.
Discuss ANC6A Community Outreach strategies for Open Streets DC: Capitol Hill event on June 28, (9 am-3 pm). ANC 6A will have a booth at Lincoln Park. Details at https://openstreets.dc.gov/pages/spring-2025
Public Safety Discussion
Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee will hold an in-person meeting at 7:00pm in the North Hall, Eastern Market.
(The meeting may be available Zoom, but the coverage tends to be unreliable.)
Among items on the draft agenda:
Approval of the agenda.
Approval of the minutes.
Treasurer’s Report.
Chair’s Report.
New Format for Committee Reports
Protocols for Bikes and E-Scooters to Ad-Hoc Comm. on Public Safety
Bricks
Volunteers
Market Manager’s Report.
Tenant’s Council Report.
Operations Budget Committee Report.
Capital Improvements.
Ad-hoc Committee on Public Safety.
New EMCAC Business.
Community Questions Suggestions & Comments.
Adjournment.
Thursday, June 29
ANC 6C Grants Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
American Roots Concert Series: I Draw Slow. 4:30pm – 6:30pm.
Their distinctive blend of Irish and Appalachian roots composition has been licensed for film, TV, and advertising and is widely covered and recorded by other artists.
Photo Essay: The Mayor’s Hill East Town Hall on the RFK Development
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 23, 2025
Here’s a conceptual rendering of what the proposed new stadium for the Washington Commanders would look like.
Thursday night, Mayor Bowser brought a Town Hall Meeting on development of the RFK Site to the communities most affected by it – Ward 7’s Hill East and Kingman Park. Some 350 residents turned out for the meeting near the stadium in the gymnasium of St. Coletta’s School.
A panel comprised of Mayor Bowser, Ward 7 CM Wendell Felder, CM At-Large Kenyan McDuffie and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development Nina Albert made presentations and took questions. The Mayor supported the current plan for a $3.7 billion development of the 65,000 seat covered stadium and the beginning of a new neighborhood on the Anacostia River. She told the attendees that the 174 acre site could hold four Wharfs. The Commanders will contribute $2.7 billion to the project for vertical construction and the DC government will pay $1 billion for infrastructure and parking.
ANC7D08 Chair Brian Alcorn (far left), whose ANC encompasses the RFK site, commented after the meeting: “I’m pleased that Councilmember Felder is appropriately focused on ensuring development at the RFK site would be consistent with the community’s wishes as well as having a positive financial impact for neighbors and the District. I also appreciate Mayor Bowser’s acknowledgement that the project is in the very early stages and community-driven modifications are both possible and expected. As ANC7D hosts nearly 75% of the overall RFK campus, our Commission and residents look to closely coordinate with officials from the District, the Commanders, WMATA and all other stakeholders to ensure that the results, whatever they may be, support and enhance our many neighborhoods.
ANC7D05 Commissioner Ebony Payne (seated behind Alcorn), whose Single Member District borders the north edge of the RFK Campus commented: “I am encouraged that we finally have a firm commitment from the Mayor that the Fields at RFK will be maintained – the number one concern I am hearing now from my constituents is about the two massive parking garages planned for Oklahoma Avenue. This is the main thoroughfare to our community and people want to see a new map that does not burden Kingman Park with the bulk of the heavy traffic.
Here’s the site plan for dividing the development into six districts. The Commanders will oversee the development of the Plaza District, the Stadium District, and the Riverfront District, while the city will take charge of development of the Kingman Park District, the Recreational District and the Anacostia Commons. The city will also fund a $89 million SportsPlex providing indoor track and gymnastic facilities not available in other District recreation centers.
The vision includes 6,000 new homes – 30% affordable housing – for 10,000 new residents.
The crowd was mostly supportive of the development, but the occasion fell short of exuberant enthusiasm, perhaps over concerns about how the proposed development would change the community. Questions from the audience reflected worries about parking, traffic, public safety, jobs for community members, funding for education, property taxes, and community benefits.
There were caps and signs for residents to indicate support the new development – the caps went pretty fast.
Here’s an image reflecting the timeline for the project. The Mayor is hoping for the City Council approval this summer, groundbreaking for the new stadium in late 2006, and opening of the stadium in the fall of 2030.
While many in Ward 7 have reservations about the effects of the proposed development, the focus now – in the face of a full court press by the Mayor’s office and public support for a new stadium – seems to by focusing on addressing concerns of the nearby residents and getting the best deal possible for the city. And despite the aggressive promotion, the Mayor and her supporters have not addressed the well-documented assertions of respected economic analysts that sports stadiums are not economic generators for a city. The Mayor points to potential some 200 events annually, including 20-30 major events. Perhaps, but how many Beyoncé or Taylor Swifts are there who can fill a 65,000 seat stadium? It’s uncertain whether the city will make money from the new stadium – it’s more certain that the developers will.
