VOICE This Month 14 Words and Wisdom of Soak up some Sharon Ambrose Capitol Hill color to cure those 17 Business Adaptability Equals Survival 19 A Developer Goes midwinter blues Back to School 21 Black Patriots Memorial 22 Someone Out There Wants to Be You 24 Black Women Reading 26 Recognizing Jim Crow 28 So Others Might Eat 29 Food and Friends 32 Women's Heart Health 34 A Chocolate Primer 36 Courting on the Hill 38 She's Got Momentum 39 KidPower Update 40 The Yankee Bastille Departments VoiceMail......................................3 City Desk......................................4 DownLoad ....................................8 Business Snapshots ...................11 Amazing Spaces .........................41 Performing Arts Roundup.............42 Ask Judith ..................................44 Designing for Hearth and Home...46 Armchair Movie Reviews ..............48 Health and Fitness......................50 Ask the Vet.................................52 Barracks Row .............................54 Kids' Sports ...............................55 Kids' Calendar ............................56 Community Calendar ...................57 Horoscope..................................59 Classifieds .................................59 Business Services ......................60 Restaurant Review ......................62 Vol. 5 No. 11 February 2004 225 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 of The Hill VOICE The Voice of the Hill is published and distributed monthly to Capitol 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 Capitol to the Stadium Armory Complex. Publication and distribution is the last Friday of each month. Advertising deadline is the first of the month preceding publication. Voice of the Hill NOTE NEW ADDRESS! PO Box 15874 Washington DC 20003-0874 202-544-0703 Main office 202-318-7806 Fax www.voiceofthehill.com editor@voiceofthehill.com bruce@voiceofthehill.com patti@voiceofthehill.com adele@voiceofthehill.com julia@voiceofthehill.com Staff Scott Shumaker, Editor Bruce Robey, WebMaster Adele Robey, Graphic Design and Production Andrew Noyes, Assistant Editor Patti Shea, Political Reporter Larry Kaufer, Sports Editor Julia Robey, Production Coordinator Publishers Phoenix Graphics, Inc. T/A Voice of the Hill Community Action Group: Distribution Contributing Writers S.J. Ackerman Celeste McCall Julio Arguello, Jr. Bill McLeod Stephanie Briggs Jeff Marootian Patty Brosmer Gene Miller Judith Capen Linda Norton JoAnne Carey Andrew Noyes Caroline Cleveland Ruth Hayes Robbins Ursula Gross Julia Robey Dug Hanbicki Shirley Serotsky Larry Kaufer Patti Shea Beth Lambdin Max Skolnik Jessica Leshnoff Erica Stanley Laurie Lindsay Robert Wander Timur Loynab Memberships Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington Barracks Row Business Alliance Independent Free Papers of America H Street Merchants Association Voicemail Retaliatory Ticketing? A copy of the following letter was for·warded to the Voice of the Hill. December 29, 2003 Officer K. Wilson, Dept 15, badge 00294 Department of Motor Vehicles 301 C Street NW Washington, DC 20001 D.C. Notice of Infraction # 314090302 Officer, I could not enter the year 2004 without writing this letter to you: On Friday November 28, the morning after Thanksgiving, you affixed on my vehicle MTMRNCY the notice of infrac·tion # 314090302, at 7:01 am, one minute after the end of the nightly mora·torium on parking tickets. What a nice way to wake up after the traditionally most joyful family gathering, and to dis·cover an early $50 parking ticket on your windshield. Was your Thanksgiving so bad that you were angry at the world and you had to retaliate? Or, were you denied leave for that Friday after Thanksgiving to prevent a long weekend and you became over·zealous? Or, were you unable to produce an unwritten but well known quota of park·ing tickets? Or, are you the parking enforcement officer who stopped to give my car a parking ticket in the same street and at about the same time a few weeks before, when I showed up to move the car before you could write the ticket? And you decided "next time I will get you?" (In Southern Italy they call this vendetta.) Or, were you inspired by the daring visit of our President to the troops in Iraq, and you decided to do something "patriotic?" Will the capture of Saddam Hussein inspire you to do something even more "patriotic?" In any case, giving a $50 parking tick·et, the morning after Thanksgiving, at 7:01 am in a quiet residential neighbor-hood is not performing a duty, it is not law enforcement, it is nothing but PLAIN, MEAN, NASTY, LEGAL HARASSMENT. Nothing to be proud about. It is a SHAME. ALEXANDER SHILO Editorial Changes Announced at the Voice Shumaker Taking Sabbatical, Campbell to Take the Reins Some changes are in store for The Voice of the Hill staff. Scott Shumaker, Voice editor since 2001, will be taking a sabbatical from his position, effective with the March issue. In the interim, Joseph Campbell, Capitol Hill resident, will assume editorial duties. Joe has a Master's in English and has held editorial positions for a myriad of publications. He has also taught technical and creative writing at a major North Carolina university. Assistant Editor Andrew Noyes, who joined the Voice staff in May and who has been assistant editor since August, will continue in this capacity. The Voice of the Hill will continue to feature our many columnists and writers. "I'm so pleased to have the chance to work with such talented writers and publishers," Shumaker said. "And I have every confidence that under Joe's edi·torship, the newspaper will continue to thrive and offer our readers a fresh per·spective on the community they call home." Campbell may be reached at editor@voiceofthe hill.com or voiceofthehill@ hotmail.com. Noyes may be reached at voice@andrewnoyes.net. Shumaker plans to return to his position as editor in December. cityDesk CO VERING THE HILL'S POLITIC A L SCENE AND MORE STORIES BY PATTI SHEA Students Ask ANC 6A for Community Projects Group Looking for Strong Opportunities in the City Representatives from Gonzaga College High School notified ANC 6A commissioners and audience members that they were looking for "substantive community service projects in Ward 6 over our spring break, the summer and during the spring semester." The group has completed several jobs through·out the country but is looking for stronger opportu·nities in the city. "We are looking for projects that would benefit the community but have not been accomplished due to a lack of resources," a flyer released by the school said. For more information, interested citizens or organizations are asked to contact advisors Breandan Hartnett at 202-336-7108 or bhartnett@ gonzaga.org or Patrick Jordan at 202-500-3038 or pjordan@gonzaga.org/ Kramer Group House Project Expanding? Ron Whipple from the Kramer Street Association reported that construction tape was surrounding the house next door to the soon-to-be group home for troubled girls at 1626 Kramer Street, NE. Whipple said he approached one of the construc·tion workers to inquire about the tape. He said the worker said he couldn't say anything about the project and referred Whipple to the Youth Services Administration, the organization building the home. In a report attached to the ANC 6A Jan. 8 meeting agenda, the association reports that they expect the YSA to expand the project to a string of homes along the street. Calls to YSA to confirm this allegation weren't returned by press time. The Kramer Street Association has asked the ANC to add the Kramer project to its February meeting agenda. Although not decided on at that meeting, it is expected the panel will discuss the subject at its Feb. 12 meeting. MedLink Appeal Denied Commissioner Cody Rice said the Board of Zoning Adjustment upheld MedLink's reduction in park·ing spaces, a plan opposed by the Stanton Park Neighborhood Associati on. The board denied the association's appeal 3-2. Rice said if the neighborhood group decides to appeal the BZA decision, it would move to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The commission decided to wait and see if such an appeal was made by the association before send·ing a letter of support. MedLink, located on the 700 block of Constitution Ave, NE, is classified as a community-based residential facility and doesn't need the same parking space as allotted to hospitals, Rice said the BZA board decided. More Love for Lovejoy Needed Commissioner Mustante said Friends of Lovejoy Park have held two successful fund raisers to raise $10,000 for the first phase of construction of the park, located on E Street, NE, between 11th and 12th streets. However, Mustante said $2,000 more is needed to meet the matching-funds commitment set by a developer who is constructing apartments adjacent to the park. He said the group is preparing grant applications and are reaching out to environmental organiza·tions to partner with the project. The project is expected to cost $110,000, Mustante said. For more information, interested persons may contact Mustante at 202-548-2542 or musanteanc@ yahoo.com. Liquor Store Gets Agreement Commissioner Alberti said a draft voluntary agree·ment has been presented to the owners of Anita's Market for signing. The ANC has battled with the establishment over its violation of many city poli·cies. The store is located on the 200 block of 15th Street, NE. The panel has protested the city's issuing Anita's a liquor license. As a part of the protest, the city requires the ANC impacted to sign agreements with the business