VOICE
Vol. 4 No. 9 December 2002
of
The
Hill
This Month
13 Tom Kelly: Christmas in
the 30s
14 Holiday treasures on
the Hill
18 Helping others in a
season of giving
22 Rodney Smith:
inspiration on 8th
25 A fiery rebirth on 7th
27 Raising kids on the
Hill…a response
29 Making plans to Revel
30 KEY Academy: a
success story
34 A season of a million
Marthas
36 Art-O-Matic celebrates
over 1,000 artists
Departments
VoiceMail ...................................3
City Desk ...................................4
DownLoad..................................8
Business Bits...........................11
Ask Judith ................................40
Home Design ...........................42
Ask the Vet ..............................46
Health and Fitness ...................46
Barracks Row...........................50
KidSites...................................52
Capital Kids .............................56
Community Calendar ................57
Kids’ Sports.............................55
Kids’ Calendar .........................60
Classifieds...............................59
Horoscope ...............................60
Business Servces ....................60
Grub Street ..............................62
Happy holidays…
from our house
to yours
Happy holidays…
from our house
to yours
314 1/2 G Street, SE (Selling Agents) $329,000
Adorable brick row house across the street from
Results the Gym!
1213 Duncan Place, NE (Selling Agents) $349,000
Remodeled 3BR 2BA on a cute block in the shadow of
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305 C Street, NE #106 (Listing Agents) $179,000
Park in your GARAGE space & walk 1 block to the Senate
& 2 blocks to METRO!
1306 North Carolina Avenue, NE (Selling Agents) $399,900
Bayfront beauty loaded w/ personality, original
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305 C Street, NE #208 (Listing Agents) $159,000
Extremely bright studio condo with beautiful hardwood floors!
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Anyone who has followed the
history of the property knows
that both the owner and the
preservationists have been at odds
for years. No one thinks the owner of
the property is a saint, but his position
should not be completely dismissed. I
think most people would agree that the
CHRS has done a lot of very good things
for the Hill in preserving its historic character.
But for those of us who have been
very involved in this ongoing and frustrating
situation, we know that it is the
CHRS, and now the HPRB, who at this
point in time are as much the villains as
the owner, and perhaps more so.
[A November] article in the City Paper
on the Shotgun house presents a fair
and clear picture of the roles those two
organizations have played in preventing
the Shotgun house from being torn
down. While it leaves out a few details
and does not portray the neighbors’
position or feelings as well as it should
have, it is a good explanation and history
of what has been going on and what
homeowners on the Hill have to deal
with. I don’t know of anyone who lives
on the Hill who is not in favor of historic
preservation, but many people I know,
and I have lived on the Hill for 32 years,
feel that the CHRS should not have as
much influence as it does in dictating to
the residents what they can and cannot
do to their homes. It has gotten out of
hand, and the Shotgun house is a perfect
example of their abuse of power.
Few people want to attack them or take
them on, for fear of what they might do
in return when their home improvement
project comes before them. They have
been known to use intimidation (St.
Colletta being a perfect example), and
unless one has enough resources to
comply with their every wish, there is little
one can do other than forego the
work on the house or
do it illegally. And
their influence with
the HPRB is obvious,
though both
groups will deny
it.
Regarding the
Shotgun house, they said they wanted to
work with our neighborhood to resolve
this issue, but when push came to
shove, all they cared about was getting
their way. The CHRS can protest all they
want to, but where the Shotgun house is
involved, they are and continue to be
dictatorial and inflexible in their zeal to
preserve that building against the overwhelming
desires of the neighborhood,
the ANC, and our elected city officials.
Here is a challenge to the CHRS and
the HPRB. If the Shotgun house is so
important and must be preserved, than
do something positive for once on this
issue. Buy it and restore it, or buy it and
move it. Stop protesting and mouthing
the worn-out theme about the responsibility
and blame of the owner and the
importance of this building to the history
of the Hill and the city. Enough is
enough. We, the residents of this area,
have tried to find a resolution to this
problem, and we have been stopped at
every turn. Not once have we heard a
reasonable proposal from them. All we
get is the same old broken record about
why it must be preserved. Now is the
time for them to do something constructive,
or they should simply get out of the
way.
PETER THEIL
1233 E Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 3
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The Voice of the Hill is published
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Hill residences and business locations.
The focus is on the community
and includes contiguous neighborhoods
from Gallaudet University
to the Navy Yard and from the
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Publication and distribution is the
last Friday of each month.
Advertising deadline is the first of
the month preceding publication.
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Nothing Wrong With La
Loma
To the Editor:
I have to disagree pretty strongly with
the recent review of La Loma that
appeared in Voice of the Hill
(November). The reviewer says that La
Loma is mediocre and suggests we go
to Two Quail instead.
Two Quail is a fine restaurant. It’s
also about twice as expensive as La
Loma. Most of us can’t afford to eat
there regularly. I’ve eaten at La Loma
probably twenty times, and I rarely find it
to be the chore described by your reviewer.
The seafood chimichanga has probably
the biggest scallops I’ve ever seen in
DC. The service is lightning fast and
always courteous. That alone sets it
apart from many Hill restaurants, regardless
of price range.
Sure, it’s not cutting edge cuisine. But
it is a reasonably priced restaurant with
great service. There are precious few of
those in our neighborhood.
Mexican food is, for the most part,
pretty basic. It’s not known for being cutting
edge. But, then, you can get a satisfying
entree and courteous service here
for ten bucks.
So let those of us who can’t routinely
afford cutting edge enjoy La Loma for
what it is and what it isn’t—friendly,
fast, and nary a bit of Hill attitude.
Your reviewer has a way with words, and
has clearly developed a desire to cut
some restaurants down to size. I can
merely suggest that there are far more
deserving targets on the Hill.
BRIAN STANSBERRY
Capitol Hill
CHRS Should Put Money
Where Its Mouth Is
To the Editor:
While it was not a complete surprise
that the D.C. Historic Preservation
Review Board (HPRB) decided against
the demolition of the Shotgun house at
1229 E Street, SE, many of us had
hoped that the board, along with the
Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS),
would finally listen to the strong support
the surrounding community, the ANC, the
Mayor, and Councilwoman Ambrose have
clearly expressed for its razing. But it
didn’t happen, and the arrogant highhandedness
of a non-elected group of
people has once again stymied and
ignored the wishes of the community.
Welcome to these new Voice of the Hill advertisers.
Please tell them you saw their ads in the Voice!
Rob Bergman
Capitol Hill Art League
Capitol Hill Chorale
Carton Donofrio Partners
Eleventh Street Merchants
Mario Camero Pardoe Realty
Momentum Dance Company
Phoenix Design
Randall Hagner
Stanton Development
Star Roofing
Szechuan House
Top of the Hill
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
4 www.voiceofthehill.com
cityDesk
COVERING THE HILL’S POLITICAL SCENE AND MORE
ALL STORIES BY MARK SEGRAVES
Ward 6 ANCs Will Change Greatly As a
Result of Tuesday’s Election
A Look at Key Local Races
Thursday, November 7—Tuesday’s election brought
no real changes in any of the major races—from
mayor to school board. In each of those races, all
the incumbents held on to their seats. However, the
faces of Ward 6 Advisory Neighborhood
Commissions (ANCs) will change greatly as a result
of the election.
In ANC 6A, only one incumbent will return, and
in ANC 6B there will be four new faces. In the new
ANCs, 6C and 6D, there will be a mix of old and
new, but because of redistricting, they will all be
starting fresh.
In ANC 6A, Wanda Stevens-Harris, the only
incumbent running for re-election in that ANC,
won with 95 percent of the vote. She was unopposed.
Three other ANC 6A incumbents ran for reelection
in other ANCs due to re-districting.
Cody Rice Wins in 6A
There were three races of note in ANC 6A. In ANC
6A03, there were four candidates on the ballot—a
very high number given that most ANC candidates
ran unopposed. In a close race, Cody Rice defeated
his closest opponent, Emily Porter, by 31 votes.
Porter had campaigned vigorously leading up to
the election. Rice did not run nearly as aggressive a
campaign, but he did spend time working with
neighbors and building a strong base of support.
The surprise in this race was the poor showing of
former commissioner and community activist
Virginia Gaddis, who only received 82 votes.
White Defeated
In another hot race, Nicholas Alberti narrowly
defeated ANC 6B Commissioner Charles White.
White’s single member district (SMD) was re-districted
into ANC 6A. White had been quietly trying
to gain support among current commissioners and
candidates for a run at ANC Chairman next year.
With White out of the picture, there is no clear
front runner for chairman of ANC 6A.
6A06: A Hot Race
Probably the most talked about race in ANC 6A was
the three-way race for ANC 6A06. Former commissioners
Deleon Ware and H.J. Amons faced off
against community activist Jessica Ward. Amons
filed challenges with the D.C. Board of Elections
and Ethics (BOEE) over the nominating petitions
for both Ward and Ware. The challenges were not
upheld. Amons accused Ware of not living at the
address he listed with BOEE.
And Amons was not the only person to question
Ware’s residence. On the ANC 6A list serve, the
question came up several times. When asked on
Election Day, Ware told this reporter that he did in
fact live at the address listed. When asked if he slept
at that address every night, he said he did not. Ward
won the race by 30 votes.
ANC 6B: Snowden Victorious
In the only contested race in ANC 6B, Daryl
Snowden defeated incumbent commissioner
Kalimah Abdul-Sabur. Both candidates spent the
day in front of polling places asking for votes.
Abdul-Sabur may have been hurt by her support for
Boys Town. Last year, she violated ANC by-laws by
writing a letter of support for the Nebraska based
non-profit without stating that her opinion was
counter to that of the majority of commissioners.
Hall Upsets Tallant in ANC 6C
In the new ANC 6C, two current ANC 6A commissioners
were re-elected. Daniel Pernell soundly
defeated Brenda Renfrow-Roach. And in a small
upset, Commissioner Rob Hall overcame the challenge
of Drury Tallant. Hall had expressed doubts as
to whether he would even seek re-election, having
been left a bit disillusioned by the audit process.
Tallant, on the other hand, seemed a sure bet. He is
very active in the community and attends as many
ANC meetings as most commissioners. Tallant also
is active in the Stanton Park Neighborhood
Association.
The largest margin of victory came in ANC 6C.
Newcomer Bill Crews trounced Carl Mintz, 406
votes to 98 votes. On the outset, it appeared as if
Mintz would do well in the race. He is a longtime
resident; his wife is on the staff of Ward 6
Councilmember Sharon Ambrose; and he had the
support of school board member Tommy Wells.
Crews, however, is a more polished politician. A former
small town mayor, Crews is well-spoken and
well-informed, which may have worked in her favor
after a recent candidates’ forum where both candidates
spoke.
Solon Defeated in 6D
In ANC 6D, the outspoken Gene Solon was defeated
by Andy Litsky. Solon had been burning up the
phone lines to radio talk shows over the past
months, concerned about the development of the
Southwest waterfront. ANC 6B commissioner
Robert Siegel, also a victim of re-districting, won reelection
Ward 6 Writes in Three ANC Candidates
Three ANC spots were filled by write-in votes. In
ANC 6B, current commissioner David Sheldon won
re-election. Sheldon has been active in brokering
disputes between his constituents and local bars in
the past two years. In ANC 6A Colleen Harris won.
Harris is currently a commissioner in ANC 6B; due
to re-districting her SMD will now be in ANC 6A.
Harris has missed every regular monthly meeting in
2002. In the new ANC 6C, community activist April
Hall was elected. Hall’s SMD was formerly ANC 2A
prior to re-districting. Hall ran unsuccessfully two
years ago. In all three races, there was no name on
the ballot.
ANC 6A Commissioners Move to
Remove Jarrell as Chairman
First Quorum Since July
November 13—On Nov. 7, Advisory Neighborhood
Commission 6A (ANC 6A) held its first regular
monthly meeting with a quorum in four months,
and it took less than a minute for controversy to
raise its head. As soon as ANC 6A Chairman Keith
Jarrell called the meeting to order, Commissioner
Ronald T.T. Nelson moved to have Jarrell removed
as Chair.
Nelson told the crowd of more than 40 residents,
including five commissioner-elects and ten current
commissioners, that Jarrell was guilty of “gross neglect”
to his duties as Chair and should therefore be
removed. Jarrell had not been to a regular monthly
meeting since June. Jarrell, who organized a
Mayoral forum at the H Street Playhouse last
month, said that work travel and personal emergencies
had kept him from the meetings.
Jarrell appeared to be prepared for the motion
and cited the ANC by-laws as not allowing such a
motion until written notice is given and a special
meeting held. Nelson then made a motion to have
Vice-Chair Daniel Pernell run the meeting. Pernell,
who had overseen the meetings for the past three
months, said he was prepared to run the meeting.
The motion passed, with four votes in favor, and six
commissioners, including Jarrell, abstaining.
Commissioners Pernell, Nelson, Basterechea, and
Fields voted in favor of the motion.
Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Rob Hall presented the commissioners
with the quarterly reports for the past year.
Hall and Commissioner Janet Quigley had prepared
the reports more than two months ago, but due to
a lack of a quorum, they had not been voted upon.
The Voice of the Hill has made repeated requests to
view the reports, but Jarrell had refused to open
them to the public until the full ANC had approved
them. As of this publication, the reports have still
not been made public. The reports are not related to
the recent audit of the ANC which led to the city
halting disbursements to the ANC and freezing all
its accounts.