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 is 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 will now say “Following,” and click it again.
Last Monday night, the ANC6B SE Library Task Force, chaired by Commissioner David Sobelsohn, heard Jaspreet Pahwa, Director of Planning &Construction DC Public Library update the community on Renovation of SE Library. Here’s a photo of the current state of the main floor looking toward the 7th Street entrance showing the slab demolition and ceiling opening which will provide natural light from the new skylight in the roof to all three floors.
Here’s a detail.
Here’s a current photo of the former lower level (street level) of the library. It, too, will have an opening in the floor providing natural light to the level below.
Here’s a schematic cross section showing the distribution of natural light to all three floors. For more, go here, https://bit.ly/47YgK1f and click on the May 9th update.
Last Tuesday night, ANC6B, chaired by Commissioner Edward Ryder, heard an informational presentation from the principals behind the modernization of and addition to St. Peter School, 422 3rd Street, SE. St. Peter School is a private Catholic school founded in 1868 affiliated with St. Peter’s Church. It has a maximum capacity of 228. This is an image of the current school.
And here’s rendering of the completed project including a roof-top playground. The renovation will bring the school into compliance with ADA requirements. St. Peter School will remain 100% active throughout the construction of the new building which will open in 2028.
ICYMI – The Lobby Bar at 224 7th Street, SE, across from Eastern Market, opened last Friday night. The space was formerly occupied by Boxcar Tavern.
Here’s a photo inside from mid-afternoon on Saturday.
The Week Ahead…
Monday, May 19
ANC6B Public Safety Committee Meeting scheduled for 7pm tonight CANCELLED
ANC6D will hold its May Business meeting ONLY IN PERSON with no on-line option at 7:00pm at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 555 Water Street SW (6th & M).
Among items on the draft agenda:
Public Safety Report (PSA 103,105,106)
Community Announcements
Government Announcements (Executive and Legislative Branch)
Community Concerns
Approval of April 2025 Minutes
ABC Matters
Further consideration of the DDOT 2025 TOPP (Traffic Operations & Parking Plan)
Shall the ANC comment on DDOT’s “safety treatment” for 6th & M?
Shall the ANC establish a Task Force on Pedestrian Safety?
Shall the ANC support Modification of Consequence: M Street Landing?
Shall the ANC support 2-year extension of the PUD in ZC 16-02D & 16-02C?
Does the ANC endorse renaming a street for Leona Walker?
SMD Updates
Treasurer’s Report
Chairperson’s Report
ANC6ATransportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
West Virginia Avenue NE. Kelly Jeong-Olsen from DDOT will discuss the recently issued NOI for the stretch of West Virginia Avenue NE between 8th Street and Florida Avenue NE and the signal project at the intersection of 8th Street/West Virginia Avenue/K Street NE.
Capitol Hill Open Streets on June 28. ANC 6A has a tent reserved along the route for this event. The TPS Committee does not have formal plans for this event at this time.
H Street NE Bus Priority Project. Last year, DDOT presented the 90% plans for this project which was slated to begin construction this year. DDOT stated the project is being reevaluated at this time.
New Business.
900 Block of A Street NE. Requesting traffic calming and that DDOT close off this block to traffic similar to both parts of the 900 block of E Street NE where it intersects with Maryland Avenue NE. Neighbors are concerned about traffic speed and volume.
Alley Closure near the intersection of C Street NE and Warren Street NE scheduled for July 7-11, 2025 for construction. Permit applicants sent notice to the ANC as part of their DDOT application. Additional community comment (time permitting).
Wednesday, May 21
ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee will meet at 7:00pm
901 H Street NE. Hearing of May 8, 2025: Request for a Modification Without Hearing to the planned unit development (“PUD”) along with the Applicant’s associated request for special exception relief to permit fast food restaurant use at the Property. Zoning Commission approved the following modifications to the conditions of the approval: The PUD shall have a maximum density of 5.0 FAR and a gross floor area of 435,265 square feet. Of that, the PUD shall have approximately 51,420 square feet of retail and/or eating and drinking establishment uses, including fast food restaurant use, of which approximately 5,365 square feet may also be devoted to veterinary hospital use. If any new uses are adopted under the eating and drinking establishment use category after the effective date of this Order, such newly adopted uses shall be considered matter-of-right uses within the PUD, except that following such amendment, the establishment of a new fast food restaurant or a new fast food drive-through shall require review and approval by the Zoning Commission.