owners to make them legally bound to obey city regulations. Alberti said he would monitor the situation and report back to the commission. Commissioners Wanda Stevens-Harris, Cody Rice, Michael Mustante, Joseph Fengler and Nick Alberti were present. Commissioners Jessica Ward, Gladys Mack and Colleen Harris were absent. The next ANC 6C meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St., NE. Treasurer's Report Commissioner Alberti gave the panel's end-of-the year financial statement: Checking -- $19,748.43 Savings -- $4,120.09 6A Officers Remain Unchanged City code requires each ANC to hold board elec·tions every January for leadership positions on the committees. ANC 6A held its election Thursday, Jan. 8, with little to no fanfare. No changes were made to the leadership make-up of the panel. Officers are as follows: Chairman -- Joseph Fengler Vice Chairman -- Wanda Steven-Harris Secretary -- Michael Mustante Treasurer -- Nick Alberti Councilman Catania Visits ANC 6B Wants to Cap Home Taxes, Seeks Rx Revamp City Councilman David Catania told ANC 6B dur·ing its Jan. 13 meeting he has submitted legislation that, if passed, would cap property tax assessments at 10 percent. He said the skyrocketing assessments are pushing residents out of their homes and in the long run is costing homeowners thousands of dollars. The councilman said the current cap of 25 percent is making homeownership in the District an unat·tractive alternative. "I want to put the District on the corner of Main Street and Main Street," Catania said. Catania also told the panel that he has submitted language that could save the city millions of dollars on prescription drugs. The bill would require the city to "smart purchase" drugs, which could result in a savings of roughly 30 percent, with low-income seniors benefitting the most. The city spends roughly $300 million a year on prescription drugs for its employees, prisoners and Medicaid recipients, he said. A commissioner asked if Catania was thinking about running for mayor. Catania quipped, "No, I'm running for the door." For more information about the two bills, visit Catania's website at http://www.dccouncil.washing-ton.dc.us/CATANIA/home/ Panel Requests Truck Study The commission unanimously voted to ask the District Department of Transportation to conduct a survey of the trucking of hazardous materials through residential areas on the Hill. Concerns have increased with the influx of tanker truck traffic on 8th Street due to the security measures taken around the Capitol. "Streets on Capitol Hill are already taxed due to the increase in traffic and weight, especially in the Historic District where older houses can easily suf·fer from structural damage due to road vibration," a report from the commission's planning and zoning committee stated. Among the list of items asked to be considered in the study are: · Which streets on the Hill have current restric·tions on tanker truck or other hazardous materials transports? · What emergency preparedness programs are in effect in the event of an accident involving one of these trucks? Tell our advertisers you saw their ads in The Voice of the Hill · What are the weight limitations for tankers? · Are there any regulations limiting the distance of tanker trucks and hazardous material transports from a school? Commissioner Dave Sheldon asked to have rail·road fuel tankers that run beneath parts of the Hill also included in the study. One audience member agreed with the ANC, cit·ing the Jan. 13 deadly fuel tanker crash on Interstate 95. Dragon's Booze Plan Nixed The panel unanimously decided to protest the issuance of a liquor license for the New Dragon Carryout eatery, located on 15th Street, SE. Instead, the commission wants to rezone 15th Street to comply with residents' wishes. "[T]his is primarily a residential neighborhood, and many of the buildings that held past business·es are boarded up and come and go quickly," a report from the planning committee states. "The neighbors feel that this should be zoned R-4, a pri·marily residential zone." Commissioner Kenan Jarboe said there is a loop·hole in city regulations that loosely defines fast food establishments compared to carryout facili·ties. He said rezoning would do the trick. "We need a test case to define the regs," Jarboe said. "If we get a ruling in our favor, it can be applied to other establishments as necessary." Commissioners Kenan Jarboe, Scott Cernich, Will Hill, Neil Glick, Dave Sheldon, Mary Wright and Julie Olson were present. Commissioners Francis Campbell, Keith Smith and Daryl Snowden were absent. The next ANC 6B meeting will begin 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave., SE. ANC 6C Gives Paradigm Nod for Wax Museum Site Contention Over Analysis Rapts Panel During a special meeting on Jan. 7, ANC 6C OK'd the Central Market Commons on the old Wax Museum site on the 400 block of K Street, NW. Paradigm Construction got the blessing from the commission; the construction firm intends to con·struct mixed-use, multi-family housing and retail space--including a Harris Teeter grocery store. The ANC has no final approval of the project, but a 'yes' from the commission weighs heavily with city planners. "The result of deliberation and unanimous deci·sion by the 6C commission was to support as our first option the Central Market Commons proposal with the suggestion that both a greater level of retail and at least 50 percent green roof be negotiat·ed by the RLCRC," according to a letter from the commission to the RLC Revitalization Corporation, the non-profit sector of the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC). NCRC is expected to decide on the project some·time this month. However, contention arose at the Jan. 14 ANC 6C meeting after commissioners objected to an analy·sis of the projects (conducted by Commissioner Rob Hall), which was attached to the letter sent to RLCRC. Even though the entire commission signed off on Hall sending an analysis during the Jan. 7 meeting, they objected a week later, claiming Hall has superceded his position as chair and injected his personal feelings about the project into the analysis. They said they hadn't seen the analysis until after it was sent to the RLCRC. Hall disputed that, stating that he has disclosed several times throughout the 15-some page analysis that it was his personal analysis, and that it wasn't a statement b commission as a whole. While some commissioners agreed with Hall's interpreta·tion of the project, Commissioner Daniel Pernell disagreed, claiming Hall was trying to leave the panel out of the decision-making process. Pernell accused Hall of leaving out commissioner Lawrence Thomas whose single-member district includes the project. Commissioner Thomas con·firmed that Hall had indeed shown him a copy of the analysis and signed off on it. Nonetheless, Pernell insisted that another letter be sent to the RLCRC without Hall's analysis. The group acquiesced to the request to prevent the meeting from dipping past three hours long. Central Market Commons was heavily favored by the panel because it teamed up with the H Street Community Development Corporation and will use DC-based lenders. Commission: GAO Project Not OK The commission told the General Accounting Office--the auditing firm of the federal govern-ment--to come back when it has more information about its intention to expand its headquarters located on 400 block of G Street, NW. For security reasons, the GAO intends to expand its perimeter around the block, said GAO represen·tative Mallory Andrews, who added that he found out about the project that day. Andrews said the GAO wants to move forward with the security plans by February. The building also houses the Army Corps of Engineers. Upset, the panel said that it wants time to look at the agency's proposals--which include expanding the facade to the sidewalk 30 feet and the installa·tion of barriers around the building. The panel didn't like the fact the GAO was sending this to the ANC at the 11th hour and didn't see the threat accountants posed to national security. "My son is an accountant. I know they are national treasures," Commissioner Bob Morris quipped. "I see no security threats around the GAO building. This is a waste of public money." Commissioner Hall told Andrews that the panel's planning committee needed to look at the pro·posed project and make a recommendation to the commission during its February meeting. "You can't spring it on us like it was sprung on you," Hall told Andrews. Andrews replied, "We thought we covered the bases." He added that the security measures will move forward. "We want to be good neighbors, obviously." Commissioner Charley Docter said the city's Public Space Committee, if asked, would hold back its approval a month to give the ANC time to review the plan. Community Announcements H Street Strategic Planning Hearing There will be an upcoming public meeting to dis·cuss the city's plans for the H Street revitalization project. The meeting will be held at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Those interested in testifying are asked to call Artha Latta at 202-724-8196 or e-mail her, alatta@ dccouncil.us with their name, address, telephone number and organizational affiliation. Those sub·mitting written testimony is asked to bring copies of their testimony with them. Speakers may be lim·ited to three minutes. Tour Bus Debate The District Department of Transportation held a public meeting on Jan. 14 to address the creating of tour bus parking facilities, the expansion of curb·side loading and the enforcement of bus parking policies. Although the meeting coincided with ANC 6C's monthly meeting, written testimony can be sent until Jan. 30 to Rick Rybeck, 2000 14th Street, NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC, 20009. 