Commissioner Gregory Ferrell objected to
approving the reports because the dates on the
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
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report follow the calendar year rather than the fiscal
year, which is required by the auditor. Ferrell
called the reports “totally inaccurate” due to this
error. Quigley explained that she purposely followed
the calendar year because it coincided with
the tenure of the current commissioners. Hall
moved that the reports be amended to reflect the
fiscal year and approved.
Hall’s motion was approved, five votes in favor
and five abstentions. Commissioners Hall,
Basterechea, Quigley, Jarrell, and Nelson voted in
favor of the motion.
The commissioners then discussed the payment
of several overdue bills, including $1,015 for the
rental of a storage unit. The ANC currently has no
office space and stores all its records, as well as some
furniture, at a facility on H Street. Other bills
included $100 for a post office box, $300 for a
phone bill and $210 for a church rental for community
meetings. The commissioners voted to approve
the payment of the bills. How the bills are going to
be paid was unclear, as the ANC has no funds.
Zonining and Licensing
The commissioners voted unanimously to oppose
an application by the F Street Preservation
Association to have five properties in the 200 block
of F Street NE re-zoned. The houses are currently
zoned R4 for residential housing only. The request
is to change that to C2A, allowing commercial and
residential use. The property at the heart of the
request is 201 F Street NE, which is currently vacant.
The owners of the property, the National
Community Church, has proposed opening a coffee
shop in the location.
Several community members objected to the
change. Commissioner-elect Karen Wirt said that
“loss of residences is a blow to our community.”
Karina Ricks of the Office of Planning told the
commissioners that all of the surrounding properties
were zoned for commercial use, and that these
lots were most likely intended for commercial use,
as well. In the end, all 10 commissioners voted to
oppose the request. The board of zoning will hear
the case on November 25.
The commissioners voted to support the application
for a use variance by the Office of Aging (OOA).
The OOA plans to use the Hays School as a senior
wellness center. The center will offer fitness training,
employment assistance and nutrition counseling.
Plans are to open the center within two years.
The commissioners voted to support the application
for a use variance by the Pilgrim A and E
Church. The church plans to operate a communitybased
job training center at 1671 Gale Street, NE.
Commissioner-elects in the House
Several candidates from the recent election were
in attendance. Commissioners-elect Michael
Musante, Joseph Fengler, Cody Rice, Bill Crews, and
Karen Wirt, as well as two unsuccessful candidates,
Emily Porter and Virginia Gaddis, all attended the
meeting.
Commissioners in the House
Commissioners in attendance were Rob Hall, Janet
Quigley, Keith Jarrell, Ronald T.T. Nelson, Gregory
Ferrell, Daniel Pernell, Wanda Hariss, Ivette
Basterechea, Veronica Raglin, and Marvin Fields.
Commissioners absent were Joe Amon, Phillip
Edwards, and Lamar McIntyre. ANC 6A meets again
Thursday, Dec. 5, at Miner Elementary School.
Hectic Pace of Action at ANC 6B
Meeting
Commissioners Vote on Nine Items in Record Time
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B (ANC 6B)
held its regular monthly meeting on November 12
and at a hectic pace voted on nine separate agenda
items in record time. Because several commissioners
needed to depart from the meeting early, ANC
Chairman Kenan Jarboe re-arranged the agenda
and set a lightning pace for the meeting in order to
conduct all the necessary business of the commission
in one hour.
Three New Liquor Licenses Approved for
Capitol Hill
The commissioners unanimously voted to support
three separate applications for new liquor licenses
on Capitol Hill. La Plaza restaurant, which will
occupy the old Charcoal Express location at 629
Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, is seeking a stipulated CR
license while awaiting a permanent license. A CR
license allows for the sale of beer, wine and liquor
200 C Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
phone: 202-543-6000
fax: 202-547-2608
In the heart of a residential and historic
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CAPITOLHILL ART & FRAME
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VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
6 www.voiceofthehill.com
Hugh Kelly
A S S O C I AT E B RO K E R
Winner, ‘Platinum Award’ Every Year Since Inception in 1998
(Annual DC Home Sales in Excess of $10 Million)
202-588-2224
email hugh@hughkelly.com
GARY JANKOWSKI, Buyer Specialist, 202-439-6009
gary@hughkelly.com
Capitol Hill’s
Second Annual
‘LIGHT UP THE
NIGHT’
Just 15 Days Left to
Make the Hill Shine!
Judging for this year’s Capitol
Hill lighting contest will occur
Sunday, December 15 - it’s
time to start on your entry for
for this year’s “Light Up the
Night!” contest!
Last year’s inaugural contest
provided $3,000 to the charities
of the winners’ choice.
This year I’m increasing the
total for the prizes to $4,000:
$2,000 for first place, $1,000
for second, and two $500
awards for two more homes.
This is a great chance to aid
the charity of your choice, as
well as to make the Hill an
even more festive place this
Holiday Season! The program
will be administered by
CHAMPS. To insure that
your home is considered, and
for any other questions you
may have, please contact
Kathleen Franzen at
202-547-1364 or at
womanfri@erols.com.
636 E STREET SE
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All of Hugh’s listings can be viewed at
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on premises only. A stipulated license allows the
business to begin selling alcohol while it waits for a
public hearing before the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board (ABC). La Plaza owner, Henry
Mendoza, told the commissioners that he expects
to open on December 15.
Pacific Café, which opened recently in the 1100
block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, in the site of the
former Caffé Italiano, is also seeking a stipulated CR
license. Pacific Café will operate a full-service
Vietnamese restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and
diner. Additionally, there are plans for a carry-out
that will serve coffee and muffins and a lounge in
the upstairs room. The owner said he would be
seeking to have a curb cut installed on 12th Street to
allow for access to the parking lot.
N.Y. Pizza, which opened last month across from
the Potomac Metro in the old Pizza Hut location, is
also seeking a permanent CR license. The application
was supported provided the owner signs a voluntary
agreement to only sell beer and wine and to
keep clean the trash area in the rear of the building.
The owner agreed to both conditions.
Executive Director Payroll Issues,
Past and Present
The commissioners voted to pass a resolution reaffirming
an earlier vote in which they approved the
hiring of a previous executive director. The recent
audit of ANC 6B cited the commission for not properly
approving the salary. In fact, the commissioners
did vote to approve the salary, but the auditor
overlooked that. At the request of the auditor, the
commissioners passed this additional resolution.
Failure to comply with the recommendations of the
auditor could result in the withholding of future
funds.
The Executive Committee of the ANC recommended
that the current Executive Director be paid
for an additional 80 hours of work. The additional
hours were spent compiling information for the
response to the auditor’s report and ,as Jarboe put
it, “to clean up the mess of our books.” The recommendation
was unanimously approved.
Planning and Zoning
The Democratic National Committee (DNC)
requested a letter of support for the planned renovation
to its headquarters at 430 South Capitol
Street, SE. The DNC plans to connect the DNC
building to the Democratic Club. Construction is
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VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 7
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Two Quail Two Quail Liber Antiquus
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For a complimentary copy, please call: 202-546-2413
slated to begin in February and continue through
August. The commissioners voted unanimously to
support the project.
In another unanimous vote, the commissioners
supported the application of Kentucky Courts for
an additional curb cut. The commissioners voted to
support the application by Paul Lumpkin for a special
exemption for an addition at his home at 505
6th Street, SE. Lumpkin plans to build a second
floor addition to his circa 1880 home.
WASA Seeks to Get Early Start
The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA)
requested support for its application to extend the
allowable work hours for their project on 6th Street,
SE between Virginia Avenue and Ellen Wilson
Place. Normal construction hours are 7 a.m. – 4
p.m.; the permit would allow WASA to work until 7
p.m. David McLaughlin, construction manager for
the project, said that the extended work hours
would take as much as 30 days off the construction
schedule.
WASA will be closing that portion of 6th Street
during the construction. They will be replacing an
eight-foot diameter concrete access manhole which
has deteriorated over the years since its original
construction in 1972. Construction was set to begin
on November 28th and continue until April 2003.
WASA plans to detour traffic to 5th Street. Several
neighbors objected to the use of 5th Street as a
detour due to the large amount of construction
traffic that currently uses the street for several other
projects in that area. Several options were discussed
including detouring traffic to 3rd Street or 7th. The
commissioners voted to support the extended
hours. Neighbors can contact McLaughlin at 202-
787-2401 with any complaints during the construction
period.
Suspect Sought in Attempted Abduction
Lieutenant Hedgecock of the First District police
sub-station on Capitol Hill addressed the community
about a recent attempted abduction of a female
jogger near Lincoln Park. On Monday, October 28,
at 6:15 a.m., a woman jogging on 11th Street SE was
grabbed from behind. The victim was able to free
herself and fled to the 200 block of 10th Street, SE,
where the attacker again attempted to force her into
his vehicle, this time tackling her to the ground and
dragging her into an alley. Residents came to her
aid, and the suspect fled southbound on 11th
Street.
The suspect is described as a black male in his late
20’s with a slim build wearing dark pants and jacket.
The vehicle is a four door newer model Honda or
Toyota, light color with tinted windows and a sunroof.
The vehicle is believed to have Maryland tags
with the first three letters “BZS.” Those with any
information can contact Detectives Carey or Baylor
at 202-727-7001.
Bicycle Lanes Coming Soon
James Sebastian, Bicycle Program Manager for the
D.C. Department of Transportation, told the commissioners
of a proposal to change the pavement
markings on North Carolina Avenue between 6th
and 11th Streets SE to include bike lanes in both
directions. The re-striping is scheduled for
November and will not impact street parking.
Attendance
Commissioners in attendance were: Kenan Jarboe,
Will Hill, John Branscomb, Julie Olson, Mary
Wright, David Sheldon, Bob Seigle and Neil Glick.
Commissioners not in attendance were: Kalimah
Abdul-Sabur, Colleen Harris, Charles White, and
Kemi Muwwakkil. ANC 6B will meet again on
Tuesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. in the Old Naval
Hospital.
_
MICHELE PIQUET, PH.D.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Individual,
couple, and group
psychotherapy
CAPITOL HILL 202-544-4480
New Year’s Eve Bash New Year’s Eve Bash
Romantic Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
Call for Details
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
8 www.voiceofthehill.com
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NOTE: The following stories have all appeared on
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Discussion).
Big Change at Coffee Shop: Stompin’
Grounds Has Been Sold
BY MAGGIE HALL
New Stompin’ Grounds owner Nick Cho didn’t
miss a beat. He signed the deal on Friday, Nov. 15,
and was behind the counter serving up the java
Saturday, Nov. 16.
With this new ownership, there are bound to be
changes. But the first one will be a name change—
to, wait for this, “Murky Coffee.”
As Nick, 28, says: “It’s a disgusting sounding
name—that makes people just have to come in and
check the coffee is nothing like the name suggests.”
The Eastern Market location is Cho’s second outlet.
He opened his first coffee shop in Georgetown,
at Wisconsin and Prospect, eight months ago. A
year before that, he quit his fast-track career as a
marketing manager in the wireless industry to
study the coffee business. He explored the whole
process, from picking perfect beans to making the
most luscious latte.
As for the question that is going to pop right out
of every morning regular’s mouth, the answer is
“absolutely.” Or, in other words: yes, Tawana is staying!
Pacific Cafe & Grill Now Open for
Business
A new Vietnamese Restaurant at 12th &
Pennsylvania Avenue, Pacific Cafe & Grill, is now
open at the old Caffe Italiano location and is serving
Pho and other Vietnamese specialties. The
restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays
and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends and offers broad
dining-in and carry-out menus. Why not try something
new? And be sure to tell Hong Hou, the
owner, that you heard about it from the Voice.
Light Up The Night
Capitol Hill’s Second Annual Event
BY HUGH KELLY
Last year, I sponsored a Light Up the Night contest
to help us ease through the first holiday season following
9/11. Homes were decked out for the season,
and the owners of those judged best by a panel created
by the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants
and Professionals (CHAMPS) designated charities
to receive a total of $3,000 in prize money which I
provided.
The contest was a great success; much-needed
financial support was provided to their favorite
charities; but most importantly, people genuinely
enjoyed the extra “oomph” that the display provided.
Start your planning early this year—prizes totaling
$4,000 will be awarded: $2,000 for first place,
$1,000 for second, and two $500 awards for two
more homes. Kathleen Franzen will be in charge of
administering the program for CHAMPS. She can
be reached at 202-547-1364 or at womanfri@erols. com.
Strategic Neighborhood Action Plans
Local Neighborhood Clusters’ Plans Available
Online
On October 26, the Mayor unveiled the District’s
Strategic Neighborhood Action Plans (SNAPs).
Since January 2001, District residents have been
working with Neighborhood Action Teams, led by
neighborhood planners, to develop Strategic
Neighborhood Action Plans (SNAPs) for each of the
city’s 39 neighborhood clusters.
The SNAPs detail the top priority issues in each
neighborhood, as identified by residents working
with the neighborhood planners from the
Neighborhood Planning Initiative in the Office of
Planning. The DC government uses SNAPs to
inform and guide decisions on the city budget.
NOTE: The plans are available by logging on to
www.voiceofthehill.com.
Christ Church Christmas Bazaar
‘Holiday Home’ Is This Year’s Theme
Historic Christ Church on Capitol Hill will hold its
annual Christmas Bazaar, “Holiday Home,” on
Saturday, December 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The
bazaar will feature gift baskets, crafts, ornaments,
jewelry, collectibles, fresh-cut magnolia and holly,
poinsettia and other flowering plants in decorative
pots, linens, books, children’s toys and books,
baked goods, snack bar and a raffle for a handmade,
red and white geometric “Star” design queen-sized
pieced quilt made by church members. Folks may
call 202-547-9300 for additional information.