1355-1359 H Street, NE. Hearing of April 30,2025: The BZA concluded that the applicant has satisfied the burden of proof for the requested relief to include: Special Exception from the rear yard requirements; Special Exception under the eating and drinking establishment use requirements; Special Exception under the fast-food establishment use requirements. The Board approved the application consistent with plans submitted subject to the following conditions: All trash for tenants that have obtained a Certificate of Occupancy for fast-food shall be stored in indoor trash rooms within the main building envelope, until such time as the trash is removed from the premises by a garbage contractor. No dumpsters or other trash or recycling containers serving the fast-food uses shall be kept in public space. Exterior doors to any trash rooms shall be kept closed except when in use by tenants depositing trash or by the contractor removing trash. For more information, please contact: Dave Wethington and Michael Cushman, Co-Chairs Economic Development and Zoning Committee,
Old Business
917 Constitution Avenue. To construct a second story addition to a detached garage, in the rear of an existing, attached, two-story plus cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone. A recommendation that ANC 6A send a letter to BCA to support the special exception was approved unanimously by the EDZ Committee on March 19, 2025, and approved by unanimous consent by ANC 6A on April 10, 2025. BZA Virtual Public Hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2025.
New Business
1000-1014 H Street NE: The potential applicant is pursuing a zoning map amendment for the property at 1000-1014 H Street NE to rezone the property from the current NMU4/H-R zone to the NMU-5/H-R zone. The zoning map amendment would allow for an additional story in building height. If the zoning map amendment is successful, the potential applicant envisions a similar mixed-use project to what was approved by the BZA in 2023, with the primary change being the one additional story allowed in the NMU-5/H-R zone.
1382 East Capitol Street, NE; Della Barba Pizza, LLC requests a use variance and special exception to expand its existing, nonconforming, pizza restaurant use beyond the first floor, with cellar, in order to provide for additional seasonal outdoor patio seating within public space.
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Monday, May 19
Hill Center Event
Overbeck Lecture: Jack Jones on the building of the National Guard Armory
How the vacant land between East Capitol Street and Independence Avenue west of the Anacostia River became a center of civic and military activity is a history worth telling. Jack Jones, historic preservation specialist at the DC Historic Preservation Office, will do just that at the May 19 Capitol Hill History Lecture.
Tuesday, May 20
Hill Center Event
Global Sounds on the Hill featuring Brazilian Singer/Songwriter Luciane Dom. A multilingual singer, songwriter, and producer, she is part of a group of contemporary artists who use poetic themes to impact the construction of her emotions. 7:00pm – 9:00pm – $20
Hill Center Galleries 2025 CHAL Juried Exhibition Opening Reception. 6:30pm – 8:00pm – Free. Register here https://bit.ly/4ksUNNP
During the Opening Reception prizes will be awarded. All pieces of art will be on display throughout our Galleries and online at Hill Center Galleries.
Thursday, May 22
Congressional Cemetery Event.
Cemetery Speaker Series: The Pink Triangle and the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights in the U.S. Speaker Dr. Jake Desai-Newsome is an award winning scholar of German and American LGBTQ+ history whose research and resources educate global audiences. 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $20
An Evening with the Residents: A Comedy Show@ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm $20
The Congressional Cemetery is pleased to host an uproariously funny comedy show in our on-site chapel. An Evening with the Residents, so named to recognize the affectionate nickname for the permanent “residents” of the Congressional Cemetery, will feature some of DC’s top comedians bringing their best thematic material to the stage. Get your tickets today—this is a rare opportunity to spend an evening of live entertainment in one of DC’s historic, revered landmarks.
Councilmember Charles Allen at Wednesday nights ANC6C meeting.
CM Allen Says He Will Work to Change a Bad Stadium Deal
by Larry Janezich
Posted: May 16, 2025
CM Charles Allen told ANC6C Wednesday night in his presentation on the DC budget that the city will spend over a billion dollars to build a new stadium on the RFK campus.
Allen said, “Right now a majority of the council does not support the proposal…I think actually a good number of my colleagues want to get to a yes but they are not there yet…A majority is absolutely opposed to the deal as is because it’s not a good deal for the city and it’s not a good deal for the taxpayer.” Allen said that for more than a decade he has been consistent in pointing out that NFL stadiums are not economic generators.
(More than a half dozen prominent economists and the St. Louis Fed point to data showing that using public funds for new stadiums is a poor investment.)
Allen cited one example out of what he said is many regarding why this is a bad deal. He said that the proposal as it now stands is that DC would build, fund, own, and maintain parking garages for 8,000 spots. The two parking garages at Nats Ballpark provide 1250 spaces for a 45,000 seat venue. For the 65,000 seat stadium, the Commanders want 8,000 spaces. “That,” Allen said, “would create a wall of parking garages right next to the fields and block off the fields from the community.”
“I think it’s a really bad idea to build that much parking … also that we all need to foot the bill and on top of that…we get no parking tax revenue so we will own, build, maintain, and operate parking garages and then we get zero revenue from it.”
Allen said that there is no money in the proposal for another Metro to serve the site, and “that makes no sense if we’re going to be building a stadium and provide for 15,000 new people … as we build 6000 homes.”