6C Leadership Stays Put ANC 6C renewed its leadership for 2004 with no new changes in officers. Chair -- Rob Hall Vice Chair -- Mark Dixon Treasurer -- Bill Crews Secretary -- Karen Wirt Treasurer's Report Commissioner Bill Crew gave the latest report on the panel's checking account, which has a $17,008.51 balance. Commissioners Rob Hall, Bill Crews, Karen Wirt, Lawrence Thomas, Mark Dixon, Daniel Pernell, Bob Morris and Charley Docter were present. Commissioner April Hall was absent. The next ANC 6C meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Children's Museum, 800 3rd St., NE. Waterfront Plan Management Raises More Concern At ANC 6D Meeting Commissioner Ed Johnson said the new plans for the Southwest Waterfront call for a quasi-public entity to manage the plan. During a short discussion at the January meeting of ANC 6D, Johnson questioned the ability of the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC)--the organization overseeing the revital·ization project. "Do we keep the one bad thing we have?" Johnson asked. Commissioner Mary Williams said something needs to be done to protect the residents. "This [project] will have an impact on our quality of life," she said. Whatever is done, it was made clear that a base·ball stadium was not welcome in Southwest. Commissioners Andy Litsky and C.W Hargraves balked at any notion of installing a ballpark in the area. We need to "ensure if legislation is passed, base·ball should not be in Southwest," Litsky said. Whether talk about the city putting a baseball stadium in the region were fact or rumor was not clarified by press time. WASA Plans Plant Upgrades in SW, SE Representatives from the District Water and Sewage Authority were on hand to notify the panel about planned upgrades to its plants on Main Street and O Street, SE. The renovations are a part of the agency's billion dollar upgrade program, said WASA spokesman Keith Givens. According to WASA, a new seawall will be installed along the Anacostia River, as well as repairs made to leaky roofs, full rehabilitation to plant pumps and new machinery for odor control purposes. Construction is expected to begin in 2005 and completed by 2008. There will be no disruption in services, Givens said. Water quality and sewage services are expected to improve after the project is completed, the agency told the panel. For more information about the plan, click on www.dcwasa.com. The commission held its election of officers for 2004. Leadership remained unchanged. The board stands as follows: Capitol Hill Cooperative Play School 212 E. Capitol St. NE Open House: Thur., Feb. 26, 2pm-4pm Registration for 2004-2005: March 8-12: Sibling priority applications due. March 13: 8:45am - 9:15am Open Lottery. A wholly parent staffed Play School, CHCPS provides a warm, supportive environment for two year old play as well as giving Capitol Hill parents the opportunity to meet other families. Sessions are for 1 or 2 mornings per week. Child must be 2 before Dec. 31, 2004. See Web site for additional information: http://www.monarchsolutions.com/chcps/ or contact Kit Peterson 543-1214. CALL 202 546 1746 OR VISIT WWW.SAINTJAMESCHURCH.ORG Experience it all this Sunday at St.James' 7:40 am Matins / 8 am Low Mass /10 am High Mass 222 EIGHTH STREET NE . WASHINGTON . DC 20002 129 THOMAS JENKINS and COMPANY AProfessional Corporation Certified Public Accountants Corporation, Partnership, Trust, Individual Income Tax & Financial Planning 202-547-9004 Washington, DC Chair -- Ahmed Assalaam Vice Chair -- Roger Moffat Treasurer -- Robert Siegel Secretary -- Ed Johnson Treasurer's Report Commissioner Bob Siegel updated the panel on its financial status. The board decided to have its exec·utive committee decide how petty cash disburse·ment will be handled in the future. Commissioner accounts stand as follows: Checking -- $19,895.94 Savings -- $5,065.90 Commissioners Ed Johnson, Andy Litsky, Roger Moffat, Ahmad Assalaam, Mary Williams, C.W. Hargraves and Bob Siegel were present. The next ANC 6D meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at the Millennium Arts Center, 65 I Street, SW. For more information, interested persons may call 202-554-1795. Patti Shea is the Voice's political reporter. She can be reached at patti@voiceofthehill.com. Hand Made Egyptian Gifts & Oils · Imported from Cairo Khan El-Khalili 321 7th Street, SE 202-543-5295 1-800-397-9441 Mohamed & Venetta Khattab Owners downLoad ITEMS OF INTEREST FR OM THE VOICE WEBSITE FOR THE LAST MONTH Thursday Night Classes Offered on Barracks Row Barracks Row Main Street is organizing classes on 8th Street to help fight off the winter blues. The educational series willnumber of diverse topics, including bicycle repair, cooking, aroma therapy, do-it-yourself framing, wine tast·ing, and a spring fashion show for women. All class·es are offered on Barracks Row and most cost $10. Call (202) 544-3188 or email bmcleod@ barracksrow.org or reservations. February 5, 7-8 p.m. -- Aroma Therapy at Hoopla Traders. Pamper yourself or someone you love with a custom aroma-therapy fragrance. Choose the perfect blend of relaxation and romance from up to five essential oils. You will be guided by Nature's Break founder Alice Martin Thomas, who will intro·duce you to the benefits of aroma therapy using essential oils extracted from plants and herbs. Hoopla Traders is located at 733 8th St., SE. The class is free, but materials will cost from $10-20. February 12, 7-8 p.m. -- Do-it-yourself Framing at Frame of Mine. Yes, you can frame your own art·work at Frame of Mine and save 30 percent off cus·tom framing. Owner Cissy Webb will teach you how to matt and frame a piece of art. Class is $10 per person. Frame of Mine is located at 522 8th Street, SE. February 19, 6-7 p.m. -- Wine Tasting at Chat's Liquors. Learn the difference between dry and wet wines and the best wine for the right meat or occa·sion. Bernie Williams, owner of Chat's, will walk you through this fun introduction to new wines on the market from around the world. Chat's is locat·ed at 503 8th Street, SE. Class is $10 per person. February 26, 6-7 p.m. -- Fashion Show at Plaid. Refresh your wardrobe for Spring with clothes from Plaid's Spring collection. The show will feature the new warm weather fashions highlighting party dresses, business separates, and weekend wear. Plaid is located at 715 8th Street, SE. Class is $10 per person, including drinks and appetizers. Barracks Row Main Street is a nonprofit organiza·tion revitalizing 8th Street, SE between Penn·sylvania Avenue and M Street in Washington, DC. Established in 1999 by the Barracks Row Business Alliance, Barracks Row Main Street's mission is to benefit the broadest possible local community by restoring 8th Street, SE as a vibrant commercial cor·ridor linking Capitol Hill to the Anacostia River. DC Access Brings WI-FI to Multi-Tenant Units on Capitol Hill Alliances Allow DC Access to Enter into the Multi-Tenant Unit (MTU) DC Access, a leading Washington, DC-based ISP, announced today it has successfully deployed Wi-Fi antennas on several multi-tenant units (MTUs) on Capitol Hill. With the objectives of expanding its footprint and signing on new subscribers for its wireless Internet offering, DC Access is partnering with local property managers and owners of resi·dential and commercial MTUs. DC Access is currently in discussions with several property management companies and has secured two alliances, including one with Evolve, LLC. Under the agreement, Evolve will provide strategic rooftop and internal space in various multi-family properties throughout the area, allowing DC Access to increase the coverage area of its wireless Internet offering. In exchange, Evolve's residents are eligible to subscribe to DC Access' Wi-Fi service at a dis·counted price. Until recently, property managers who were interested in offering high-speed Internet access to their residents had limited options, with the most common being DSL (cable is available in limited areas on Capitol Hill). In addition to the slow response time from customer service and technical support staff, DSL outages are common as it relies on the public telephone infrastructure, which is almost 100 years old in the District. DC Access is actively seeking partners in the real estate development community, who are interested in deploying Wi-Fi at their multi-tenant residential or commercial buildings. "Demand from tenants for high-speed Internet access has dramatically increased over the last couple years and will contin·ue to do so. High-speed Internet is no longer viewed as an amenity, but a requirement," said Matt Wade, president of DC Access. "Evolve is one of the first property management companies to recognize the need for and benefits of Wi-Fi. We expect others to follow Evolve's lead in evaluating DC Access' Wi-Fi offering as an effective tool to attract new tenants and create new revenue streams." "Wi-Fi is a superb example of technology that can greatly enhance the quality of life for our resi·dents," said Christopher Swanson of Evolve, LLC. "Evolve prides itself on being an early adopter of technological advances like Wi-Fi because it serves to further differentiate our apartment amenities from the rest of the rental market." DC Access' high-speed Internet offering leverages Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, which