Christ Church is located at 620 G St., SE—(202)
547-9300.
U.S. Capitol Historical Society Tree
Ornament
A Great Gift Idea for Friends In and Out-of-Town
Since the terror attacks, the US Capitol Historical
Society gift shop has been closed to the public. The
Voice of the Hill is working with the gift shop to offer
a distinctive holiday gift each year. This year’ offering
is the 2002 Marble Dome Ornament (4th
Edition).
Architectural historian William C. Allen
described the dome of the United States Capitol as
“America’s most
famous landmark,
recognized throughout
the world as a
symbol of our people
and our democratic
institutions.” This
beautiful historic
replica is crafted from
the marble removed
from the east front
steps of the Capitol
during renovation
that is crushed to a
fine powder and combined
with resin to
achieve the magnificent detail and stonelike quality.
Gift boxed with provenance brochure is also
included (the ornament measures
212” x 212” x 4”).
Reagan Steel and Stone: an
Exhibition of Photographs
At Capitol Hill Art and Frame Gallery
“Reagan Steel & Stone” will be on exhibit at the
Capitol Hill Art and Frame Gallery, 623
Pennsylvania Ave. S.E., until December 7. The ten
photographs by the Italian photographer will show
the Reagan National Airport and the Reagan
Building and International Trade Center with a
fresh, dynamic point of view, and a strong appreciation
of the interplay of light and shadows.
Federica Ragusin’s “finest images reproduce
sculptural and architectural flourishes with slight
spatial exaggeration” (Louis Jacobson, Washington
City Paper, June 14, 2002). Her photographs are
“recent but timeless”(Jessica Dawson, Washington
Post, June 20, 2002).
Ragusin was born in Trieste, Italy, in 1975. The
first of many prizes she won was in the 1994 competition
“Trieste: Luoghi e Mestieri che scompaiono.”
One year later, she obtained the
“Maturita’ Classica” diploma, then continued her
studies at the Institute of Photography and Visual
Arts in Padua, Italy.
In 1998, with the highest score possible, Federica
earned the Veneto Region Professional
Photographer Certificate. In September of the same
year, she was invited to participate in a six-month
internship in Florence at the Fratelli Alinari.
From June to September 2000, she completed an
internship at the National Geographic Society
headquarters in Washington, DC, and studied at
the Corcoran School of Art. Since then, Federica
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 9
has traveled extensively in the United States photographing
modern and contemporary buildings.
In June 2002, she had her first solo show in the
United States, “Time Travels in Italy,” at the Gary
Edwards Gallery in Dupont Circle. She showed her
works also in “The View,” a collective exhibit on
Capitol Hill this summer. She uses both medium
and 35 mm cameras and hand-develops and handprints
all her images.
Federica now divides her time and photographic
work between Washington, DC, and Trieste, Italy.
For more information, interested persons may contact
Sue Weisenburger at (202) 546-2700.
Lovejoy Park Project Begins Small,
But with Some Big Help
Park Development Options Discussed at Oct. 29
Meeting
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (6A-11)
Ronald TT Nelson held a meeting Oct. 29 to seek
community support for Lovejoy Park. The proposed
park will be built on a mostly asphalt area next to
the old Lovejoy School at 12th and E Streets. The
school is being converted to loft-style condominiums.
Ward 6 Councilwoman Sharon Ambrose and
Neil Rogers from the Department of Parks and
Recreation were present to discuss three possible
options for development of the park.
Three drawings, presented by the Office of
Design and Planning in the Department of Parks
and Recreation, were presented to the audience.
The plan favored by the group attending the meeting
included a community garden, a playground for
2-6 year olds, and a large, open-space lawn area.
Representatives from a community garden at
Kings Court, near the Kentucky Avenue, estimated
that there could be space for as many as 20 or 25
garden plots in the space provided on the concept
plan.
Rogers suggested developing a “Friends of
Lovejoy Park” group, a nonprofit organization, in
order to raise the estimated $250,000 for development.
Ambrose announced she would donate
$1,000 from Constituent Services for the Lovejoy
Park project.
To volunteer or to ask for more information
about the Lovejoy Park, interested persons are asked
to contact Nelson at 202-547-4426 or via email at
RonaldTTNelson@aol.com.
A Look at People and Their Books At
Folger’s First Exhibition
‘Thys Boke is Myne’ Offers Rare Glimpses
Drawing from the Folger’s finest association copies,
Thys Boke Is Myne explores how bibliophiles,
famous and forgotten, have signaled ownership of
treasured volumes for five hundred years. Over half
of the items in the exhibition are being shown to
the public for the first time. Thys Boke is on view
now through March 1, Monday through Saturday,
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Exhibition Hall of the Folger
Shakespeare Library.
“While Thys Boke Is Myne is about provenance—
the trail of ownership through history—lineage of
possession is only part of the story,” explains Folger
Librarian and Exhibition Curator Richard Kuhta.
The 114 items on display – books belonging to writers,
collectors, royalty, actors, statesmen, and
women—reveal the interesting, and often amusing
ways people connect with their books.
The exhibition takes its title from Henry VIII’s
bold inscription in his schoolboy copy of Cicero,
“Thys Boke Is Myne Prynce Henry.” One of the
most celebrated association copies in the Folger collection,
it was once owned by the famous 18th-century
collector Thomas Rawlinson (also featured in
the exhibition), whose accumulation of books at
his residence in Gray’s Inn compelled him to sleep
in a passageway.
Why is it important to know where a book has
been, or in whose hands it has rested? Kuhta
explains, “Markings often provide information
about an author’s life, relationships with other
writers, or the circumstances surrounding or influencing
the composition of a specific work.
Signatures, notations, and shelf marks provide
scholars with clues, and sometimes proof, of publication
history or the evidence needed to recreate
the contents of a private library, long since dispersed
through the auction market.”
The monetary value of a book may depend
entirely on who has owned it, and the evidence of
ownership is a subject of the exhibition. Ordinary
volumes become unique when we can prove they
were owned by Elizabeth of York, Edmund Spenser,
or David Garrick. Early volumes become collectors’
items when elegant bindings carry the arms of
William Cecil, Edward de Vere, or James I. Inscribed
copies offer particularly interesting glimpses of relationships,
as seen in Anne of Cleves’ endearing
inscription to Henry VIII, I besiche your grace
humbly, when ye loke on this remember me,
another of the great association copies in the Folger
collection. Franklin Delano Roosevelt presented a
complete set of the Temple Shakespeare in 1943
with the inscription, “This set was given by me to
my mother – Sarah Delano Roosevelt about 1900
and was in the room at Hyde Park until her death in
1941, when it came back to me.”
Writers’ marks are especially interesting.
Exhibition-goers will enjoy seeing books owned by:
• John Donne, who made a practice of writing his
name with a terminal flourish on the lower right
corner of the title page and often added a motto at
the top, Per Rachel ho seruito, & non per Lea, from
Petrarch (Canz. Xix, 7.1). Such distinctive markings
can help to establish authorship of unsigned works
and offer the evidence needed to confirm provenance.
• Ben Jonson, who wrote his name, Sui Ben:
Jonson Liber, and motto, Tanquam Explorator (from
Seneca), on the title page, following the day’s practice
of adding one’s Latin motto to a favorite volume
as a way to show one’s learning.
• Walt Whitman’s signed and dog-eared, inexpensive
pocket edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets
that he carried on his walks.
• George Eliot and George Henry Lewes, who
wrote on nearly every page (she in pencil, he usually
in ink) of their one-volume Shakespeare edition,
referencing other editions and editors of
Shakespeare as well as other plays and authors.
• Anthony Trollope, whose habit was to tick off
plays he’d read in the table of contents, and then
follow his readings with a cranky assessment. Of
John Marston’s comedy, What You Will, Trollope
wrote: “… almost unintelligible in its language.”
• The cover of a signed first edition of Langston
Hughes’ Shakespeare in Harlem embellished by the
author’s handwritten verse: “The wishbone is broken.
The dice have thrown a deuce. The song’s an
old familiar tune: What’s the use?” —an item
loaned for the exhibition from Emory University.
Printers marked their books, too. One of the
books on display features the first English printer
William Caxton’s bold and unusually large woodcut
device with the initials “W.C.” on the final leaf.
The book was printed by Caxton’s protégé and successor,
Wynkyn de Worde, and is the last time
Caxton’s large woodcut device was used in a printed
book. Also on display is the earliest printed ownership
label to be found in an English book — a
small typeset black-letter book label, John Bickner
owneth this Booke — an item loaned for the exhibition
by a private collector in Japan, Dr. Toshiyuki
Takamiya.
Establishing proof of ownership is not always
easy and Thys Boke presents some puzzles for viewers
to consider. Exhibition goers are asked to decide,
for example, whether the Folger owns Alexander
Pope’s copy of a Third Folio or Sir Walter Raleigh’s
personal copy of his monumental History of the
World, written while he was imprisoned in the
Tower of London.
“Thys Boke celebrates the history of private
libraries, of people and their books,” says Kuhta.
Petrarch (whose private library provided the nucleus
of the future Bibliothèque Nationale) praised
books as “welcome, assiduous companions, always
ready…to encourage you, comfort you, advise you,
reprove you and take care of you, to teach you the
world’s secrets…and never bring you…lamentation,
jealous murmurs, or deception.”
Major exhibition support comes from the
Winton and Carolyn Blount Exhibition Fund of the
Folger Shakespeare Library.
Gallery Talk
Wednesday, December 12, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Join Curator (and Folger Librarian) Richard Kuhta
for an insider’s look at the exhibition.
Refreshments served. Open to Folger members
Doolittle
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506 East Capitol Street
A spacious and
conveniently
located bed and
breakfast.
202 546-6622
www.doolittlehouse.com
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
10 www.voiceofthehill.com
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Children’s Guides
Developed by the Folger Docents, Children’s
Guides to the exhibition are available at the visitor
desk and include a scavenger hunt through the
exhibition.
Exhibition Tours
Monday - Friday at 11 a.m.
Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Folger Docents offer guided tours of the exhibition,
as well as the Folger’s national landmark
building, free of charge. No advance reservations
required.
Group Tours
Tours of the exhibition, as well as the Folger national
landmark building, are offered by expert Folger
docents for special groups of 10 or more at no
charge. To arrange, please call (202) 675-0395.
Upcoming Folger Exhibitions
Elizabeth I, Then and Now
March 21 through August 2, 2003
Media Previews: March 18 - 19
400 years after the end of her reign, the Folger -
home to the largest collection of items by and
about the Tudor monarch outside Great Britain -
celebrates the Virgin Queen’s rule with a major
exhibition, a fully-illustrated catalogue, and related
programs, including a play, concert, film festival,
and family programs. Among the 85 treasures to be
displayed – many for the first time in a generation -
are the “Sieve” portrait, letters to and from the
Virgin Queen, Elizabeth’s bible, the Queen’s New
Year’s Gift Roll, and more recent representations,
including a Barbie doll and rubber ducky.
The Folger Shakespeare Library is located at 201
East Capitol Street, SE, one block from the U.S.
Capitol.
U.S. Capitol Historical Society
Announces New Public Tours of
Capitol Exterior
The United States Capitol Historical Society
announced today that it has begun offering regularly
scheduled public tours of the Capitol building
exterior. The tours, which assemble at Union
Station Metro, provide a unique new interpretation
of the Most Famous Building in the World, including
historical anecdotes and perspective of the
Congress, the construction of the building, and the
meaning of the democratic form of government.
“These tours constitute an important new service
to the public, providing greater depth for visitors
who want more than the standard tour,” explained
Society President Ron Sarasin, who served in
Congress from Connecticut 1973 -1979. “Security
concerns and construction of the Capitol Visitor
Center have severely limited visitation inside the
building, so the Society is stepping in to serve citizens
and visitors who are not able to tour the building
as they were in the past.”
The Walking Tours are now available Monday
mornings at 10 a.m. at $10.00 per person. The
group meets at the top of the outside escalator at
the Massachusetts Avenue Metro exit from Union
Station. The guide takes the group for a two-hour
walk around the Capitol building, including the
Senate Park, the new Visitor Center construction
site, the spectacular view from the Capitol’s West
Front, and the surrounding buildings.
Group tours are also available at other times by
reservation.
The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is a private,
non-profit organization, chartered by Congress to
educate the public about the history and heritage
of the U.S. Capitol, its institutions, and the people
who have served therein. Society membership is
open to the public. The Society publishes the definitive
guidebook to the Capitol, We the People: The
Story of the United States Capitol, which has sold millions
of copies, with the 15th edition (40th
anniversary) published in 2002.
A Jazz, Hip-Hop Nutcracker
Coming to DC
Momentum Dance Theatre Starts New Tradition
Momentum Dance Theatre has started a new tradition
with its third annual production of the Jazz,
Hip-hop Nutcracker. This year, due to popular
demand and further bringing dance into the community,
the JHHN has expanded to two weekends:
Saturday, December 7, at 8 p.m. and Sunday,
December 8, at 3 p.m. at the historic Takoma
Theatre; and Friday, December 13, at 8 p.m.,
Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m. and Sunday,
December 15, at 3 p.m., at Hine Junior High School
in Capitol Hill, both in Washington, DC.
The Jazz, Hip Hop Nutcracker is an original dance
theater production created and developed by
Momentum featuring Duke Ellington’s musical version
of the holiday classic. Momentum has added
hip hop tracks, breakdancing, tap and rap and
updated the story to reflect young urban audiences’s
sensibilities. The story shows the power of
art to transform and bring hope to young lives. The
production features over 30 talented Washington
area children and teens trained at Capitol Hill Arts
Workshop, DC Dance Collective, and the Dance
Addition of Takoma Park, joining Momentum’s
professional company and breakdancers Pressure.
