Joseph Brotherton: “I’m a Trumpet player here in DC. I am a participant in the progressive nature of music and am honored to be given the challenge to help it evolve.” Photo credit: Joseph Brotherton
Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Features Trumpeter Joseph Brotherton
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 28, 2022
The April 29 Friday night Live Jazz performance – 5:00pm to 6:30pm – at Eastern Market Metro Plaza features trumpeter Joseph Brotherton.
Brotherton started trumpeting at age 8. After serving for four years as trumpet player in U.S. Marine Corps Band Quantico he became a freelance musician based in DC and is now regular of the local jazz scene, performing up and down the east coast. He has appeared with a host of music notables (Gregory Porter, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, and Kermit Ruffins) across several genres (R&B, salsa, gospel, studio, fusion and classical). He has a Wednesday-night residency at JoJo Restaurant & Bar, 1518 U Street, NW.
“Joseph Brotherton is an exciting and spectacular soloist, well-schooled in the tradition, and post-bop concepts. His solos are notable for their clarity, connectivity of ideas, clear articulation, intonation, and tasteful and measured use of his ample technique.” – Jazz Improv Magazine
The concert series will continue through the end of October 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.
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On Saturday, Spike Mendelsohn’s Santa Rosa Taqueria and Margarita Bar opened at 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The photo is from the night before the opening.A La Catrina Calavera Day of the Dead mural leads up the stairs to Santa Rosa’s second floor. Here’s a look at Santa Rosa’s second floor. On a perfect Sunday afternoon, most diner opted for the sidewalk café alongside the building on 3rd Street.The fifth “curatorial riddle” installation of Triple Candie is on display in the 22 square foot space in the front of the former Li’l Pub at 655 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The first puzzling assemblage appeared in the space in December. The curious can find details on the previous pieces in the archive at the link below. Triple Candie is a research-oriented curatorial agency run by art historian co-founders Shelly Bancroft and Peter Nesbett. Their purpose is to create alternative exhibition methods making that the object of critical focus rather than what is displayed (which for the most part does not include original artworks). This is a heavy lift – part postmodern, part deconstructionism, part Burning Man Festival. Go deeper here: http://www.triplecandie.org/The Li’l Pub closed in January of 2014 after being bought out by CVS who needed more pharmaceutical space. The sidewalk outside of the exhibit – or space close by – has been occupied for the past 38 years by street vendor Flank Lloyd – Frank’s Place – selling tea shirts, hats, and hand-drawn portraits.Poster at the southwest corner of 4th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. According to the website, Absurdly Well is an abstract and street artist serving political street art in public space for community awareness, people empowerment and protest. https://www.instagram.com/absurdlywell/?hl=en
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 24, 2022
The Week Ahead….
Tuesday, April 26
ANC6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Blackhawk Helicopters Land at U.S. Capitol for Training Exercise – Photo Essay
by Larry Janezich
U.S. Capitol Police gave fair warning for last week’s training exercise at the U.S. Capitol involving low flying helicopters and emergency vehicles. The exercise was held in conjunction with federal and local law enforcement and FEMS agencies on a cold and breezy evening last Tuesday.
The East Plaza on Tuesday evening before the Capitol Grounds were shut down.Part of the exercise involved evacuating the Congressional leadership, top aides, and a press pool in case of an emergency. These staffers, gathered on the southern edge of the East Front, appear to be stand-ins for their bosses. In an emergency, the Congressional leadership would be evacuated to a secure hardened shelter in Virginia. About 7:30pm, the Blackhawk helicopters approached the Capitol flying west on Independence Avenue and on East Capitol Street – two for the House side and two for the Senate side. A fifth Park Police helicopter landed on the plaza in front of the center steps. Photos were taken from the upper terrace in front of the Library of Congress. The Blackhawks landed on the grassy area – these two on the House side of the Capitol.The departure came about 7:45pm. The Blackhawks can carry about 20 passengers. That’s enough seats for the House and Senate leaders and top aides and press. The rank and file members apparently have to fend for themselves. Leaving the scene, and while walking east on the grounds of the Library of Congress, a second wave of helicopters came in, flying west over Independence Avenue.