eliminates the "last mile" connection problems usually associ·ated with landline services. Known as "outdoor Wi-Fi," DC Access uses high-powered antennas to broadcast wireless Internet connections directly to customers' homes and businesses. Customers receive the benefits of high-speed broadband without having to order a physical con·nection from a large telecommunications provider. With speeds up to 800kbps, DC Access' Wi-Fi offer·ing is 16 times faster than dial-up and more than double that of residential DSL. For more informa·tion visit www.dcaccess.net or call 202-546-5898. Giovanni's Art Group of Capitol Hill & the SE Branch Public Library Presents Art Above the Stacks A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month during February at the SE Branch Public Library 403 7th St., SE, 202-698-3377. Artists reception February 17 from 6 -9 p.m. featuring live musicians, and a meet and greet with the artists and poets. Refreshments will be provided. Proposed PSA Boundaries On January 12, 2004, Mayor Anthony A. Williams and the Metropolitan Police Department presented the DC Council with proposed new boundaries for police districts and Police Service Areas (PSAs). The new structure is designed to enhance police servic·es in DC neighborhoods and to increase communi·ty involvement in "community policing." This will be accomplished by aligning the PSAs more closely with DC neighborhoods, improving police coordi·nation with other city services in addressing prob·lems that impact crime, and by giving PSAs the staffing flexibility to fight crime more effectively at the neighborhood level. The DC Council has a 60-day period in which to review the proposed new boundaries. The MPDC anticipates implementing the new structure soon after the review period. DC Council Members to Chair 'DC for Dean' Seeking Big Win for Dean in Final Weeks of DC Primary Eight DC Council members have announced that they will co-chair DC for Dean, a 1,600-member volunteer group organized to support the presiden·tial campaign of Gov. Howard Dean in the District of Columbia. Jack Evans, Chair Pro Tempore of the City Council (Ward 2); Jim Graham (Ward 1); Kathleen Patterson (Ward 3); Adrian Fenty, (Ward 4); Vincent Orange (Ward 5); Sharon Ambrose (Ward 6); Sandy Allen (Ward 8); and Phil Mendelson (At Large) will lead the effort. In each of their wards, the council members will contact thousands of District residents by mail, phone, e-mail, and in person to get out the vote for Governor Dean. Evans emphasized, "By organizing this primary, we have the opportunity to demon·strate to the rest of the country that this is an important stop on the road to the presidency, and that Washington, DC, supports Howard Dean." Council member Graham lauded the accom·plishments of both DCFD and Out for Dean, a vol·unteer group focusing on support for Governor Dean in the GLBT community. "These groups are built from the grassroots, and their energy and vitality represent everything good about our demo·cratic process," stated Graham. Council member Orange praised Dean, stating, "I take great pride in supporting a Dean victory on January 13. Governor Dean is going to do more than just talk about civil rights. He is going to fight for the rights of all citizens regardless of race, gen·der or sexual preference." Council member Ambrose added, "Dean is the only candidate with executive experience who has provided healthcare reform, jobs and balanced budts." DCFD was founded by a small group of DC resi·dents led by Pat Johnson, a Ward 6 homeowner and local activist. Lesbian & Gay Chorus Celebrates 20th Anniversary Concert Scheduled for February The Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington (LGCW), with Music Director C. Paul Heins, will celebrate its 20th Anniversary with two perform·ances: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8. Both performances will be at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 4th Street and Independence Avenue, SE. Tickets are $20 and are available by phone reservation (202-546-1549), and at Lambda Rising, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), or TICKETplace (202-TICKETS). The Feb. 7 perform·ance will be interpreted for the hearing impaired, and the church is fully accessible. LGCW is a non-audition, consensus-based com·munity ensemble that performs choral programs, embracing all styles and eras and affirming diversi·ty of all kinds. Over the years, LGCW has featured a repertoire of choral music from Renaissance to pop·ular music, including music that affirms gay and lesbian pride and cultural diversity. The LGCW presents two major concerts annually and appears at numerous community events supporting local organizations. Music for the 20th Anniversary Concert includes selections from Toby Tate and Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell (both composers hailing from the Washington, DC, area), Gwyneth Walker, Bonnie Logan and Labi Siffre, as well as six movements from Robert Maggio's Quilt Panels (for my love, for my grief, for my letting go), which was inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt and commissioned by LGCW and DC's Different Drummers Concert Band. The world premiere of Quilt Panels (December 1, 2003, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at Maryland) was heralded as a "sweeping perform·ance" that created "a musical memoir that was pleading and warm, [and] emotionally tempestu·ous" (The Washington Post, December 3, 2003). For more information about LGCW's 20th Anniversary Concert, you may contact Jill Strachan at 202-546-1549 or visit www.lgcw.org. Complimentary tickets are available for people with HIV/AIDS, lesbians with cancer, sexual minor·ity youth, the hearing impaired, and others who cannot easily access the arts. Folger Theater to Present World Premiere of Craig Wright's Melissa Arctic NEA Grant to Support Production Folger Theatre continues its tradition of staging new and innovative interpretations of Shakespeare with the world premiere of Craig Wright's play Melissa Arctic, inspired by Shakespeare's late romance The Winter's Tale. Aaron Posner, who fea·tured music by Wright in his SRO Folger Theatre production of Twelfth Night last season, will direct. Melissa Arctic performs through February 29. Romance and joy are resurrected from grief through the redemptive power of art in Melissa Arctic. In mythical small towns of Minnesota, the lives of Leonard (Leontes), his wife Mina (Hermione), and their childhood friend Paul (Polixenes) are forever changed. Original music and lyrics by Wright add a unique dimension to this story of tragedy and rebirth. "I had always liked The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare," playwright Craig Wright explained recently in Washington Theater Review, "but never liked the way it ended with the indication that Hermione had been hidden away all these years by Paulina. It seemed so mechanical to me and not real·ly what the play was about. It's not that Shakespeare made a mistake; I just wished it were different. What I saw in the play was the notion that [Hermione] really is a statue and [she] really does come to life in the play. I wanted to portray the idea that art can restore to us things we've lost through our own errors or through the ravages of time." Melissa Arctic is the third in a series of Wright plays set in Pine City, Minnesota, including Molly's Delicious and Pulitzer Prize-nominee The Pavilion. His play Recent Tragic Events received the American Theatre Critics Circle 2003 award and a 2002 Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding New Play. Other plays include Adventures While Preaching the Gospel of Beauty, Orange Flower Water, and Main Street; his work has been seen locally at the Round House Theatre and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and nationally at the Arden Theatre, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Denver Center Theatre Company, Manhattan Punchline Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, and Stages Rep·ertory. Additionally, Wright is a staff writer and story editor for HBO's Six Feet Under and a member of the alternative rock band Kangaroo. "Collaborating with Craig is a tremendous joy," says director Aaron Posner. "His understanding of human complexity and human frailty make him a perfect person to re-explore and reinterpret a com·plex play like The Winter's Tale. He has found new ways of seeing things that give this play an entire new series of resonance for today's audience. It's a wonderful and liberating experience to see how these characters live, breathe, and function in the vastly different circumstances of a whole new world and a new set of realities." Melissa Arctic is the third world premiere of a Craig Wright play directed by Posner. It is also his fourth production for Folger Theatre, with past directing credits that include last season's Twelfth Night, Othello (2002), and As You Like It (2001). Co·founder and resident director of Philadelphia's award-winning Arden Theatre, Posner has directed more than 30 of the Arden's productions. Melissa Arctic is produced by Janet Alexander Griffin, Folger Theatre's Artistic Producer. She has been the Director of Education and Public Programs at the Folger since 1982. The Helen Hayes Award-winning Folger Theatre, located at 201 E. Capitol Street, SE, annually per·forms a three-play season of Shakespeare as well as contemporary plays inspired by the Bard and his times in the Folger's 250-seat theatre, a replica of the innyard theatres popular in