Momentum has updated and given twists to the
story of family, children, toys, magic and transformation.
We jump the joint with Ellington’s dynamic
music, costumes you might not expect and hip
hop’s energy, rhythms and unbelievable moves.
Instead of mice and soldiers, for example, you will
see rats and action figures! The Sugar Plum Fairy?
No way! Get a load of our Sugar Rum Cherry! You
will never look at or hear Nutcracker quite the same
way again!
Ticket prices: $15 adults; $12 Students with ID;
$8 children under 10 years. Group sales are available.
For more information, call 202.785.0035.
Hine Junior High School is located at 7th Street
and Pennsylvania Avenue SE in Capitol Hill,
Washington, DC, near Eastern Market Metro.
The Takoma Theatre is located at Butternut and
4th Streets NW in the Takoma neighborhood of
Washington, DC, near the Takoma Park Metro.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster
by calling 202.432.SEATS, online at www.ticketmaster.
com, at Hechts, Tower Records or any
Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets can be purchased at the
Takoma Theatre or Hine junior High box office on
day of performance. For additional information on
tickets or production call 202.785.0035.
Momentum Dance Theatre is located at 651 E
Street NE, Washington, DC 20002; It can be
reached at 202/672-0102 or online at www.momentumdancetheatre.
com.
Art Exhibition at Local Salon Will
Benefit SMYAL
Intriguing Local Artists’ Work Highlighted in
COLOR FORMED
COLOR FORMED, An exhibition of works by Scott
Hunter, Aster Da Fonseca and Marielle Mariano,
will be on display at RPM Salon, 225 Pennsylvania
Avenue SE, with an opening session at the salon
scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. December 6.
Five percent of all sales will be donated to
SMYAL—the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance
League, located on Capitol Hill. The reception will
feature a raffle for an RPM gift certificate, the proceeds
of which will also benefit SMYAL.
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framing services
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fine art and documents
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on Stanton Park
202.544.8408
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Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am–6 pm
or by appointment
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 11
Business Bits
BY JULIA ROBEY
Handyman
on the Hill
Masonry Brick & Stone
Concrete Brick Pointing
Carpentry Decks & Fences
Roof Repairs Painting
202-206-7185
Looking for that perfect gift? Why travel to
Virginia to go to a mega-mall, when Union
Station has all your holiday gift needs, right
here at home? With everything from the
Discovery Channel Store to Larry’s Cookies, you’re
sure to find just what you need at First and
Massachusetts Ave, NE.
Fashion for Her
The color this season is red, and nowhere will you
find a classier array of red tops, bottoms, shoes, and
accessories than at the classic Ann Taylor. But never
fear, if red is not your cup of tea (or your honey’s),
they’ve got quite a display of fashion items in a variety
of colors, and their courteous staff is anxious to
help you find the perfect gift. If Ann Taylor is not a
good fit for you, check out the other end of the
fashion spectrum at Chico’s. Here you’ll find a
plethora of “fun and exciting” clothing items.
Particularly suited to the traveler, Chico’s unique
clothes don’t shrink AND they don’t wrinkle. On
top of that, they’re having a huge sale throughout
the store, so you’re sure to find something in your
budget. If you’re still stuck, try Express. Not overly
classy, and not overly “fun,” Express carries a line of
clothes for your special trendsetter. With all of the
latest crazes under one roof (and at great prices) you
can’t go wrong here. They’ve got slacks and jeans in
every size, length, cut, color and style you can
imagine, and a host of sweaters, blouses, and Tshirts
to match.
Once you’ve found a snazzy outfit for her, you’ll
need to grab some shoes. If you’ve chosen something
sporty, then you’ll find the shoes to match at
Foot Locker or Aerosoles. But if it’s chic you’re going
for, be sure to check in at Nine West to see what they
might have to offer. And for those of you who don’t
keep track of her shoe size—never fear, all these
shops will gladly exchange (be sure to get one of
those nifty gift receipts). Still apprehensive about
picking out shoes? Why not get her a gift certificate?
It’s like two gifts in one—she gets to shop, and
she gets the shoes.
Fashion for Him
Although the pickings for women’s fashion are
more abundant, there are two shops where you
might find a great item or two for that special guy.
Jos. A Bank offers a line of suits and other men’s
apparel that are sure to dazzle the crowd at that elite
New Year’s party you may be attending. But perhaps
you just want to go with the simple, standard,
sure-to-please option: the necktie. For years, the
necktie has gotten a bad reputation—it has become
sort of like the fruitcake of men’s gifts. However, a
necktie can be a very exciting gift, if you find the
perfect one—and a great starting point for that
search is the Knot Shop. They’ve got everything
from your basic business-lunch tie to the dramatically
festive bow-tie for all your holiday events. If
you’re still not sold on the whole neck tie idea, the
Knot Shop has a great assortment of shirts, cufflinks,
bracelets, and necklaces, all for him.
Accessories
Accessories always make great gifts—but a word to
the wise: you’ll want to find something that coordinates
nicely with a variety of outfits. While that
bright orange and green plaid scarf may look fabulous
with every outfit in your closet, remember that
not everyone’s wardrobe is as daring as yours may
be! Watches make great gifts for men and women,
and what better place to find a distinctive (and
eclectic) arrangement of time-telling gifts than at
the Swatch stand. For years, Swatch has created
watches with unique designs—from transparent
faces to transformable bands. This is a great option
for the younger ones. If you’re looking for something
a little more upscale, stop by Taxco Sterling
Company or J & A Jewelers for a one-on-one consultation.
And why shop for hats when you can have Lids?
Lids offers an incredible assortment of head-toppers,
from the très chic beret to the classic top-hat.
Take Your Holiday Gift List
to Union Station
Their hats come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and
are moderately priced—why not get one for every
one in the family?
If you’re the kind of person who likes to browse
for accessories, then Claire’s Etc. is the place for
you. This place is a mecca for affordable, trendy
extras. With display stands that hold at least a million
pairs of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hair
clips, barrettes, purses, makeup, and cosmetic bags
(to name a few), you won’t walk out empty handed.
They even have on-site ear piercing—and yes—they
do sell gift certificates.
Don’t let the word “accessories” scare you away.
It doesn’t have to be about handbags, scarves, or
pendants; books and music make great gifts, too. B.
Dalton Bookseller carries titles that range from bestsellers
to mysteries, from home improvement to
travel. They’ve got great markdowns as well, so it’s
definitely worth investigating. And to accompany
that Ansel Adams coffee table book you find, why
not pick up a copy of Handel’s Messiah on CD? Or
perhaps it’s the Merry Christmas Johnny Mathis
album you’re looking for...whatever it is you need,
Sam Goody’s has it. And if for some reason they
don’t, you can ask them to order it for you.
Oddities and Endings
Maybe it’s not fashion you want—after all, most
people like to buy their own clothes, right? Well, if
this is true in your case, then Union Station’s East
Hall is the place for you. A large array of shops and
kiosks, the East Hall showcases one-of-a-kind gifts
for that one-of-a-kind person. There are tons of display
stands where you can find everything from
Faberge eggs to tinsel angels. Most of the items are
imported and sold at very reasonable prices—it’s
sort of like an international Eastern Market.
For the home, Appalachian Spring carries a line of
original hand-crafted wood pieces. Pick up a specialty
salt and pepper shaker set, or a hand-carved
jewelry box. They also carry exquisite hand-made
quilts, sure to please anyone on a cold winter’s
night. Looking for a nice piece of fine art? Stop in
Echo Gallery for a consultation and take a home a
piece, framed and ready to hang, today.
12 www.voiceofthehill.com
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
When I was ten, I started my Christmas
shopping in August. Come December,
I had set up a gift-wrapping station for
my entire family, and would craft elaborate
ribbon sculptures for shiny packages. I baked
three varieties of Christmas cookies, and a batch of
Hamentashen (a tribute to my father’s Russian
Jewish roots). My family wondered where I had
come from.
But things changed soon enough. By the time I
hit my early 20s I was as jaded about the holidays as
any member of my generation.
So last year, I decided that I simply would not do
it. I had just made a “quality of life” move from New
York to DC. Washington meant happiness, but it
also meant an empty pocketbook. So come holiday
time, I wrote notes to everyone explaining that I did
not feel right celebrating a season that I no longer
believed in.
But the week before Christmas I chickened out.
So I out headed to that great vortex of modern civilization,
the mall. I have no recollection of what I
bought anyone, but I remember that I wrapped
them on Christmas morning. Several hours and
several hundred dollars of credit card debt later, I
was resolved. Not again.
So this year, I head instead to the Sunday Market
Flea at Eastern Market. I live on the Hill, so a trip to
the market means little more than rolling out of
bed around 11 a.m., slipping on glasses and sneakers,
and trekking over to 7th Street.
First on my list: Mom. She is famously easy to buy
for, because she is really, truly happy with anything
that reminds her of her kids. My mother took up
photography around the time my brother and I left
for college. She loves purchasing photos almost as
much as she likes taking them. I head over to the
first photographer’s booth I see, Troy Plair
Photography. Much of Troy’s work is black and
white and focuses on his “found art philosophy.” It
is evocative and interesting, but not quite right for
my mother. I select a print instead for my best
friendóa photo that is simple enough to avoid sentimentality,
but clever enough to pass New York
standards.
I head next to the North building, remembering
an artist that I had seen there earlier in the year.
Sure enough, Victor Kinza had a booth adjacent to
the entrance. Victor specializes in a Russian style of
printmaking called “Lubok,” an age-old method of
engraving that employs carving, printing, and
painting—all done by hand. His work resembles
that of Marc Chagallña favorite artist of both of my
parents. I love what I see, and after much time poring
over the work, I decide on a print called
“Moon.” They will love it.
Grandma’s next. I head to another of the several
photographers’ booths that pepper the Hines Jr.
High schoolyard. Grandma is pretty traditional in
her tastes. John De Fabbio’s display of photos featuring
DC’s monuments manages to twist the traditional
just enough to provide a fresh perspective on
the Washington landscape, but not enough to forsake
a sense of reverence. I choose a photo of the
Washington monument covered in construction
scaffolding for Grams.
Now for the tough ones — my boyfriend and my
brother. Both of them have very definite tastes, and
neither really needs anything. My brother seems a
perfect candidate for one of Tom Rall’s Lantern
Slides, preferably a vintage shot of the American
West, where my Yankee brother has spent a good
amount of time and many rolls of film. He is also a
budding photographer, so the historical relevance
of the slides will not be lost on him.
As for the boyfriend, I wander over to the CD
booth on a whim. The selection is impressive, but
trying to pick out a CD for the boy is just short of
absurd. He is incredibly specific in his music tastes,
which indeed runs the gamut but seem to be understood
only by him. I look through the boxes and am
tempted by the selection of world music. This may
in fact be a whole new genre for him—so I pick up
one CD of Spanish Boleros, one Zydeco disc, a selection
of Celtic music and two Bolivian/Andian CD’s.
Now if only we knew how to dance.
I leave the market and take some mental notes of
additional unique ideas, especially for those hardto-
buy-for people like aunts and co-workers and exroommates.
My picks for “Gifts for People Who Seem to Have
Everything”:
BoxBoys’ Demented Decoupage Boxes. Especially
good for younger sisters and cousins. The boxes are
small and whimsical, decorated with everything
from the cast of “Friends” to quirky mermaid
images. They are perfect for holding jewelry, spare
change, and anything else small and precious.
Light Switch Covers. Covered with images from
the annals of black history, these make for a unique
gift idea. And if a picture of Muhammad Ali or
Malcolm X are not your thing, he has a good selection
bearing replications of well-known paintings
and other more symbolic images.
Shea Butter. With names like “passion,” “sexy”
and “heavenly,” these may not be quite right for
grandma, but they make a heck of a gift for anyone
else. I tried the Shea butter on my hand. It melts
smoothly and evenly into the skin, and smells and
feels wonderful. The Epicurean Soap Company that
makes it also sells “bath balls” (bath salts), massage
oils and natural scented soaps.
African Masks. Not a small investment, but for
the right person, a worthwhile one. The masks
come from seven different African nations. The
man selling them rattles off the names and I catch
Mali, Guinea, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Sure to be a
one of a kind gift.
Geeda’s Hand Poured Candles. The colors are rich,
and the craftsmanship is apparent. I overhear the
vendor talking about pouring the candles over the
stove in her kitchen. Now that’s impressive!
Time with a Psychic. She sits at a table in the
North building of the Market. And honestly—who
hasn’t wanted to try this sometime?
The amazing thing about the Sunday Flea Market
is that it’s never the same place twice. People know
about what they are selling and will gladly tell you
about it. So ask, and browse, and buy. You never
know which dealers will be there next week!
Shirley Serotsky is a frequent contributor to The Voice
of the Hill.
Wrapping It All Up
Once you’ve selected the perfect gifts, make a beeline
to Paper Trail, where you’ll find a smorgasbord
of wrapping paper, ribbons, boxes, gift bags, and
unique cards to ensure that your gift gets properly
dressed! If you’ve got a friend who loves to write,
you may want to pick something up for him or her.
Free Discount Coupon!
Now through December 31, if you log on to
www.unionstationdc.com/directory/coupons.asp,
you’ll get a free coupon, worth 15% off at the following
Union Station stores: Aurea, Barami, Best of
Washington DC, Chico’s, Claire’s Etc., Destination
DC, Discovery Channel Store, Echo Gallery, J&A
Jewelers, Jos. A. Bank, King Bar-B-Q, Knits Etc.,
Optical Images, Taxco Sterling Co., The Paper Trail,
and many more.