Elijah Jamal Balbed at Mr. Henry’s. Photo credit: Elijah Balbed
Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Features Elijah Jamal Balbed
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 21, 2021
The April 22 Friday night Live Jazz performance – 5:00pm to 6:30pm – at Eastern Market Metro Plaza features the return of award winning saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed – one of the premiere Jazz artists in the city.
Balbed and the EJB Quartet were the winners of the 2020 DC Jazz Prix for their performance of Elijah’s “The Karma Suite.” He has performed with a long list of legendary jazz artists including the Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown. He also performs internationally, in including Japan, the UK, Qatar, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico and Jamaica.
During the pandemic, Balbed organized a group of musicians to do pop up performances around the city. When regular performance venues were closed to them they turned to the parks and Metro Plazas to bring music to their fans.
Next up on Friday Night Live Jazz April 29: Joe Brotherton.
The concert series will continue through the end of October 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.
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Outgoing Eastern Market Main Street Board Chair Manuel Cortes (far left) introduces new EMMS Executive Director Ann Blackwell (center). Also pictured are Board Members Barry Margeson, Manager, Eastern Market (2nd from left); incoming EMMS Board Chair Mary Quillian Helms, owner, Mr. Henry’s (2nd from right); and Mike Berman, owner, Diverse Markets (far right). Councilmember Charles Allen (at right), joins others in a toast celebrating Groovy Owner Manuel Cortez’s six year tenure as Chair of the Eastern Market Main Street Board of Directors. Cortes is stepping down, to be succeeded by Mary Quillian Helms. Earlier, Allen had extolled EMMS’s leadership of the 7th Street, SE, local businesses, which he said, “had made them stronger than ever.”
Eastern Market Main Street Introduces New Exec Director Ann Blackwell
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 20, 2022
Wednesday night at the first post pandemic in-person gathering of the Eastern Market Main Street stakeholders, Chair Manuel Cortez introduced its new Executive Director, Ann Blackwell. She succeeds former Executive Director Charles McCaffrey who resigned last October to take a position as Director of Career Services with the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Blackwell is both a marketing executive and a small business owner – the founder of DC-based Well Built – a design company that integrates design, commerce and environmental stewardship. She brings both communication skills and experience developing strategies for sustainable practices to the position. Her skill set includes “placemaking” – reimagining and reinventing public spaces – as well as management, marketing, business development, public relations, and event planning. She has worked with museums, municipalities, non-profit agencies and national retailers.
She says, “As the Executive Director of Eastern Market Main Street, I will have the opportunity to work with members of a vital Washington community. It is a perfect formula of Capitol Hill businesses and classic residences; with DC’s iconic, historic Eastern Market as the centerpiece”.
Blackwell has a BFA in Art and Design from the University of Iowa, a Graduate Studies in Architecture from UCLA and recently completed a Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) in the Business of Art and Design from the Maryland Institute of College and Art (MICA).
Out and About – Everything Is Coming Up Yellow – A Photo Essay
By Elizabeth Eby
Posted April 19, 2022
Everything is coming up yellow! Daffodils, pansies, crocus, and forsythia are golden yellow. They share common pollinators – insects with poor vision and are blind to colors other than yellow or white. In addition to the golden color, daffodils have trumpets or rings of highly contrasting color around the stamen to direct the pollinator to the sweet spot.
Some people love this shade of yellow but others call it harsh. Some think daffodils glow in the dark and people speculated that they generated electricity or phosphorescence. This went on until a 20th century German scientist explained that it is an optical illusion, the result of how our eyes perceive bright yellow in the twilight. William Wordsworth’s famous daffodil poem was inspired by a walk through a huge field of wild daffodils one evening when he and his sister experienced this phenomenon.