Shakespeare's time. Folger Theatre is a member of the League of Washington Theatres and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington. Performances will run Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ($30-38); and Friday & Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. ($40-48). Saturday & Sunday matinees will show at 2 p.m. ($35-43). Tickets can be purchased online at www.folger.edu or by calling the box office at 202.544.7077. DC Suspends Street Cleaning Program Begins Again In Mid-March If you park your car on a residential street in the District during street cleaning times, you won't have to move it for the next 10 weeks. The DC gov·ernment suspended the program starting Monday until mid-March. The DC Department of Public Works suspended the program because the cold weather makes it impractical and dangerous to spray water on roads. However, other parking restrictions remain in place. Officials said the city will take advantage of any warm days during the winter months to catch up on street cleaning. Sweepers will operate on an unscheduled basis and without parking restrictions Mardi Gras Comes to Washington As Theme of Thomas Circle Singers Gala Festivities Planned for Feb. 28 at Washington Plaza It's "Fat Tuesday" time again--and what better way to celebrate the fun than an evening of dancing, food and drink while at the same time helping out a great cause? Join members of the Thomas Circle Singers (TCS), board members and friends for an evening of music and frolic, Mardi Gras style, at the organization's annual gala, to be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW. In addition to lively entertainment provided by the band Street Life (back by popular demand from last year's event), the gala features TCS's annual silent auction, filled with interesting items and services donated by local businesses and individu·als, along with the chance for revelers to meet, min·gle and raise money to support TCS's work. TCS, under the artistic direction of James Kreger, is in its 28th season of choral excellence and com·munity service. Hailed by critics and the public alike for its combination of superior artistry and service to the community, TCS continues its social mis sion while presenting exceptional choral per·formances. Proceeds from the Feb. 28 gala help TCS and its goals to remain an invaluable supporter to local non-profit organizations that enrich the DC community. Recognized for its consistent musical excellence and unwavering commitment to the DC communi·ty, TCS performances have raised over $120,000 for local non-profit organizations in the last seven years alone. This season, TCS continues this tradi·tion by donating all concert ticket proceeds to groups that promote youth leadership develop·ment: The Empower Program, Life Pieces To Masterpieces, and Beacon House Community Ministry. TCS was founded in 1976, with the support of Luther Place Memorial Church, as a vehicle to raise funds for charities in Washington. Over the years, TCS, known as "voices that make a difference," has served the city's neediest residents. In recognition of the Thomas Circle Singers' unwavering commit·ment to the community, Washingtonian Magazine named TCS one of the Washingtonians of the Year in 2000. In addition, WETA-FM honored artistic director James Kreger as a Hometown Hero in 2001. For more information and to order gala tickets online, interested persons may log on to www.thomascirclesingers.org. Those businesses and individuals who have an item they wish to donate to the silent auction should contact TCS at 202-232-3353, or send an email to info@thomas circlesingers.org. Star Supporter tickets for the gala are $125 each; the cost of a regular ticket is $50. Ward 6 Citizen Summit Planned All Capitol Hill residents are wanted to participate in the Ward 6 Neighborhood Citizen Summit on Thursday, Feb. 26. Mayor Anthony Williams will attend the event where among the topics of discussion will be the long-term vision for the city and the priorities and initiative in next year's budget, as well as a question and answer session. The summit begins at 7 p.m. at the newly com·pleted Sherwood Recreation Center, 1000 G Street, NE. For more information call (202) 727-2822 or visit citi-zensummit.dc.gov/ State of the District Address City residents are invited to hear Mayor Anthony Williams give his annual State of the District address at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the Lincoln Threatre, 1215 U Street, NW. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information call (202) 422-8150 or click on http://dc.gov/mayor/ news/ Tell our advertisers you saw their ads in The Voice of the Hill BusinessSnapshots BY URSULA GR OSS District Cityscapes Owner: Hal Seitz 202-409-0606 How is landscaping in a city unique (as opposed to the suburbs, for instance)? There are a lot of challenges. For example, we do 7·11s here in the city. Before we started, they were a mess--no landscaping company would touch them. We find whisky and vodka bottles--all sorts of things--but the job is a real point of pride for me. To tackle this challenge, make it beautiful, what could be more satisfying? How is working on Capitol Hill, in particular, unique? A lot of beautiful gardens and very funky proper·ties. You also have a lot of structures, which makes you worry about the sunlight bouncing off build·ings, the shade, etc. It's a whole different animal than working in the country. Also, some of these gardens on the Hill have been neglected for 60 years, and restoring them to their past glory is real·ly rewarding. Capitol Hill Art & Frame · Expert custom designs · Museum quality materials · Superior frame selection · Same day framing available · Custom framed mirrors 623 Pennsylvania Ave., SE 202 546-2700 10-6 Tues-Sat · Eastern Market Metro There is a wind chill outside right now; what can you do for customers? We can do snow removal...and that's about it. This is the time I take to rest because during the spring I work seven days a week, sometimes 14 hours a day. How did you get started in landscaping? I grew up in Silver Spring, Md., in an apartment building. I didn't know anything about gardening; I never even had to push a lawn mower growing up. On a whim I took a job on a farm in West Virginia to get out of the city for a while. Then I discovered that I had a love and a talent for gardening. I came back to DC and went right into business. What is your favorite garden--ever--in the world? The garden that just struck me as being beautiful was the Hagley Museum in Wilmington, Del. It's a place where my Irish ancestors immigrated to work in the gunpowder factories for the DuPont Company. We went back there for historical rea·sons, and I was struck by the beauty of the grounds. What is one easy way to improve a garden or a yard? Call me. (Laughs) Really. What I see is people who start a project in the spring and have all these high hopes. A week later, they start neglecting it. To real·ly have a beautiful garden, you have to work on it every day. Pull weeds, do whatever has to be done, whatever, but do it every day. To see a few pictures of Hal's favorite garden, go to the Hagley Museum website, http://www.hagley .lib.de.us/. K.C. COMPANY Owned and operated by the Cassidy Family since 1931 12100 Baltimore Ave. Suite 1 Beltsville, MD 20705 TIM ALLEN, Sales Leader 301-419-7669 Fax 301-419-2963 Mobile 301-675-9324 Email tallen@kc-pella.com VIEWED TO BE THE BESTTM Fairy Godmother Owner: Roberta Blanchard 319 7th St., SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-5474 Why and when did you open the Fairy Godmother store? After I had children, I found that while many won·derful books and toys were available for all ages (infants through teens), finding such items required sorting through many that were not inter·esting, creative or challenging enough for the chil·dren. I've been here 18 years since then. What items do you carry and how do you chose them? We carry craft kits and art supplies, puzzles, books, toys, music, etc. that will engage a child's creativity and mind. I believe that toys should be attractive, well-made, fun and have multiple ways to be used. I store. [A customer interjects that the "knowledge, selection and honesty" of a store like Fairy Godmother are also attributes not to be over·looked.] What has been your favorite thing about owning a business on Capitol Hill? Capitol Hill is a wonderful place to have a business. We have a very diverse clientele that makes each sale a very individual selection. Most people living and working on the Hill do so because they enjoy the feeling of a small town and the personal service and attention a small business can provide. Many of our customers go out of their way to support the small, individually owned businesses that still exist. Do you have any advice for potential small business owners? Be willing to work more hours that you initially thought would be needed. Ursula Gross is a freelance writer who lives on the Hill. She can be reached at UrsulaGross@yahoo.com. Capitol Hill's oasis of peace, tranquility rejuvenation Facials · Massage Therapy · Waxing Microdermabrasion · Manicure · Pedicures Body Treatments · Spa Parties GIFT CERTIFICATES & SPECIAL PACKAGES AVAILABLE Call 202- 544-8268 Councilwoman Sharon Ambrose: Reflecting, Looking Forward Voice of the Hill reporter Patti Shea recently sat down with City Councilwoman Sharon Ambrose to discuss her plans and goals for 2004, as well as reflecting back on 2003. VOTH: What are your goals for the Barracks Row to the Sousa Bridge. Hill