Happy holiday shopping!
Julia Robey compiles Business Bits for The Voice of
the Hill every month.
A Day at the Market: A Cornucopia of Gift Ideas
BY SHIRLEY SEROTSKY
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 13
I would rather have had a bike, but
People’s didn’t sell bikes. However,
Frager’s Hardware, facing Stanton
Park, did—and not just sidewalk
bikes but full sized ones, with balloon
tires. My father was inclined to
indulge his two children but was not
spiritually or financially prepared to
celebrate the occasion by spending
$14.
There were kids on Capitol Hill
who did find big, beautiful bikes festooned
with ribbons on the handlebars
under the tree the next morning
—the sons and daughters of doctors
or druggists or high civil servants.
Pretty Jean Corning, whose
daddy was the Superintendent of
Public Schools, had a bike as well as
a slightly superior air. Who could
blame her for that?
Sleds and metal roller skates (of
the kind that were strapped on the
feet) were popular among the bikeless,
and, if by remarkable chance
there was a snowfall during
Christmas vacation, all the possessors
of sleds went behind the Capitol
and belly-flopped down the hill. If it
was warm and sunny, we went
swinging in flirting groups in the
traffic-free streets. We were all unself-
consciously class conscious.
America was still a Protestant country,
locked in the Calvinist ethic; the
better off were better off because the
Lord intended them to be better off.
My neighborhood extended from
the Capitol grounds to Eastern
Market, bound by Stanton Park on
the north and East Capitol Street on
the south. It was basically lower,
middle or upper working
class. Mothers stayed home raising
kids; fathers made good money as
machinists at the Navy Yard or as
printers at the Government Printing
Office or as small businessmen, like
Mr. Frager and my father, who at
that time was waiting for the repeal
of the Prohibition Amendment so he
could buy a restaurant and future bar
at 18th and L Streets, NW.
The Great Depression had plunged
to its depth, and across the country,
one wage earner in four was unemployed.
But Washington, to everyone’s
nervous relief, seemed to be
depression-proof. The government
was still in business. And when
Roosevelt’s New Deal arrived, it
would, indeed, begin to grow much
larger.
We were not broke; the people of
Capitol Hill were thrifty by training
thrifty, and even though wages of
civil servants had been trimmed, the
trimming had been offset by the
plunge in rents and grocery
prices. In the words of a then popular
song, “Potatoes are cheaper,
tomatoes are cheaper/ Now’s the
time to fall in love.”
One Gift Per Child
At Christmas time, the rule was one
gift per child. Everyone, sooner or
later, got skates. Small girls got dolls;
bigger girls preferred clothes.
Clothing didn’t count with boys,
even when parents wrapped it up
and put it under the tree. There were
no organized caroling events or
holiday neighborhood
parties
with exotic canapes. Most of our
middle-aged neighbors had never
eaten a shrimp.
My parents, being Irish, were less
inclined to throw gift-giving caution
to the wind. Christmas in County
Roscommon was primarily a religious
feast day. Families went to
midnight mass and invited their
unattached relatives in for Chrismas
dinner. Gift-giving was limited to
the exchange of small favors—
oranges, perhaps, or sugar candy,
twelve days later on Little Christmas,
or the feast of the Nativity. We were
American patriots; my parents had
been more than willing to switch
their allegiance from the King of
England but had no urge to be facsimiles
of the native born.
My mother was allergic to evergreen
trees, so we had what must
have been one of the first artificial
ones. It was about half the size of a
standard Christmas pine or cedar
and was taken from its box and
unfolded on Christmas Eve, then
folded up and put back in the box a
week later. It didn’t really look like a
Christmas tree, and I was embarrassed
when my friends saw it in the
parlor. We did, however, have a
turkey for Christmas dinner, purchased
live at Eastern Market.
The families of my friends, a good
many Catholics and a great many
Baptists, had older ties to America,
and they embraced Christmas more
fully, but by the standards of today,
they too showed restraint.
There was no organization which
would have been the equivalent of
CHAMPS, and merchants were less
inclined to embellish the Hill.
Decorations were neither attached to
every lamp post nor
strung across every
street.Wahl’s
small
department store on H Street had a
Christmas toy land but no Santa
Claus. Downtown, Woodward and
Lothrop, the department store catering
to the well-to-do, had elaborate,
automated Christmas windows, performing
before crowds of parents
and children who had arrived by the
big green street cars from what are
now called the old suburbs—in
Arlington, Fairfax and Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties, as well
as from the District. At that time,
today’s newer suburbs were still
country.
No Better, No Worse
Were those Christmases better? I’d
say they were neither better or
worse, just different. Fewer people
on the Hill were drinking eggnog,
fewer still were drinking wine, and
nobody was in possession of imported
beer. Those who drank, and there
were those who certainly did, made
do with concoctions of bootleg gin
or homemade corn liquor. The
Italian families over on C Street, NE,
made their own versions of chianti
in their basement.
There were carolers from the
churches who moved around in
groups of a dozen or less, and when
they were finished singing, they
went to church for cookies and cake.
There were black-tie Christmas dinner
parties going in Chevy Chase or
along Embassy Row, but not on
Capitol Hill.
Christians, black and white, foreign
born or native, all went to
churches of their choice—almost
always the ones they were born in—
on Christmas Day. But the gifts,
though fewer, excited envy as well as
joy and disappointment.
My microscope was not a great
success. It did indeed give me a good
look at the invisible world around
me, but it strained my eyes and gave
me a headache. My gaze soon shifted
to other forms of entertainment
—but I didn’t mention it to
my father.
Thanks to longtime Hill resident and
writer Tom Kelly for sharing his holiday
memories with our readers.
the Way it Was MEMORIES OF CHRISTMASES NOT SO LONG AGO
On Christmas Eve in 1932, my father
took me to the People’s Drug Store facing
Lincoln Park, and, in the sprit of the season,
let me pick my Christmas present. I
picked a 99-cent microscope.
BY TOM KELLY
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
14 www.voiceofthehill.com
of it quite kinetic—all very evocative,
well-crafted work. Currently,
Southerlin and Braley are showcasing
handmade nativity scenes from
around the globe. Southerlin, a very
friendly and knowledgeable individual,
suggests that her store presents
“an artful look at the world through
an eclectic mix of things.”
I caught Ben gazing adoringly at a
welded metal rhinoceros. Its chubby
body was composed of tightly-coiled
strips of metal, and it was pleasantly
heavy. Like all of the sculptures in
The Village, the rhinoceros looked
lovingly made, extremely sturdy and
full of personality.
The $79
price tag
made it the
perfect gift
for a special
art-loving
(and rhinoceros-
loving)
friend.
Admittedly,
I spent a lot
of time looking
at the
men’s and
women’s
clothes. They
are divine.
The shop sells
men’s flax
pants in the
most heartbreakingly beautiful colors
you will ever see. A line of handmade
wool sweaters, skirts and
accessories are available for women.
In fact, I found my ideal Christmas
present. Who is this present for, you
ask? Moi. In the back of the store, on
an ornate metal rack, hangs a white
wool hat, beautifully crocheted and
adorned with a ponytail of loose
wool tendrils right on the top. It is
titled the Snow White Hat by
Sweater Girl, a line from Nepal. Its
price is a reasonable $29, and it is so
mine this Christmas. A matching
scarf (the Snow White Scarf) is available
for $69. Merry Christmas to me!
The Forecast
This two-story shop, at 218 Seventh
On a Friday morning,
my significant other
asked me to help
him research for an
article devoted to
the hunt for an
interesting holiday gift. It would be a
long weekend of browsing by oneself,
and anyway, two opinions are
better than one. Delighted to be
invited on a long-term shopping
adventure, I prepared to be journalist
number two. Second in command.
Well, there was a coup d’etat. A
takeover. A blatant and barefaced
pilfering of Ben’s article.
I admit it; I played a very orthodox
role and am perpetuating the terrible
stereotype that women live to
shop. That said, I’d like to share the
details of our journey. I and my
eventual assistant began this flight
just north of Eastern Market that
continued, approximately, to the G
block of Eighth Street, SE. Along the
way, Ben and I found treasures you
would not believe.
The Village
This attractive shop, nestled behind
a garden at 705 North Carolina
Avenue, S.E., offers the shopper a
beautiful array of interesting art,
handcrafted art objects, imported
goods and clothing, and a friendly
environment. The Village has been
open for six years, thanks to owners
Claire Southerlin and Alan Braley.
The second story of the building
highlights Braley’s original paintings.
Every time I walked by The Village
on my way to Eastern Market, I
thought about going in and checking
it out; somehow, it just never
happened. I realized, as soon as I
stepped through the door, that I had
been neglecting one of the most
interesting shops in the Eastern
Market area. Every item on display is
truly a piece of art, whether functional,
decorative, or just for fun.
The unusual sculptures sitting,
standing, and crawling about the
store are quite enchanting, and not
at all kitschy. Original art graces
every wall, some of it delicate, some
Art. The book highlights recipes
from art museums around the country,
is filled with colorful prints of
famous artworks, and comes with a
CD of classical music. The price tag
is an affordable $32.
Most importantly, the process of
shopping at The Forecast is extremely
enjoyable. Owner Debbie
Danielson is warm, helpful, and has
a great sense of humor. She positively
giggled at the store’s brand new
fleece neckwear, appropriately
named the “Hickee.” I think she
could have sold me just about anything
in the store.
Doolittle’s Pet Supplies,
Gifts and Accessories
Just a few paces south on Seventh
Street is a wonderful pet supply shop
that offers snacks, toys, and clothing
for just about every critter that has
set paw or claw in a human house.
There are also some good gifts for
humans!
Doolittle’s is a blast for so many
reasons. In front of the store sits a
plastic fire hydrant and a big water
dish for visiting doggies. On this particular
Sunday morning, an
entourage of beasts was assembled
outside of the shop, their humans
chatting away. A plump, sleepy, yellow
puppy lay on his side next to the
water dish. A droopy-eyed Bassett
hound wagged and panted at
passers-by. A stout and chubby-faced
lab enjoyed the scratches of an
admirer, and a large group of muscular
greyhounds quietly observed two
awestruck girls who barely reached
the dogs’ grand shoulders. The
Bassett and her owner made their
way in with us and conversed with
the busy shop-owner, an obvious
lover of creatures large and small.
The owner asked Miss Bassett about
the weather and about her own
adventures before handing over a
much-loved treat.
An enormous variety of inexpensive
and yummy treats is arranged
on the walls and shelves. Walnut
necklaces for those of the feathered
affiliation, doggy biscuits flavored
with chicken, cheese, peanut butter
Street, S.E., is owned by the gregarious
Debbie Danielson. We happened
to visit The Forecast on the day of its
twenty-fifth anniversary, and were
thus presented with bustle, excitement,
apple cider and cheese. The
store caters primarily to the girls,
offering a great selection of very
high-quality women’s clothing.
However, a range of gifts, books, and
clothes for babies and toddlers are
also available on the first floor.
Paradiso. Let me explain: my belly
is full of warm apple cider and I’m
being pulled by employee Adele
Sheehan toward a rack of washable
women’s clothes
on the second
floor. She shows
me pants and
jackets in wool,
micro fiber, and
even suede that
can be washed. I
don’t think I’ve
found a washable
article of
clothing since
elementary
school. Now,
some of the
clothes here may
cost a pretty
penny, but think
of what you save
by losing those
dry-cleaning
bills! The clothes at The Forecast are
classy and hip, and are appropriate
for women of all ages and shapes.
Plus, there is a great variety of snazzy
accessories: cute knee socks for $8,
sushi pajamas for $90, and a stylish,
pear-shaped, leather sling bag by
Hobo International for $175. I
expressed my interest in all three of
these items (as presents for me, of
course) to my trusty companion.
Ben, however, had gift ideas that
were a little easier on the pocket (but
what’s the fun in that, right?). He
fancied the $15 dancing-fruit-lady
tree ornaments, and introduced me
to an assortment of pretty, aromatic
candles and chocolate boxes for
under $20 each. One of the more
unusual gift items in the store was a
cookbook entitled Museum Cafes and
Hidden HolidayTreasures
FOR THAT UNIQUE GIFT, WHY LEAVE THE HILL?
BY JULIA OLDHAM
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 15
and even pumpkin, Cat Caviar, and
imitation sardines for your favorite
feline. All of these scrumptious gifts
are under $10. For the playful pets
are all manner of stuffed, squeaking,
flying, wiggling toys, an absolute
wealth of catnip paraphernalia, and
mirrors and snuggly faux-friends for
our bird buddies. My personal
favorite was the Kitten Mitten, a
glove with long, stiff fingers adorned
with pom-poms. Perfect for tickling
a kitty while protecting your hands.
On the practical side of things, the
Classic Undercover Trench Coat by
Doggiduds is available for a mere
$24.99. All sizes of critter’s sweaters
are available, starting at $12.99. As
winter approaches, it’s important to
think about your pet’s fur coat. Is
Scruffy up for a walk in a snowstorm?
Silk Road and Woven
Things
These two import shops, owned by
Mr. Mehmet Yalcin, are located on
the west side of Seventh Street.
Yalcin describes this pair of interesting
shops, connected by an interior
doorway, as “two treasures with one
gate.” Indeed, the wares you will
find in Silk Road and Woven Things
feel like treasures; the shopper feels a
great sense of both antiquity and
authenticity. All of the items are
carefully handcrafted and imported
from Asia, the Middle East and
Africa.