ANC6C Commissioner Mark Eckenweiler asked Allen if the proposed deal includes “sweeteners” for the city as is sometimes the case for municipalities providing subsides for sports arenas.
Allen said that right now there’s no revenue sharing from things like naming rights. The Commanders are also tax free on things like concessions and sales – not just on the stadium – but entire RFK campus…”and so the commanders will get all of that for a dollar a year and build everything on it…we will not get property tax, we will give up all parking revenue tax and sales tax….If you look at Nats Park the way that that works right now is that the District and the Nationals split 50/50 parking revenue on large scale events that are 5000 or more. So why would we treat one stadium very differently than the other?”
Allen said it makes no sense that we’re just giving it all away “so that’s what I mean that this is a bad deal. If it’s going to pass we’ve got to make a lot of changes to it.”
Allen’s position seems to be that in the event the city council passes the bill, it will need to be a better deal – that being the case, he did not say that even with major changes he could support the bill.
CM At-Large Kenyan McDuffie at Mr. Henry’s last night.
CM Kenyan McDuffie on His Support for a New Stadium at RFK
by Larry Janezich
Posted, May 14, 2025
Last night, CM At-Large Kenyan McDuffie appeared before a group of Ward Six Democrats upstairs at Mr. Henry’s on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
In remarks, McDuffie expressed frustration on how long it’s taking to produce a budget owing to Congressional inaction to authorize DC to spend its own funds for the current FY. He also expressed concern over the expected loss of $1 billion in city revenue over the next three FYs because of reductions in the federal workforce.
Afterward, he made himself available for informal discussions with attendees.
An audience member questioned McDuffie’s support for Mayor’s proposal to build a new NFL stadium to replace RFK, asking him if he is aware of any empirical evidence that a new stadium would provide new revenue or economic benefit for the city in light of economists’ assessment that there is none. (Mayor Bowser wants the city council to approve spending $850 million in public funds for infrastructure to support a new stadium with the Washington Commanders covering the cost of building the stadium.)
McDuffie responded, “I guess my evidence that a stadium is good for DC would be what we see at Nats Stadium, what we see at Audi Field, what we see at Capital One Arena.”
In a follow-up, he was asked, “So, you can point to (those developments) as maybe a catalyst for supporting that sort of investment. What are you seeing at RFK that indicates that’s a similar situation?”
McDuffie replied, “What I’m seeing at RFK is 180 acres of dormant land that has been sitting idle for decades. I’m seeing a lot of asphalt that’s collecting dust and it’s in extreme disrepair. What I saw as a child growing up in the city were areas around SE and the Navy Yard and the Waterfront that needed investment. What I saw in the areas around SW was my friends who went to high school with me at Woodrow Wilson were communities that were starving for community service amenities that other parts of the city had. What we have today (in those areas) that didn’t exist before are events coming out of those facilities that are supporting a lot of businesses around it that are giving job opportunities to residents and for small businesses the opportunity to service what is happening in and those neighborhoods. “
The Ward 6 Democrats website carries a notice inviting neighbors to a Fireside Chat on the Future of RFK: Monday, June 2, at The Strand Restaurant, 131 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. The event is sponsored by: The Hill Rag and East of the River Newspapers, The Ward 6 Democrats, and The Ward 7 Democrats.
The following is an update from ANC7D Commissioner Ebony Payne:
Dear Kingman Park neighbors,
There are several RFK town halls in the upcoming weeks and I need your help keeping Kingman Park’s voice at the forefront of the conversation. Many of you reached out with concerns about the parking garages that are planned for Oklahoma Avenue. I spoke about your concerns on Fox 5 this past weekend and I will continue to share these concerns with city leaders.
The deal needs 7 votes to pass. Now is the time to start contacting Councilmembers to let them know your thoughts on the stadium plan. Please cc me on any email correspondence you send.
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 3rd 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 2nd 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 7th 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.)
Friday Night Live at Eastern Market Metro. Friday night, The Taiko Drummers of Japan performed at Eastern Market Metro Plaza, celebrating the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Here’s a video of a Taiko training demonstration session featuring four volunteers from the audience. The volunteers really got into it. Subsequent Fridays during May will feature additional performers celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander culture.
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 7th 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.
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.
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.
Charles Kia, the owner of the popular Haad Thai restaurant at 1100 New York Avenue, NW, (which closed in October 2024 after 30 years) is opening a new restaurant at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, near Eastern Market. The space was formerly occupied by Joselito. Kia said the restaurant closed after being unable to renegotiate a new lease with the landlord.
ZomTum – which translates to “papaya salad” names the new restaurant and the concept, variations of which will characterize the menu.
Kia told Capitol Hill Corner that he had been looking for a place to open near Eastern Market for 15 years and found that the space was available and leased it. He will make some cosmetic changes inside and hopes to open in July.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 