this year? And I'm hopeful we can begin to do SA: I think there are some develop-that. I'm becoming increasingly ment projects that are ongoing that hopeful that we will get the Boys we've got to move to completion, Town site straightened out, and by one of course is Kentucky Courts, "straightened out," I mean I hope we which I'm very, very proud of will see that Boys and Girls Town because that was something I negoti-does not develop that site the way ated with the housing authority. I they had originally intended, and think it will make a big difference in that it can be developed for more that community. The other is appropriate purposes, that is resi-Reservation 13--to get that moving dential and retail. I'm becoming to zoning, to get an RFP [request for more otic about that. proposals] out, and to make sure that I think that there are some great we start getting some development possibilities for H Street. The on that site, because I will not, WILL Children's Museum, as everyone NOT, have anymore correctional knows by now, will be moving, and I facilities on that site. And the com-think that's going to happen sooner munity is going to have to focus in rather than later. The Children's on that; the more foot dragging that Museum [site] is beginning to attract goes on in respect to the zoning some unsolicited proposals that are issue and the plan, the more I worry very exciting, and they all include a about getting correction facilities mix of residential and commercial, there. which is exactly what we need there to jump-start the rest of H Street, and VOTH: St. Coletta in particular? perhaps a little bit farther north. If Some people are dragging their feet we could jumpstart that, and you about that. could get Douglas Jamal (???) to SA: Let's move on. There are 40-move on the Uline site, we could some acres behind there. Let's get that taken care of, or we will have some potentially unpleasant things. have some real movement and stabi·lization of that whole corridor near Northeast, which is a corridor that I mean, how can people read these has been a public safety concern to stories about what's going on at the citizens for quite some time. jail and not connect it to what I've been saying for three years? VOTH: What were some of your top We've got to get Reservation 13 achievements in 2003? squared away, and we have to get the SA: Barracks Row is fabulous. I whole subject of DC jails squared wouldn't say that I personally feel away. [Councilwoman] Kathy responsible for that. I pushed it Patterson passed legislation that I along, that's for sure. was very instrumental in urging her to do that will require within the VOTH: A little bright, isn't it? next two years for our correction SA: (Laughing) Yes, it's a little bright, program to meet the standard of the but once the trees are up I think that American Correctional Association, will be screened, and if you talk to which has standards in respect to the merchants they would tell you it the housing issue. can be too bright. I was just at a Another priority for me is to get meeting last week with the police some economic development mov-and Barracks Row merchants, and ing on Pennsylvania Avenue from there are still problems on Barracks Row. I think the lights are helping. I think that we still have a lot of public safety issues on the Hill. I'm very happy with the fact that my legislation was approved by the council, which caused the new [Police Service Area (PSAs)] bound·aries to come back to the council for review. And I have to say that police department has been very coopera·tive in working with me and the citi·zens of Ward 6 in straightening out the boundaries. VOTH: There's a worry about H Street getting split up between two PSAs. Are you working on that? SA: Yes, we had had some discussion about it earlier. But we will continue to discuss it. The police chief has told me he will adjust things because the department recognizes, and my colleagues on the council recognize, that Ward 6 has had the most active involvement in PSAs of any ward in the city. And, in fact, we're the only ones who were really unhappy the way the original boundaries were drawn. So I'm very pleased they have been as cooperative as they have been so far, and I anticipate they will continue to be cooperative. VOTH: The natatorium re-opened in September, and it seems to be a hit. And Sherwood Recreation Center also recently opened. Are there any other similar community projects in store for Ward 6? SA: There is another brand-new recreation center, the King-Greenleaf Center in Southwest, that I hope is going to be as nice; it may even be a little bit bigger than Sherwood. I'm very pleased with Sherwood. Hopefully King-Greenleaf will be as nice, if not nicer. I'll tell you one thing that I'm real anxious to be working with. There is a group of Capitol Hill residents who have formed an organization to work on the Eastern Market Metro plaza, and I think that is going to be a proj·ect I'm going to want to see taken care of. The merchants on 8th Street will tell you they don't like that bus stop right there on the corner near Starbucks. And this is not new. This has been going on forever; the mer·chants have complained about that bus stop for fairly obvious reasons. And one of the things this group is doing is trying to find a way to make the Metro plaza a real transportation hub, but still make it pleasant. I think that will be a project we'll be watching. [The Metro plaza] is kind of the front yard of that beautiful library building. And, of course, there is the library discussion about the Old Naval Hospital and the Southeast Library. That's something I think is a difficult project to work through, but I think we've got some really terrific people working on it. And it's a proj·ect I support. VOTH: Concerning revitalization in Ward 6--you've already mentioned H Street. What about the wax museum site, Southwest Waterfront? SA: I've been extremely involved in www.voiceofthehill.com the Southwest Waterfront. The plan has generated some controversy, and it needs to be massaged even more. But I am supportive of forming a new corporation, an Anacostia Waterfront corporation, because I do think NCRC has so much on its plate that, really, to take on the complexi·ty of the waterfront is just more than you can ask one organization to han·dle. So I think forming a new corpo·ration to do that--like the Pennsylvania Avenue development corporation--would be a really good idea. In the meantime, NCRC should be announcing the developer for the Wax Museum site by the end of the month. One of the things that will be a part of the [project] will be a grocery store. And with on the new apartment buildings going up down in Pennsylvania Corridor, we really need a grocery store there. [Councilman] Jack Evans and I were adamant that there has to be a grocery store, and that has to be in the first phase, because the folks in Mt. Vernon Triangle need a grocery store there. So I think that is very exciting. Also, I had a conversation with Eric Price [Deputy Mayor for eco·nomic planning and development] and some other folks last week, and there might be room for another grocery store on the Hill proper. And that's something I'm not really pre·pared to get into today, but its some·thing that I was to talk to some folks about. I think we need a grocery store along M Street [SW], someplace that would serve what will be the new population and Arthur Capper-Carrollsburg and Southeast federal center, a little of Southwest, perhaps and Capitol Hill--and the after-work folks from the Navy Yard, and [Department of Transportation]. I'm still not thrilled about the DOT building, but I'm coming to grips with it. I'm very anxious to see what happens when the final deter·mination is made on the developer for the rest of the site. I have to say that the developers on the short list for that site are all developers whom I have worked with on other projects in Ward 6. It's always nice when you have developers who already have some stake, if you will, in the com·munity, so I'm optimistic about that development. VOTH: You said at a recent ANC meeting that you were going to try and work with city agencies to have a better notification process. How's that coming along? SA: I put legislation in that would require it. That will require notifica·tion when any city funds are going to be used to build or acquire. That covers the Kramer Street situation. I have also put a piece of legislation in that would kind of cover the notifi·cation problem that's being raised about the Boys Town issue. We can't have quite the same control, obvi·ously, because it's entirely private property. But it would at least require for any CBRF--this is why I did two separate pieces of legislation--for any CBRF that the ANC, the council members, be notified when a certifi·cate of occupancy is applied for... so at least theresome sort of notifica·tion. VOTH: What about the District presidential primary? SA: I'm really please about the turnout. I think it was a great turnout, and being a Howard Dean supporter, I'm pleased he did so well. I have to say that had the Howard Dean supporters in Ward 6 not worked so hard and had Al Sharpton not campaigned, I don't think we would have had that kind of turnout. But I think we should be grateful to those two candidates for their organization and campaigning in the District. VOTH: Volatile issues on the Hill-- Boys Town, Southwest Waterfront, Reservation 13. Can you expand on how you are going to try and work through those issues? SA: It's a matter of making