As its name implies, Silk Road
offers merchandise imported from
countries along the historical trade
route. There are over 200 imported
items available within a really wonderful
range of prices. The layout is a
bit overwhelming; there is so much,
well, stuff. So I did what any reasonable
girl of my persuasion would do.
I made a beeline toward Silk Road’s
devastatingly handsome clerk,
Ibrahim, and asked him to highlight
a few of the store’s most interesting
items.
For $25 the shopper can buy a
beautiful handmade and handpainted
paper lantern from Nepal.
These lanterns come in a variety of
colors, look really hip, and are quite
affordable. In the same price range
are the earthy, craggy Turkish mugs
starting at $10. For just a little more,
you can buy a handbag made of
kilim, which, as handsome Ibrahim
explained, is a colorful Turkish carpet
fiber. The bags range from $30 to
$100. My favorite item was a pair of
women’s black leather sandals with a
woven kilim strap for $75. In the
$100 to $500 price range are numerous
masks, musical instruments,
wrap it up
a holiday show and sale of
gift-priced artwork
take it off the wall and we'll wrap it!
capitol hill art league
at capitol hill arts workshop
545 7th street, se
washington, dc
202•547•6839
wrap it up
a holiday show and sale of
gift-priced artwork
take it off the wall and we'll wrap it!
capitol hill art league
at capitol hill arts workshop
545 7th street, se
washington, dc
202•547•6839
saturday, december 7
10:00am — 7:00pm
saturday, december 7
10:00am — 7:00pm
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VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
16 www.voiceofthehill.com
his wife Venetta Khattab own Khan
El-Khalili. They have worked hard for
two years to create a space which
resembles, as Mr. Khattab explains,
the “oldest and largest market of
handcrafted items in the Middle
East.” The Khattabs own what is now
an eight-generation business. Most
of the items are imported from
Egypt.
Upon entering Khan El-Khalili, a
blend of otherworldly aromas assails
the shopper’s nostrils. Mr. Khattab
boasts the “largest selection of oils
on the East Coast,” and it is impressive.
Behind Khattab’s counter are
glass shelves supporting a few hundred
glass bottles. The larger bottles
on the bottom shelves hold essential
oil, and arranged artfully on the
highest shelves are fragile, handblown
perfume bottles. These empty
bottles, which start at $3 for the
smallest of them, are absolutely gorgeous,
and can hold whichever heavenly
oil you purchase.
Cool Dude Khattab knows his oils
well, too. He asked for my wrist and
gave it a generous splash of Habibi,
which I loved. Khattab also dabbed
my significant other with a couple
scrumptious scents; and he promised
they would make Ben smell like a
real man! His oils don’t smell cheap
or nauseating (as is so often the case
with oils and perfumes), and
Khattab claims to know very well
what scent suits what sort of person.
“I know what people like,” he says
with a winning smile. Here we have
hit on the real magic of Khan El-
Khalili. Mohamed Khattab is a people-
person. He wants to know his
shoppers, and he’ll do his darnedest
to find you something you love.
The shop also has a large selection
of jewelry, unusual clothing and
accessories, and collectibles in a
range of prices. The store’s clerk, a
friendly young woman with long
crimson hair and hip clothes, admits
to being a fan of the jewelry, oil, and
alabaster wares. I couldn’t stay away
from the handmade Egyptian boxes,
inlaid with mother of pearl. The
smallest box, a little larger than my
palm, is $15 and perfect for stashing
a runaway pair of earrings. The
slightly larger boxes, $30 and $40,
come with a handy key. Perfect for
incriminating love letters or for that
photo, that you really sort of like, of
the time you got caught dancing in
your underwear… not that I have
one of those, of course.
Bird in Hand Bookstore
and Gallery
This fascinating art shop, at 323
Seventh Street, is a must for fine arts
fanatics. There is an immense selection
of art books and artist monographs,
and an intriguing collection
of original works on paper. Bird in
Hand, owned by Ester and
carvings and exquisite boxes.
Woven Things is a two-story shop,
the upstairs devoted to antiques and
collectibles and the downstairs to
rugs. There are many sculptures,
beautiful bronze vessels and pieces
of furniture; and, of course, there is a
vast collection of woven rugs. The
items range from somewhat pricey
to very expensive, and are well-made
and quite striking. The rugs are
imported from over 30 different
countries and several refugee camps.
Yalcin assured me that the rug selection
in his store is the largest in D.C.
Fairy Godmother
Next door to Woven Things is a lovely
children’s shop owned by Roberta
Blanchard. Fairy Godmother has
been open for an impressive 20
years, and offers a variety of fun and
educational toys and books.
Fairy Godmother is the kind of
shop I loved when I was a kid. The
walls are lined with an enormous
selection of books that are both
interesting to look at and lovely to
hold. Blanchard stocks many colorful
picture and pop-up books for the
wee ones, luscious story books for
children who are learning to read,
and beautifully bound classics, fantasies
and dramas for the early adolescent
reader. She carries hardbound
copies of many of the books
that I read while in grade school: her
copies of Charlotte’s Web and The
Little Prince, dressed in shiny dust
jackets, evoked a very pleasant nostalgia
for long-ago Christmases.
Initially, I did not find Fairy
Godmother’s atmosphere, despite
the exciting backdrop of books and
toys, to be terribly warm. However,
when I asked Ms. Blanchard to recommend
a few items as holiday gifts,
she went out of her way to explain
which books are selling best and
which items are most suitable for
which age. Her passion is clearly for
the books in her shop. She suggests
the beautiful books by Richard
Sabuda, master of pop-up artistry;
and her current favorite is his rendition
of The Night Before Christmas.
Beyond books, the shop offers a
number of kits, toys, games, puzzles
and costumes for boys and girls in a
range of prices. Potential stocking
stuffers include sticker packages for
$1.50 each and colorful, braided
jump ropes for $10.50 each. For the
artistic child is a Claymaker Set with
a battery-powered potter’s wheel for
$20.50, and Bathtub Finger Paints
for $13.25. My pick was a plush
monster hand-puppet from Maurice
Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are
for $22.50.
Khan El-Khalili
The next stop was this charming
shop, at 321 Seventh Street.
Mohamed “Cool Dude” Khattab and
ports living wages, freedom and safety
of artisans in those communities.
Laurie Morin, one of the shop’s owners,
says that the idea behind this
shop “started out of a community
development point of view,” and she
promotes “economic empowerment
and self sufficiency through art.”
Many of the goods available at
Hoopla are produced at women’s
cooperatives and art communities in
South America, Africa and Asia, and
a number of these items are one of a
kind.
Morin had some great suggestions
for holiday gifts. For around $40, the
shopper can get a fantastic handbag
made of vintage sari pieces. Each
one is uniquely colored, sewn and
beaded. All are imported from India.
Morin highlighted a beautiful collection
of lacquered bamboo dishes for
$20 to $65 each. These pieces, substantially
thick but amazingly lightweight,
are warmly colored and can
be used functionally or decoratively.
One of the more expensive but very
exquisite gifts is a handmade quilt
from Guatemala embroidered with
images of children’s artwork. It fits a
twin bed and is $150.
There are many lovely gifts for
children, as well. Morin suggested a
wooden puzzle with large, thick
pieces shaped like monkeys and
other animals, for $16. This simplelooking
puzzle can be arranged in
400 different ways! For the aspiring
young artist is the Jamtown Junior
Rhythm Pack. The pack includes a
Tinya Drum and a Gourd Shaker
from Peru, and Rhythm Sticks and
Story Cards from Indonesia. The
pack is $40, and a number of unusual
instruments can also be bought
separately for $10 to $20. I was particularly
struck by the Goat Foot
Shaker, which looks like a large
bracelet of goat hooves, from Bolivia
for $10.
In addition to lovely imported art
pieces, Hoopla offers a nice selection
of books for children and grown-ups.
They, like just about everything in
this marvelous store, are fun and
very educational.
Alvear Studios Design
and Imports
A hop, skip and a jump southward,
at 705 Eighth Street, is a store devoted
to local and imported art, and a
vast array of very cool stuff, including
a collection of kitschy Frida
Kahlo merchandise that will blow
your mind. Chris Alvear is generally
swamped with customers; despite
this inundation, he introduces himself
to each and every shopper and
makes him or her feel utterly at
home.
First we have to talk about Frida.
In order to enter the store, the shopper
must penetrate a beaded curtain
graced with Frida’s portrait. Clothes,
Christopher Ackerman, has been
open for 15 years.
Bird in Hand is fiercely dedicated
to artists and art appreciators. The
walls are thickly lined with large,
elegant hardbound books about
artists all over the globe. Many of
these books are rare or out of print,
and I found about 20 or 30 that I
really desperately need. The shop
reads like a gallery space as well. The
unusual artworks on the wall, created
by emerging artists, are professionally
displayed, carefully labeled
and well-lit. A small set of shelves
supports a collection of colorful and
striking ceramic vessels and some
handmade postcards and stationery.
Art shops have potential to be very
intimidating, but Bird in Hand is
not. We were greeted by Evan Parker,
a local artist who works part time at
the store. He is knowledgeable, very
friendly, and happy to, without pretension,
talk art. Several of Parker’s
eerie and evocative collages are on
display at Bird in Hand.
Co-owner Ester Ackerman is
cheerful and helpful, and she clearly
loves to expose her shoppers to
interesting artwork. Ackerman is
intent upon offering works by professional
artists that “normal” people
can afford to buy. Most of the
artwork available at Bird in Hand
costs between $75 and $400.
I asked Ackerman to suggest an
interesting holiday gift. She suggested
a small original work by artist
Kristine Lingle, who creates very
unusual and poignantly delicate collages
laden with bits of handmade
paper, old photographs, leaves, and
drawings of insects. Her small works
range from $40 to $80. Ackerman
also recommends Presswork: The Art
of Women Printmakers, an intimatelysized
and beautiful printed book for
$12.95. In addition to physical art,
books and gifts, Bird in Hand offers
gift certificates for any amount.
Hoopla Traders
We made our way across
Pennsylvania Avenue and started
walking South on Eighth Street. At
524 Eighth Street is Hoopla, a brand
new shop that specialized in handcrafted
items from around the world.
The selection is eclectic, and there is
a fine range of prices. This is another
great shop for those holiday gifts
that you can’t find anywhere else.
The shop is owned by Laurie Martin
and Denise D’Amour and has been
open since early November.
The owners of Hoopla Traders
have a beautiful vision: community,
culture and life are preserved
through the arts. At this exquisite
little shop, one can find handmade
art and objects from a number of different
developing countries; and
when the shopper makes a purchase,
the money he or she spends sup-
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 17
accessories, decorative objects, and
functional objects salute the famous
uni-brow. Reproductions and copies
of her work abound. “Anything
Frida,” Alvear exclaims with a laugh.
But it works. Alvear’s shop is mesmerizing
in its hip weirdness, and
who’s a better spokesperson for that
than Miss Kahlo?
This place is a giant, freaky, stylish
art exhibit, and you’ll want everything
you see. Ben immediately settled
on a classy, foot and a half tall,
ornately dressed skeleton woman.
This is not your usual skeleton gal,
but a beautiful and joyful figure
made in celebration of the Día de los
Muertes. Her bones are carefully
made of clay, and her clothes resemble
those of a turn-of-the-century
lady of high fashion: long gown,
feather boa, wide brimmed hat and
all. She costs a pretty penny: three
hundred seventy five big ones.
Ouch. However, smaller clay skeleton
figurines are available, in unusual
costumes, for under $100. I was
particularly fascinated by the $80
skeleton mermaid.
For the fashion-conscious shopper
is an amazing collection of jewelry
and leather that is really to die for.
The jewelry, primarily sterling silver
embellished with unusual gems and
minerals, ranges from $8 to $350. At
least three shoppers were ogling the
gorgeous leather bags during our
visit. They are indeed divine. But
this is the best part: you can design
your own bag, and you can choose
from ten different leather samples.
Of course, the prices range according
to your decision, but who cares how
much it costs? You get to design your
very own bag! You get to be the
famous fashion designer (with the
help of the fashion gurus at Alvear
Studios)!
After drooling over a few more
items that I knew I had to have
(including the Moroccan goat skin
lamp for $127), I realized I needed to
leave. Quickly. I asked Alvear to suggest
a cool, affordable holiday gift
that would work for anyone. He
informed me that Alvear Studios
offers gift packages for under $20,
$30, $40, and $50. These packages
include a combination of interesting
items. For example, the $20 package
contains a candle holder with a
votive and a holiday ornament, and
the $40 package includes a decorative
wine slipcover, a candle, and a
compact disc.
Shopaholic and Hill resident Julia
Oldham’s work appears every month in
this newspaper.
He dreams of being a
marine biologist
Help make his dream
come true
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VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
18 www.voiceofthehill.com
through a new book or finally master
a tough one. Other days tutoring
is more about making the child
know she is important.” Hough
recalls a 45-minute effort to teach a
child a particular letter combination
until the “concept finally clicked
with the child, but something
clicked for me too—a reminder that
my daily struggles in the office pale
in comparison to the daily struggles
faced by some children learning to
read.” She says in this sense the
experience is not only good for the
child but “a form of therapy” for the
tutor, as well.
KidSafe trains tutors and matches
them with a child so they can develop
a relationship. Tutors help with
reading, math, language arts, homework,
and fieldtrips. Volunteer tutors
are needed for the 4:45 – 5:45 p.m.
time period. Contact Anna Stayeas at
202-547-8260 if you are interested in
becoming a KidSafe tutor.