Forsythia blossoms are among the very first signs of spring. The buds form in fall and look like little nubs along the branch. They bloom before they form leaves. Branches cut as soon as the buds are plump will blossom indoors and eventually root when placed in a vase of water. I laughed out loud when I spotted this forsythia arch. I cannot decide what, if any, aesthetic effect it has on the electric meter in the center. But I love the gardener’s imagination and desire to make use of the every bit of garden space. Moreover, I have come to enjoy and respect topiary. It requires skill, incremental steps, consistency and great patience. Similar to addressing climate change.
Out and About is an occasional photo feature by artist, photographer, and Capitol Hill resident Elizabeth Eby. She finds vignettes while out and about on Capitol Hill.
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Another departure from Barracks Row. Mekki Moroccan Cuisine closed its doors last week after being unable to negotiate a new lease with the landlord. BTW – down on 3rd and Pennsylvania, SE, the reopening of Spike Mendelsohn’s Santa Rosa Taqueria and Margarita Bar which was scheduled for April 16, has been delayed until next Saturday, April 23. Last Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza featured jazz artist Ellah Brown. Brown, started guitar lessons at age six and began classes at Jazz House Kids (JHK) at age 10. She has appeared at the Apollo Theater, New Jersey Council on the Arts, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Caramoor Jazz Festival in Katonah, New York, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, and many others venues. She was awarded a National Young Arts Merit Award in 2021. Next Friday, April 22: Elijah Balbed. Here are a couple photos from the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Petalpalooza at The Wharf on Saturday afternoon. The day-long celebration involved multiple outdoor stages, and featured art, live music and play. The weather turned later in the evening, forcing cancellation of the promised choreographed fireworks show.Orchids: “Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The show – jointly presented by the Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden, celebrates women scientists, explorers, and artists – and their connection to orchids. The exhibit runs through April 24 in the Kogard Courtyard – which has been called one of the new architectural wonders of the world. The café which made sitting at a table with a coffee under the spectacular glass roof remains closed, so that pleasantry is denied us – but the pleasure of being in such a splendid and spacious environment is undiminished.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 17, 2022
Monday, April 18
ANC 6A Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
647 16th Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment. Request for special exception zoning relief to construct a third story and rear addition, and convert to a flat, an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
15th Street Alley. Zoning Adjustment. Request for an area variance to construct six, new, attached, two-story with cellar and roof deck, principal dwelling units.
1802-1806 D Street, NE. Informational presentation on a map amendment to the zoning of 1800-1806 D Street NE, from MU3 to MU4.
1252 H Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment. Request for Special Exception zoning relief from the lot occupancy requirements, from the rear yard requirements and an area variance from the design requirements.
Formerly Subway, 430 8th Street Barracks Row will be the new home of a Union Kitchen outlet this fall.
Union Kitchen Barracks Row Plans Fall Opening
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 12, 2022
Union Kitchen is coming to Barracks Row at the location of the former Subway shop, 430 8th Street, SE. The story was first reported by Daniel J. Sernovitz in Washington Business Journal.
The café/grocery will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer specialty grocery items and housewares in the 1400 s.f. storefront space. Owners are aiming at opening in October.
This comes as good news for a troubled block of Barracks Row where the now-closed Tandoor and the notorious Popeye’s once lived. Subway closed up shop at the location in February of 2020. As reported by CHC in March of this year, the north end of the block will soon feature Mason & Greens, Sustainable Dry Goods | Grocer. See here: https://bit.ly/3vUI40n .
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 8 outlets at 538 3rd Street, NE.
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Part of the the coalition of some 100 neighbors involved in the effort to Save Mott’s Market. Photo: Save Mott’s Market.
Campaign to Save Mott’s Market Suffers Serious Setback – Neighbors Not Giving Up. Photo: Hilary Russell
by Hilary Russell
Posted April 11, 2022
An energetic and determined coalition of about 100 Hill neighbors has been campaigning to save Mott’s Market at 233 12th Street, SE, since the building was listed for sale in March 2022 https://bit.ly/37AwGfZ . Residents in the close-knit, nearby community who value this historic resource came together organically, disseminated signs, held virtual meetings, and established a website and a multi-member LLC (limited liability company) that aimed to buy the building. They made plans to revitalize the corner store by renting it to an experienced vendor who “shared the community’s vision.” And they raised enough funds to make a serious offer on April 7 to the Cho family, owners of the building since 2010.