sure that the city is responsive to community concerns... when you say communi·ty concerns, you know, there are sometimes going to be competing sectors in the community. Now we don't have too much in Ward 6 so far. What we have is sections of the community who are not quite happy with whatever the plan is for what·ever reason. And I'm trying to broker understanding about those things. Tomorrow, for example, I have bro·kered a meeting with Steve Green, one of Eric Price's deputies, and a group of folks about Reservation 13--a group of folks who wants the federal government, who owns Reservation 13, to essentially go through the same process they have gone through in respects to the Southeast Federal Center and choose a single developer, and I guess they want the federal government to do the choosing. I think we have been fortunate Over 20,000 square feet of furniture, carpets, paintings, lamps and accessories 202.547.3030 www.antiqueleasing.com Antique& Contemporary LEASING AND SALES 709 12th Street, SE · Washington, DC that we have been able to have the influence we have in respect to SE federal center, but that's only been because Andy Altman and Eleanor's office have really leaned on [General Services Administration (GSA)]. Otherwise the city could have been cut out of it; I mean, the city was cut out of the choice where you were going to put the DOT and who was going to build it. We had nothing to say about that. Originally the only thing we were able to do was for Andy to get them to do two build·ings instead of one. The original plans called for one mega structure. I don't know why these folks think it would be better to have GSA do [Reservation 13 planning], but they seem to. Quite honestly, I fear GSA might think additional correction facilities are the way to go, since the federal government is responsible for our prisoners at some point. As for Boys Town, I had numerous discussions with the corporation counsel and with DCRA, and I have tried to explain to the folks in the community that as far as those bod·ies are concerned, there were no errors made, and there are some good reasons why would prefer to not put a whole lot of stuff about this on the public record because the last thing we want to do is invite pri·vate institutions to build more such facilities. I somehow fear we might end up doing that if we had a hear·ing. At the moment I'm not plan·ning any hearings. There are some people very unhappy with me about that, and I have explained to them why I think it would be a bad idea to have a hearing. I'm hoping the Boys Town situation will resolve itself. VOTH: And what about the Waterfront? SA: We continue to move forward. The big sticking point in the plan on the Waterfront is, well, the yacht club wants to make sure they are treated fairly, and that, in fact, they don't have anything taken away. They really don't in the plan. The other [sticking points] are these things called "The Towers," two 12·story buildings. And people really object to those. I'm working with Andy Altman's office, and we con·tinue to talk about [moving some of] that density a little bit more along Water Street and not to have those buildings. I think we can resolve that. I'm very anxious to see that we get a tenant as soon as possible for Waterfront mall, because that is beginning to pose some safety issues. We really need to get it settled. And I guarantee you, because I've talked to them numerous times, that the folks who hold the current lease would love to have somebody in there. But they have some very good prospects. VOTH: Fannie Mae has been mentioned. SA: Yes. I don't know where that is, but I know there have been some discussions. I think that would be wonderful to have that sort of cam-pus-like business there. And I think they might do some residential there, as well as an investment in the community. So I'm really hoping that's going to be the case, and Frank Raines, the CEO of Fannie Mae, is currently chairing the capital cam·paign for Arena [Stage theater.] And Arena is going to look so stunning; everybody is going to want to see it. I think there are very exciting things happening in Ward 6. It's going to be a very big year, and I'm very excited about it. And I think that where we have some problems about some of these developments we will be able to work through them. I would like to see more investment in moderate-income housing. I'm hoping we will be able to make that happen. Now it will happen in Southwest, because 20 percent of any development in there will be moderate-income housing. It may be a little late for other places on the Hill, like Capitol Hill east... VOTH: Even Reservation 13? SA: Well, no, Reservation 13 we should be able to get some, depend·ing on who the developer is and what kind of quids pro quo we can work out in respect to infrastructure. If the city does all the infrastructure, then, yes, we should be able to get some. But the development in Ward 6 just keeps moving farther and far·ther east. I understand now that the old car barns are going to be redone as condos. Of course I'm still really con·cerned about MedLink and what might go in that space. I'm terribly disappointed that that development plan fell through...I worry greatly about what Dr. Shin might put in the building. The proposals that I have heard of would not make the community happy at all. It's a very big space to fill profitably for Dr. Shin ... I tried to convince the neigh·bors that were making all the noise about it that I had managed to keep a couple bad things from happening there before, but if they were going to continue to fight off any good things it was gong to be increasingly hard for me to fight off the bad things. I spend probably 60 percent of my time keeping bad things from hap·pening (laughing) and 40 percent being able to participate in good things. Patti Shea is the Voice's political reporter, and can be reached at patti@voiceofthehill.com. Surfing the Waves of Change How Businesses on the Hill Adapt to the Rising Tides BY JEFF MAR OOTIAN lot of people would dream of establishments have accentuated the opposite end on 3rd Street. Newer owning a bar or restaurant in area significantly, many successful businesses such as Kay Wigs fill in their lifetime. But most will longtime businesses on the Hill con-the spaces between Roland's never realize that dream. tinue to thrive and grow with the Grocery, Taverna the Greek Isles And for those who do, the changing dynamics. In fact, for Restaraunt, Thai Roma, and Lustre reality may be a bit disap-many commercial developers and Cleaners. The Pour House is under pointing. business owners, success is often relatively new ownership but will It has long been said that approxi-largely determined by the ability to continue to be the same type of mately 80 percent of small business-ride through these waves of change. establishment it has been--with es will fail or close within five years. some newly added concepts. On the Although many might modify that Special Blocks 200 block, Starbucks is only one cof·statement to clarify that failing and The 200 and 300 blocks of fee hot spot, with Firehook Bakery closing are not necessarily synony-Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, are home and DC Doughnut also popular des·mous, it can be reasonably assumed to many businesses and establish-tinations. The Trover Store repre·that a significant percentage of clo-ments that have endured over the sents the lder family businesses in sures are forced. years. Before there was a BID in place the community, which continue to On Capitol Hill there is an inter-to enhance security and sanitation be a constant in the neighborhood, esting commercial phenomenon tak-and promote capital improvements, while the Capitol Lounge and Il ing shape that involves new enter-businesses on the Hill began to Radicchio provide some of the din-prises, and in some cases newer shape the current commercial and ing options. developers. Almost any observer will residential environment. acknowledge that the residential and These blocks demonstrate the Long's Lessons Learned commercial life on the Hill is interconnectivity between new It is apparent that the blend of older dynamically changing. The recently entrepreneurship and long-term and newer businesses defines the formed Business Improvement ownership. The south side of the block. Stuart Long has been the District (BID) is one indication that block illustrates in some respects the owner of the Hawk 'n' Dove considerable resources and energy idea of one-stop shopping where a bar/restaurant for 37 years. In 1967, are being focused on the vibrancy of customer can conceivably take care Long leased the property from the the neighborhood, and one need not of all of their needs from one store-Lange family--contingent upon his look any further than the much spo-front to the next. inclusion of Mr. Lange's son as a ken about Barracks Row to see this in An Exxon station anchors the business partner. The property, then action. block on the corner of 4th Street as a home to Lange's real estate enter-Although the newer community newly inserted Cosi occupies the prise, Antiques on the Hill (which www.voiceofthehill.com would eventually relocate), and Alex's Greek Restaurant, transformed into what is now one of more popu·lar hangouts on the Hill and arguably throughout the entire District. Long has owned as many as seven establishments at one time on the Hill and also currently owns Gandel's and Café Recess on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. Long says the lessons he has learned