Tutors and students need tools to
work with. Bowens points to a need
for books for kids ages 4-12, especially
primary reading for young children
— “very simple, first reader
books like Dr. Seuss with lots of pictures.”
They could also use crayons,
markers, and drawing paper. “They
go through drawing paper like you
wouldn’t believe.” Many kids are
short on winter basics like scarves,
knitted hats, mittens, coats, heavy
sweaters, and “little backpacks. We
could really use a bunch of those, ”
notes Bowens. To donate needed
items or money contact Bowens at
202-547-8260. They can arrange for
pickup if needed.
Our Place, D.C. is another local
organization working to support
children and families. Founded in
1999, Our Place, D.C. works to
“reconnect women who were in jail
and prison with their families and
communities” by providing the
“resources and support incarcerated
and newly released women need to
resettle in the community, reunite
with their families, and find decent
housing and jobs.” You can find
information on their wide range of
health, housing, and work readiness
and connection programs at the website:
www.ourplacedc.org.
Recipient of the “Leadership
Award” from the Washington Area
We all have our own reasons
for giving our time,
our helping hands, our
money during the holidays.
For some folks, it
simply feels good to help
those who are less fortunate. Others
are compelled by the strength and
justness of a cause. Your faith, as
well, may stir you to reach out to
your fellow man.
Whatever your reason—nagging
guilt, tax deductibility, or noblesse
oblige—you still may be wondering,
“to whom or what should I be giving
this year, or how can I do just a little
bit more this year?” Well you’ll find
no absolute answer here. But you
will find some possibilities, both
local and global, and note some of
the spirit that drives giving and
those who help to run charitable initiatives.
For every reason to give, there are
innumerable causes to support and
dozens of ways to give that support
—from complex human interactions
to a few keystrokes and a
mouse click.
Some Local Opportunities
KidSafe seeks to “build the capacity
of families to provide safe, supportive
and economically stable environments
where they and their children
can thrive.” KidSafe promotes academic
proficiency for pre-K to 6th
graders with learning opportunities
through its after school and summer
program at Tyler Elementary.
KidsSafe also provides parents with
career training and self-reliance
workshops for those moving out of
personal and financial dependency.
Executive Director Julia Bowens
says this holiday season folks can
especially pitch in and help the kids:
“We use volunteers to tutor the children
in reading and to come in on
occasion to conduct special projects,
such as teach the children a craft or
a performance they can showcase to
their parents during monthly family
events.” You can also help KidSafe by
donating cash or supplies.
Lindsay Musser Hough finds her
experience as a tutor for KidSafe “the
most rewarding volunteer activity
I’ve done in the D.C. area. It’s just
you and the child one-on-one for
that half hour. Sometimes we get
replication…across the D.C. community.”
Program Coordinator Liz
McCartney says, “As the holidays
approach, we need volunteers to
help with a mass fundraising mailing.
We also hope to replace six older
computers so that the entire lab will
have Pentium 4 Dells—we currently
have nine.” She adds that they “are
always recruiting volunteers to help
with the after school program
(Monday -Wednesday from 3-6 p.m.)
or Community Education program
(Tuesday and Wednesday, 6-8 p.m.
and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.).
If you think you can help, contact
Ms. McCartney at (202)548-0254 or
by email at lmccartney@computercorner-
dc.org. For more information
about Computer Corner (1500 D
Street, SE), see their website at:
www.computercorner-dc.org.
Beth Purcell is both the Secretary
of The Paw Pad, an organization
working to protect and house homeless
animals (mostly cats and dogs),
and President of Trees For Capitol
Hill, a non-profit “dedicated to
improving the landscape of the
Hill.” According to Purcell, The Paw
Pad brings together a “bunch” of
locals who’ve always been active in
helping animals. She stresses that
Paw Pad is not a shelter, but says
“some day we would like to see a
state-of-the-art shelter in DC, but we
know we are many dollars away from
that.” But what they can and do
manage with donor support is to
help pay veterinary bills for homeless
animals (for getting them spayed
or neutered for example) and work
to find them homes.
They also work with others to protect
the well being of feral cat
colonies. Funds also go toward
humane traps for animals. Purcell
quite sensibly warns, “You can’t just
walk up to a wild animal and pick it
up” in order to care for it. “You could
try, but it might not work so well.”
The Paw Pad is holding an awareness
event on December 7 at the
Pentagon City Mall Nordstrom’s.
Purcell says “we’re always looking for
good foster parents” for animals and
can always use monetary donations
to help cover medical and equipment
costs. To help, call Beth Purcell
at 202-544-0178.
Women’s Foundation, Our Place,
D.C. can use your help to pull off its
third annual holiday party on behalf
of children whose mothers are in
prison. On December 19, they will
be serving a hot dinner to an estimated
100 children (twice as many
as last year), giving them presents
and a photo op with Santa—a photograph
going to each mother and
child. Gifts will be wrapped and
labeled from mother to child.
Our Place has compiled a gift wish
list for this year, which includes gift
cards from clothing and toy stores,
certificates from major grocery
stores, and a long list of toys for children
aged 1-18, including Legos and
building blocks, dolls and accessories,
board games, a basketball and
a scooter, “Harry Potter” books and
Sesame Street toys, something called
the “Betty Spaghetty-Slumber Party,”
and much, much more. Susan
Galbraith, Executive Director of Our
Place says “we would deeply appreciate
items from the wish list, food for
the party including hot dishes,
desserts, beverages, and cash donations
to use for purchasing gifts and
food for the party.”
Send donations to Our Place, D.C.,
1236 Pennsylvania Ave., SE,
Washington, D.C. 20003, or call
Michelle Linzy, Program Director, at
202-548-2400. They would be happy
to provide the full wish list and meal
specifics to potential donors. Gift
donations arriving by December 16
would be best.
Last year, children loved the party
and were thrilled with the gifts.
Galbraith recalls one child asking
with amazement, “How did my
mom know I was gonna be here
tonight?” Maybe you can help make
this year’s party magical, too.
The mission of Capitol Hill
Computer Corner is to provide “innovative
technology programs and curriculum
to enhance the learning
opportunities of the student and residents
of Southeast Capitol Hill.”
Capitol Hill Computer Corner has
adopted a “strategy for narrowing
the technology gap for 3,000 residents
and approximately 350 elementary
school children of the
under-served community of Ward 6
in Southeast Washington, and with
potential for future
No ScroogesHere
There Are Plenty of Ways to Help Others This Holiday Season
BY SCOTT GATES
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 19
Trees For Capitol Hill activities
come mostly in the fall and spring
(they’ll be planting again in March),
but they appreciate money donations
year-round. For a $10 or more
donation you can receive their periodic
newsletter, “Arbor Vitae.” Send
donations (made out to “Trees For
Capitol Hill”) to treasurer Margaret
Missiaen, at 647 South Carolina
Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
or call 546-8681.
The Shakespeare Theatre, 450 7th
Street, NW, is dependent upon much
more than ticket sales. The theatre
relies on donations for 50% of its
annual budget, plus the help of volunteers,
for its productions and programs
in education, community outreach,
audience enrichment, and
training programs.
Group and Volunteer Services
Manager Faye Ingram says they need
16 volunteer ushers for every performance.
Ushers help with concessions,
coat check, seating people and
more. Ingram says it’s a “nice opportunity
for students” especially, since
ticket prices are often out of reach
for students and ushers often get to
catch some or all of a night’s performance
(Much Ado About Nothing,
the current fare, runs until January
5). To volunteer as an usher, call Faye
Ingram at 547-3230 or apply online
at their website, www.shakespeare
theatre.org.
Helping Through Food
There are at least three local, yet fairly
large-scale operations that have
provision of food to those in need at
the core of their work. All three rely
heavily on volunteer workers and
can make good use of donated
money, food, and related items.
Food & Friends “prepares, packages
and delivers meals and groceries to
more than 1,100 people living with
HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging
illnesses such as breast, lung and
colon cancer throughout
Washington, DC and 14 counties of
Maryland and Virginia.” Regan
Kerchner, Volunteer and
Community Outreach Manager for
Food & Friends, highlights some
services and donations that will be
most appreciated during the holidays.
She encourages you to “gather
your friends and family to deliver
hot meals, groceries and friendship
to our clients” from December 23-
28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and December
30 – January 4 at the same times.
Helping out, she adds “can be your
first accomplished New Year’s resolution!”
Never mind football, she suggests,
you can “join a real team of
dedicated people” in Food & Friends’
kitchen preparing and bagging thousands
of meals on those same dates,
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 a.m. to noon
on December 25 and January 1. To
volunteer your time, contact Regan
Kerchner at 202-863-1843.
Food & Friends can also use donations
of good old money, new/used
microwaves, and toys (wrapped and
with a tag stating the age/gender of
the intended recipient) and
canned/non-perishable food.)
Contact Food & Friends’ Charles
Battle at 202-554-2124 if you’d like to
organize a holiday food drive and for
a list of desired items. Since moving
into its current location at 58 L
Street, SE, Food & Friends has more
than tripled the volume of its operations.
In order to continue to grow,
the group has purchased and broken
ground at a larger location in DC
with plans to move their in Fall
2003. Call Daniel Meloy at 202- 863-
1832 to contribute to the capital
campaign supporting this move.
Food & Friends’ general number is
202-488-8278, and there are ample
opportunities to learn more about
their work and to donate online at
their website, www.foodandfriends.
org.
Here’s looking at you…
Randolph Cree
hair etc.
Redken • ISO • American Crew • Aquage
325 7th Street, SE • Eastern Market • 202-547-1014
Stylists
Kelly Martina, Stacy King, Susan Volans
and Evan Pehrson
Special thanks to our support staff:
James Crowder, Sia Mullen, Peter Von Streeruwitz,
Kimberly Kornegay and Mortisha Blount
Randolph Cree
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
20 www.voiceofthehill.com
grams, staffing special events and
preparing mailings. There is a place
for everyone.” For information on
volunteering, contact Phil Borden at
pborden@cfoodbank.org or 202-526-
5344, ext. 286. For more information
on Capital Area Foodbank’s
efforts to salvage and distribute millions
of pounds of food each year
and how you can help, check out
their website, www.capitalarea
foodbank.org.
D.C. Central Kitchen was “founded
January 20, 1989, on the premise
that waste is wrong, be it food,
money, or the potential for productive
lives.” Similar in many ways to
the Food Bank, Central Kitchen
works to “safely recover unserved
food from area food service business-
The 14th Annual “Good Neighbor
Food and Funds Drive” is on now and
runs through December 31. The
drive for nonperishable food and
monetary donations is sponsored by
Giant Food, Inc., The Washington
Post, washingtonpost.com and
WARW Classic Rock 94.7 FM, and
benefits the Capital Area Food Bank.
You can make a monetary donation
at a local Giant checkout or online at
www.washingtonpost.com/good
neighbor.
You can also donate your time to
the Capital Area Food Bank, which,
as its website tells us, “hosts hundreds
of volunteers each week to
help in all parts of its operation.
Projects include sorting and repackaging
food, leading education pro-
547-8624 or by e-mail at
scd@his.com.
But the Foundation cannot go it
alone, either. It depends on donations
from individuals and businesses
and more. Cymrot cites a recent
fundraising letter from the
Foundation that says it “supports
the schools, charities, service organizations,
arts groups, and many other
neighborhood projects, which
enrich the lives of all who live here.”
The letter also boasts that each “dollar
contributed to the Foundation is
used for the community—nothing is
deducted for expenses. The Capitol
Hill Association of Merchants and
Professionals (CHAMPS)…pays for all
administrative costs.” The CHAMPS
Community Foundation launched
the Overbeck History Project, capturing
local history through oral histories
from longtime Hill residents,
and the Foundation holds its
“Capitol Hill Community
Achievement Awards Dinner” each
spring.
Recent grants from the
Foundation have gone to Capitol
Hill Arts Workshop, Anacostia
Watershed Society Earth Day
Cleanup, START: Summer Time And
Reading Together, and to many of
the organizations profiled above. A
holiday donation to the CHAMPS
Community Foundation can help
them to help your community. For
information about giving to the
Foundation, contact Rick
Halberstein at 202-546-1111 or by email
at rickhalber@aol.com.
It’s no secret that your local
church, mosque or synagogue can be
an excellent first place to explore the
possibilities for giving to those in
need and supporting the health of
your community. Capitol Hill is no
exception. Capitol Hill Group Ministry
pools the strengths of numerous
faith institutions to promote, as its
mission statement reads, “understanding
across racial, ethnic, class,
and theological lines,” to “support
clergy and lay leaders in translating
spritual commitment into meaningful
community service,” and to
“sponsor programs that address the
problems of poverty and alienation.”
Programs of Capitol Hill Group
Ministry include prevention and
intervention concerning child abuse
and neglect; providing shelter for
the homeless and access to housing,
child care, education, training and
employment services; and life skills
and self-esteem programs for youth.
For information on how you can
help the efforts of the Capitol Hill
Group Ministry, call 548-0548.
Clarence Hardy, Executive
Director of the Combined Federal
Campaign of the National Capital
Area and a retiree of the federal government
after 30 years of service, is
not only an enthusiastic spokesman
es to feed children and adults at
social service agencies throughout
D.C.” and to “convert donated foods
into balanced meals while at the
same time training unemployed
individuals in basic culinary skills.”
D.C. Central Kitchen depends on
the help of over 5,000 volunteers
each year to help with food inventory
and preparation, kitchen maintenance,
serving food, and outreach to
local homeless shelters via their
“customized mobile kitchen,” a
retired ambulance presented to
Central Kitchen by DC Fire Chief
Ronnie Few. Students gain on-thejob
training from volunteer chefs.