On Friday, April 8, the coalition learned that a competing offer from a developer – one with no contingencies – had been accepted. The buyer’s identify has not yet been publicly disclosed. According to organizer Jordan LaCrosse, coalition members are deeply disappointed but are not giving up. As she put it in an email to those involved in the effort, “While this is regrettable news, it is not necessarily the end. There remain possible avenues our team can explore in the coming weeks to influence the ultimate fate of the market and the building itself.” The email signoff was upbeat: “We are so very fortunate to live in a caring, courageous, and committed community.”
Capitol Hill Corner https://capitolhillcorner.org/ will keep you informed, but sign up for coalition emails at savemottsmarket@gmail.com to join or keep tabs on continuing efforts to influence the building’s new owner. Visit www.mottsmarket.com to learn more about the neighborhood coalition and the 100+-year-history of a corner store at 123 12th Street, SE.
Atlas Dog House is coming to 1350 E Street, SE, on the first floor of the Southwest corner of Beckert’s Park – part of the SE Safeway complex. This will be a high-end sister facility of the Atlas Dog House at 1375 H Street, SE. The new facility will feature day care for dogs, 4 pens with a capacity of 30 dogs each, a hydro therapy pool, sound proofing and odor control. The ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee voted to support a request for a zoning adjustment to provide a special exception for the construction of an animal boarding establishment. The full ANC6B is expected to endorse the zoning change at its meeting this coming Tuesday. Friday evening, Barracks Row Main Street kicked off its 2022 season of Friday night Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza with Imani-Grace Cooper www.imanigrace.com . The concerts will continue every Friday through September. The Rock Creek Morris Women and the Foggy Bottom Morris Men welcomed and celebrated spring with Morris dancing on Saturday afternoon on the plaza in front of the 7th Street Hill Café across from Eastern Market. Morris dancing is an ancient folk agricultural ritual from England. The tradition experienced a revival in the late 1890s in England and there are now some 150 Morris dancing teams in the United States, according to Wiki. For more see here http://fbmm.org/ and here https://rockcreekmorriswomen.weebly.com/New Guerrilla Gardeners’ plantings in the 600 Block of Virginia Avenue, SE, West Bound – part of their One Beautiful Mile Project. Photo credit: Jim Guckert. For more, see here: https://guerrillagardenersdc.org/
‘And Spring Splendor now showing at Winston Park, 8th and I Street, SE, beauty brought to you courtesy of Guerrilla Gardeners. Photo credit: Jim Guckert. For more see here: https://guerrillagardenersdc.org/
On Thursday, the US Senate confirmed the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court by a vote of 53 – 47.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week & ANC Highlights
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 10, 2022
ANC Highlights:
Tuesday – Mayor Bowser appears before ANC6B on the DC Annual Budget.
Tuesday – ANC6B will consider letters of concern on redistricting.
Wednesday – ANC6C will propose a new boundary map for ANC6C which the Commissioner will present to the Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee at its hearing on April 28th.
Thursday – ANC6A will consider a letter to the Redistricting Subcommittee recommending the creation of a west of the river ANC.
1801 E Street, SE. Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery. Application for a Multipurpose Class “C” liquor license.
717 8th Street, SE. Rose’s Luxury. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
2022 Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 3K, and Fun Run
428 11th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition to an existing, attached two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
1415 Potomac Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition with deck, to an existing, attached two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
912 G Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a roof deck on an accessory garage to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
1350 E Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct an animal boarding establishment in an existing, detached, mixed use building.
135 Kentucky Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a two-story rear addition, and a second story garage addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
745 10th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. New accessory building in rear yard with roof deck.
Resolution requesting increased regulation of last mile delivery services (DashMart, GoPuff, etc.)
Presentations:
Mayor Muriel Bowser – Discussion on DC’s Annual Budget.
Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee
312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Young Chow Asian Restaurant. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
410 1st Street, SE. Bullfeathers . Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
629 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. La Plaza. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
653 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Sanphan Thai Cuisine. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
715 8th Street, SE. Pineapple and Pearls. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
735 8th Street, SE. Sushi Hachi. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
515 8th Street, SE. Bodegon Spanish Tapas. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
Planning and Zoning Committee
Letter to encourage Office of Planning to continue to analyze potential for increased Alley and Accessory Building housing units.
Letter to DC Council Regarding Neighborhood Concerns on Increased Carjackings – introduced by Commissioner Samolyk (tentative).
Letters on Ward 6 ANC Redistricting – introduced by Commissioner Holman.
Letters on Ward 7 ANC Redistricting – introduced by Commissioner Holman.
***
Wednesday, April 13
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
New café at Constitution and 7th Street, NE – James Thran.
Restaurant Tip Credit Elimination Act of 2021 – Ryan O’Leary.
Mobile voting in D.C. election – Rev. George Gilbert, Jr.
Transportation and Public Space Committee
Eighth Street Bus Priority Concept Plans.
Swampoodle Terrace legislation; K, L, and M Street installations.
201 K Street NE, bike racks, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, retaining wall, landscaping.
Discussion of new and upgraded bike lanes.
300 D Street NE. paving of public space.
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development
634 East Capitol NE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Relief from lot occupancy requirements to construct a rear two-story addition currently permitted as a boarding house to be converted to a flat.
1121 Abbey Place, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Expedited review for relief from rooftop architectural alteration to make legal an illegally constructed roof deck on the front porch.
Environment, Parks, and Events Committee
Update on NoMa parks—Robin-Eve Jasper.
2022 Capitol Hill Classic—Roberta Stewart.
Discussion of future meetings, online or in-person.
Grants Committee (Victoria Lord, chair)
Capitol Hill Literary BookFest.
Capitol Hill Gardening Club, 7th Street garden.
***
Thursday, April 14
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Mayor’s Proposed FY2023-24 Budget – Michael Carter, Director, Department of Public Works (DPW).
Consent Agenda
1238 H Street, NE. Application for renewal of “CR” Restaurant license.
Letter to DDOT supporting traffic calming in the area of C Street NE between 11th Street, NE, and 15th Street, NE.
Letter to DDOT reiterating the ANC’s request for traffic calming in the 800 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE, and K Street, NE, as set out previously in the ANC’s June 15, 2021, comment to DDOT in response to the Notice of Intent.
Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter of support to HSEMA in support of the permit for the Capitol Hill Classic race.
242 11th Street, NE. Letter of support to HPRB for the construction of a ten foot (by right) addition on the rear of building while also adding a 3rd floor addition, and a second floor addition to an existing one story garage.
1108 Constitution Avenue, NE. Letter of support for the construction of a rear yard addition and cellar addition which will fill in the dogleg at 1108 Constitution Avenue, NE.
Transportation and Public Space
ANC support for the installation of separated bicycle lanes on the 1300 block of North Carolina Avenue, NE, as set out in the DDOT Notice of Intent with requested modifications to the proposed designs to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Letter of support for the DDOT Notice of Intent for installation of all way stop control at 16th Street and Constitution Avenue NE.
Economic Development and Zoning
Letter of support to Zoning Commission for a map amendment to change the property at 1207 H Street, NE (Auto Zone), from its current zoning Mixed Use; Medium Density Residential and Medium Density Commercial to Medium Density Mixed Use) which permits a height of 70 feet and an FAR of 4.8, and will be subject to the enhanced affordability requirements under the Inclusionary Zoning Plus Program.
New Business
Suggested Motion: ANC 6A write a joint letter with ANC6 B to the Redistricting Task Force recommending the creation of a primarily west of the river ANC to represent the connected Ward 7 neighborhoods of Hill East, Kingman Park, Rosedale, Reservation 13/RFK developments and our incarcerated neighbors in the DC Jail.
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CAPITOL HILL CORNER 