All interested individuals and groups
should contact the Volunteer
Coordinator, Ed Stockton at the
Kitchen’s phone number, 202-234-
0707, or email estockton@dccentral
kitchen.org, to schedule a volunteer
date and time. D.C. Central Kitchen
is located at 425 Second Street, NW
and their website is www.dccentral
kitchen.org.
Pulling it All Together
Clearly most charitable nonprofits
cannot succeed in their work without
considerable outside help. This
help comes not only in the form of
donations and volunteer times from
individuals and groups, but from
supporting organizations that provide
grant money, technical assistance
and expertise, and helping to
raise awareness and with other
efforts to connect organizations with
the broader community, including
donors and volunteers.
The CHAMPS Community
Foundation is one such important
local player. Founded in 1989, it fosters
partnerships between businesses
and the wider community.
According to the Foundation’s president,
Nicky Cymrot, they focus
directly on efforts impacting the
Capitol Hill Community. The foundation
provides grants to selected
applicant organizations of up to
$15,000 in November and May.
Cymrot says they are “looking at
applications now,” and adds that
“$250 mini-grants often go to teachers
and schools” and are handed out
year-round. For more specific information
on grants, contact Grants
Chairman Stephanie Deutsch at 202-
THE BEST
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HILL
Corner of
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202-547-1050
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www.BullMoose-B-and-B.com
For every reason to give, there are innumerable causes to support and dozens of ways to give
that support—from complex human interactions to a few keystrokes and a mouse click.
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 21
for the Combined Federal
Campaign (CFC) but he has worked
in support of it, in various capacities,
for over 20 years. For the most part,
CFC is a voluntary payroll deduction
program that allows federal employees
to make regular donations to
charities of their choice.
Of the roughly 350 campaigns
across country, the CFC of the
National Capitol Area (CFCNCA) is
the largest, pulling in a whopping
$50 million in 2001. Hardy attributes
some of that giving to the
events of 9/11/01, but happily notes
charts for the current campaign “say
we’re about where we were last year,
which is astounding. If we can
match last year’s campaign, that’s
dynamite. And we think we can beat
it!” He says the average annual gift
last year was $272, about $15 more
than previous year, and is proud that
54% of federal employees (this
includes not just executive branch,
but also judicial and legislative
branch employees) contributed. He
says the average CFC comes in at
around 40% giving and similar private
workplace efforts garner still less
participation (the recent troubles at
the United Way of the National
Capital area are part of a somewhat
related, but separate story).
Another dimension of CFCNCA’s
size and success is the fact that of the
roughly 1,900 organizations that
CFC supports, 700 are local to the
DC area. CFCNCA has trained over
8,000 volunteer “Key Workers” who
solicit the participation in the program
from their fellow employees.
CFC also relies on a volunteer board
that meets four to five times a year
(that’s quite often compared to
many boards) and volunteer campaign
account managers. To get
involved, contact the CFC represented
in the federal agency you for
which you work. Clarence Hardy
wishes to extend “sincere and deep
appreciation” from him and the
board to all who show their support
through CFCNCA.
If you want to be modern in your
approach to giving and to research
the many possible charitable efforts
to support, CharityWave (www.
charitywave.com), Network for Good
(www.networkforgood.org), and
GuideStar (www.guidestar.org) are all
online resources that can help you
reach out to thousands of worthy
causes. In a recent search on the
Network for Good website, I found a
listing of 297 charitable organizations
in the 20003 zip code alone.
$45,000 - $100,000
Washington, D.C.
1640 Kramer St. NE*
921 6th St. NE*
$100,000 - $300,000
Washington, D.C.
1436 F St. NE*
1346 Emerald St. NE*
2627 Adams Mill Rd. NW***
5617 3rd St. NW*
117 2nd St. #1*
317 10th St. NE #12**
955 26th St. NW**
644 Mass Ave*
3217 Wisc Ave NW #4C**
3114 Wisc Ave. NW #403*
1080 Wisc Ave. NW #407*
1427 K St. SE***
1423 R St. NW # 203**
700 7th St. SW**
1756 Corcoran St. NW #2B**
3190 Westover Dr. SE*
141 12th St. NE*
4201 Cathedral Ave. NW**
807 9th St. NE* (UC)
514 3rd St. NE*** (UC)
333 2nd St. NE #101*
Maryland
11508 Maplewood Dr**
825 Mount Airy Rd.**
2414 Darrow St.*
802 Malta Lane**
3025 Rainbird Ct.**
Virginia
610 West St. North #301**
Ayers St.** (UC)
$300,000 - $500,000
Washington, D.C.
425 4th St. SE*
1218 Duncan Pl. NE**
221 8th St. NE*
328 9th St. NE*
410 5th St. NE #34*
506 G St. SW**
658 G St. NE*
639 Acker St. NE*
618 C St. SE**
4319 Argyle Terr NW**
1737 Seaton St NW***
720 F St. NE**
1338 East Capitol NE**
115 Duddington Pl SE***
1331 Florida Ave. NW**
1306 No. Carolina Av. NE*
116 6th St. NE #302**
Quincy Pl. NW** (UC)
Maryland
11400 Dorchester Ln**
1305 Merton Tr.*
5606 Northfield Rd.**
13505 Dowlais Dr.**
1605 Noyes Dr.*
Lorraine Av.** (UC)
Virginia
3626 Camelot Dr.*
$500,000 – 1,000,000
Washington, D.C.
230 2nd St. SE*
1800 10th St. NW*
3068 Q St. NW*
328 8th St. NE*
1319 T St. NW**
634 C St NE**
23 7th St. SE***
122 12th St. NE**
Cathedral Ave. NW* (UC)
Maryland
9007 Ewing Dr.***
8905 Bradmoor*
Knowland** (UC)
$1,000,000 - $3,000,000
Washington, D.C.
636 East Capitol St. NE*
32nd St NW**
Maryland
7810 Moorland Ln.**
Amy Fisher, Greg Williams, Bruce Majors, Judith Evans, Valerie Blake, Betty Pair, Greg Brereton,
Brad Rozansky, Bill Howell, Beverly Piccone, Sarah Pickup-Diligenti, Victor Llewellyn, Judith
Levin, Jim Shipp, Ingrid Suisman, Ruth Sullivan, Russell MacBeth, Bob Jones, Grant Griffith, Hugh
Kelly, Kathy Davison, Jean Smith, “Femi” Olubuyimo, Ryall Smith, Michael Tubbs, Stan & Todd
Bissey, Mary Fox, Denise Warner, Trip Holbrook, Edward Downs, John Turner, Martin Toews,
Martha Vaccarelli, Tom Spier, Susan Jones, Joan Reilly, Bonnie Wolfe, Dave Savercool, Donna Kerr,
Michael Bosley, Tom Williams, Larry Chartienitz, Fran Carberry, Susan Van Nostrand, Judi Seiden,
Ressie Wilson, Alneater Gilliam, Bill Jourdan, Judy Hanrahan, Dolly Tucker and Lucy Price
Give and Take
“Newman’s Own” pasta sauces are
fairly tasty stuff for a hot homecooked
meal. But no doubt many of
us who buy the sauces and other
“Newman’s Own” products are
equally drawn by the “OVER $125
MILLION GIVEN TO CHARITY
SINCE 1982” notice emblazoned on
the jar lid. This is just one example
of how to get a lot of what you want
and give a little in the process, for
the holidays and all year long.
UNICEF (www.supportunicef.org)
and The Fourth World Movement
(301-336-9489) offer holiday greeting,
proceeds going to programs for
those in need. Your favorite radio
station may be WAMU or WPFW.
They each depend on listener support
to help cover programming
costs. Be on the lookout for charitable
events such as the Shakespeare
Theatre’s, including some that done
put such a big dent in the wallet.
Remember that holiday shopping
can be an opportunity to not only
give to loved ones, but to those in
need. One can find credit cards that
will automatically donate a percentage
of purchase price to a worthy
cause. Online shopping often offers
similar possibilities. If there’s a will,
there are plenty of ways.
As Lindsay Musser Hough suggests,
giving your time and services
can also have its rewards. Nathan
Kubiszewski, an Americorps VISTA
volunteer working with Friends of
Tyler School (that “provides tutoring,
mentoring, and cultural enrichment
experiences for over 55 at-risk
inner city children living in public
housing in the Tyler School district”),
would no doubt agree.
“My advice,” says Kubiszewski “as
a local advocate and volunteer, is to
find a program in your neighborhood
to start helping in preparation
for the holiday season, which is
about to begin.” He observes, “On
many occasions, programs need
‘people power’ to help organize programs,
gifts, and parties for the holiday
seasons. So, even if a person does
not have the means to give material
items, it doesn’t mean they cannot
help.”
Whatever your motivation and
whichever your cause, here’s hoping
this holiday season you’ll concur
with Kubiszewski and follow the
immortal words of advice from
James Brown—“Get up, get into it,
and get involved!”
DC-based writer Scott Gates is a frequent
Voice of the Hill contributor.
ALMOST $35,000,000 SOLD SO FAR in 2002!
80% of our listings average $22,000 over list price • 80% of our listings average just 7 active days on the market • #1 team for REMAX Capital
THANKS FOR ANOTHER STELLAR YEAR !!!
SA L E S A N D S E T T L E M E N T S I N 2 0 0 2
To all of our clients and colleagues whom we’ve had the pleasure
to work with this past year, thank you for making 2002 one of our
best ever! In this ever changing world that we live in we take
comfort in the relationships that we have forged in the past and look
forward to growing with you all in the future.Our wish is that
the coming year brings as much joy and good fortune to you,
as this past year has brought to us.
Best wishes…Pam,Kevin, Joan,Hub, Julie & Mark
*Our listing sold ** Our buyer bought ***Our listing and sale (UC) Under Contract
To all of our colleagues whom we worked with this year—It was a pleasure to work with you. Thank you.
VOICE of the Hill / December 2002
22 www.voiceofthehill.com
Opening a sporting goods store was
always a dream of his, even when he
was in high school. So once again,
he put all his resources and trust
back into a business, into his neighborhood,
with the hope that the
community will support him and
he, in turn, will support his community.
The store isn’t big, but it’s jampacked
with merchandise. The walls
are covered in jerseys and workout
gear. Over here’s the boxing gear,
Smith points out. Because the kids
these days like to box. A few boys
stop in on their way home from
school to say hello. They laugh
amongst themselves as their eyes
dart to the newest selection of hats
lined up along the wall.
The shop owner hopes to fill a
neighborhood need. In the 1970s,
the major sporting goods chains
moved out of Capitol Hill. What’s
left, he points out, are the Modell’s
down at the Hechingers Mall site
and a smaller shop over near Eastern
Market. Smith isn’t looking for his
store to become another Modell’s,
just a “‘ma and pa’ store that’s userfriendly
for the community.” A place
Rodney Smith remembers being shot
like it was yesterday.
It was 7:30 p.m. one evening during
Memorial Day weekend 1989. He
was behind the counter of his
Northeast carryout restaurant when
a gunman burst in and demanded
cash. He emptied the register and
pointed the gun at Smith. The shop
owner put his hands in front of his
face. The first bullet went through
his wrist and lodged itself into his
chin. He turned around and was
shot in the back. As his spine began
to swell, he fell to the floor. He pretended
he was dead until the
assailant left. A customer came in,
saw Smith on the ground, and called
9-1-1.
He remembers the pain. He
remembers trying to drag himself to
phone to call for help, the weight of
his lower body, the immediate
knowledge that he was paralyzed. He
remembers the ambulance ride, the
operating room, and then the doctors’
severe prognosis: 72 hours to
live or life in a wheelchair.
That was 12 years ago, and now
Smith – 56 years old, six-foot-four
with a booming voice – is sitting
behind the desk of his new business…
not only living, but walking,
as well.
“The doctors said I would never
walk again,” he says. He never
believed it for a second. “I said, ‘Ya’ll
got the wrong person.’”
This was an athlete the doctors
were talking to, a rugged Capitol Hill
native unwilling to give up. Soon
after the injury, Smith was lying in
his hospital bed –paralyzed from the
chest down – and he saw one of his
toes move. Doctors passed it off as a
phantom movement, something
fairly common amongst those who
are paralyzed. But he took it as a sign
that he would walk again.
Realizing a Dream
Born and raised in Capitol Hill,
Smith went to the neighborhood’s
schools, joined its teams and played
on its streets. And although his first
business was robbed just six months
after it opened, he’s decided to try
again. This past June, Smith opened
Capitol Hill Sporting Goods and
Apparel on 8th Street Southeast.
any business, like here, I try to be on
my toes. But you don’t know the elements
that come through your
threshold. You don’t know what’s on
their minds and what they’re about.
I mean, it could very well happen
here, too, but I didn’t give up and
say ‘I’m never gonna open up another
business.’”
Past Discouragement
There was a time, though, when the
unfailingly upbeat Smith felt discouraged.
He was 45 years old and
had just returned from the National
Rehabilitation Center, where he
spent many months re-learning life’s
basic tasks without the use of his
body’s lower half. At the rehabilitation
center, Smith could do anything
he wanted on his own,
whether it was bathing or preparing
a meal. Back at his apartment, nothing
was wheelchair-accessible. His
sister and girlfriend moved in to
assist him with daily life, and he fell
into a depression. In desperation, he
picked up the phone, called his
insurance company and asked if he
could go back to the rehabilitation
center. Since he had been officially
discharged from the center, his
insurance would