over the years have been invaluable to his success and he applies them to his business regular·ly. "You have to look at your enter·prise as a new business every day," Long says, suggesting that this out·look has helped him maintain con·sistency in his business. He further says, "The most impor·tant thing is to assume nothing. You can't ever count on being busy." Long has observed many changes over the years to which he has claimed to pay very close attention. Almost all of the dining locations on the block, including the Hawk 'n' Dove, have a seasonal outdoor com·ponent that Long says has brought a different feel to the community since the inception of his business. "Sidewalk cafes are everywhere now," Long says, citing what he views as perhaps the most physically altered characteristic of the block. Paul Meagher has been with the Hawk 'n' Dove for over 25 years and currently serves as the general man·ager. He agrees with Long that the success of their business is in large part a result of their operational strat·egy. "It is critical to pay attention to every detail, have a good defense," says Meagher, "and equally as impor·tant is knowing when to take advan·tage of a situation by using a good offense." Such a situation might include the increase in competition brought on by the enhancement in commercial development. Both Meagher and Long agree that although increased competition leads to an initial "slight hit" in busi·ness, overall improvement is usually the end result in the long run. The secret to success, according to Meagher, is to be able to survive this process by using a focused winning strategy, comparable to that of an electoral campaign. A Vital Dynamic Other developers and community leaders agree that there is a vital interplay dynamic between new development and pre-existing busi·nesses. George Didden III, CEO of the National Capital Bank and chair·man of the recently formed Capitol Hill BID, makes a positive linkage between the redevelopment of 8th Street SE (Barracks Row) and other commercial enterprises on the Hill. Didden, a community leader who has witnessed much of the evolution of the Hill, has played a vital role in the overall formation of the area. He believes "a good mix of restaurants and other businesses adds to the overall appeal of Capitol Hill." He suggests that older businesses like the Trover Shop benefit from the increase in federal enclave foot traf·fic towards newer businesses like Cosi. Developer and community resi·dent Larry Quillian agrees. "With regard to restaurants, the more there are, the better." A Shift in Image In addition to bringing people to the area and increasing foot traffic and general area patronage, the expan·sion of these types of business con·tribute to a broader change in the reputation of the SE quadrant of the city west of the Anacostia River. According to Meagher, "People still have a sense of discomfort with any·thing that says 'SE,' even though we are one of the safest neighborhood in the City." The co-owners of the Pour House recognize the need to capitalize on the redefinition of the Capitol Hill area and have begun to collaboratively market and advertise together as a means of promoting the entire strip in addition to 8th Street, SE. Didden believes that the entire community is experiencing a shift in various respects, including its image. The number of Hill employees is growing, and the number of families moving into the area is increasing. Didden suggests, "You're now seeing literally hundreds of new faces on the Hill, and for the first time you're seeing baby strollers." Didden recalls that only a decade ago, many restau·rants were hit hard by changes in lobbying laws which drastically cut the amount of money a lobbyist could spend on a meal for an elected official. "A few restaurants were irreparably hurt by this," he states. Quillian--No Stranger to Development There is much more to success, how·ever, that often involves persistence, and that usually takes place beneath the surface. Larry Quillian is no stranger to development on the Hill and has been vocal about his long-standing battles with the Historic Preservation Review Board and the Restoration Society. When a neighborhood receives Historic District designation, it inevitably expands the process of development with the inclusion of additional necessary permits and procedural filings and hearings. Quillian suggests that this can be an obstacle and in some cases a deter·rent for people who want to pur·chase property. "It complicates the process because they (the HPRB and the Restoration Society) always say 'no.'" Quillian contends that people are inherently discouraged to develop new property or expand pre-existing property because "once they go through the process one time, they don't want to ever do it again." Other developers agree that such a process is time-consuming and can be costly, and most acknowledge that there is an important balance that needs to be reached between historic preservation and new devel·opment. With all these factors, it is clear that successful individual businesses require the ability to adapt to new trends, new laws and new communi·ty dynamics that may not be antici·pated. The reality of commercial development as a whole is that it is dependent on individual businesses succeeding in a supportive environ·ment, such as the one now being facilitated by the BID and other community forces. Riding the waves of change for developers like Stuart Long is not easy. But Long, who said he intends to retire at age 75, knows that estab·lishments like the Hawk 'n' Dove have served as a staple in a neighbor·hood that continues to evolve into one of the most popular destinations around. Jeff Marootian is one of the Voice of the Hill's newest contributors. Developer With a Vision Jim Abdo Moves His Midas Touch to the Hill BY TIMUR LOYNAB The banner that drapes the side of the newly restored Bryan School building on 13th Street and Independence Avenue promises "real lofts." The Bryan School project is the brainchild of Jim Abdo, the develop·er who's credited for Logan Circle's transformation from a sketchy, derelict neighborhood to an eco·nomically viable address that's now synonymous with urban chic. In his first Capitol Hill venture, Abdo hopes to bring his Midas touch to the Southeast neighborhood that will soon be known as Bryan Square. The area, much like the century-old Bryan School itself, had long been neglected. Less than a decade ago, developers and homebuyers alike dismissed the neighborhood as an area unfeasible for investment. They were likely intimidated by the neighborhood's infamous reputation as a haven for drug-peddlers and the conspicuous presence of Section 8 housing. Even now, Abdo admits the area is a transitional one at best, but sees that changing once more people discover the value and relevance of the neighborhood. "I love the neighborhood and saw its potential immediately," Abdo said. "But beyond the neighbor·hood, the building really spoke to me." What spoke to Abdo was the property's 40,000 square feet, its tall ceilings and dramatic windows--all of which are fundamental compo·nents to authentic loft living. Opportunity Knocks "This was an opportunity to do real, New York-style lofts, not McLofts, which there's an abundance of in this town," Abdo said. He's referring to the loft craze that's dominating the city's housing market and has developers, who are eager to turn a profit, jumping on the movement's bandwagon and scrambling to attach the word "loft" to their new condominium projects. "A lot of people in town will just go in and take down a few walls and sort of create some horizontal living space and call it a loft, which I think is unfortunate," Abdo said. It cer- www.voiceofthehill.com tainly isn't fair to a lot of would-be buyers who are out there reading descriptions of 'lofts' and running to go visit an open house only to find an 8-foot ceiling with just an open room awaiting them." But there's nothing dubious about Abdo's Capitol Hill project, said Ryall Smith of Coldwell Banker/ Pardoe Real Estate. "The Bryan School Lofts are the real deal," Smith said. Smith, an 18-year resident of Capitol Hill, is not only the listing agent for the Bryan lofts, but he's also among its newest purchasers. Smith said he was so impressed with the lofts that he decided to claim a unit for himself. "It's sexy," he said. "For a lot of us it's a little bit of a change from the Victorian row house. It's got the industrial look, the amazing spaces of a big old SoHo factory that is just so rare here in the district." Preservation and Innovation The Bryan School Lofts, like many Adbo projects that now dot the city's landscape, marry two--potentially contentious, interests--historic preservation with edgy urban inno·vation. Abdo has, by most accounts, been able to strike a balance between the two, and, in the process, created a niche for himself in adaptive reuse projects. "Jim understands the preservation law," said Steve Callcott, a preserva·tion planner for the city. "He under·stands the preservation process. He looks at preservation not as a stum·bling block--not merely as a process to get through--the way that some developers might, but as an impor·tant part of delivering a high-quality product." It's the daunting challenge of sav·ing an old property and discovering ways to make it useful again that stimulate Abdo's passion. "It's saving a landmark that I love more than anything else," he said. When Abdo started his company in 1996, well before the current renaissance in his·toric preservation, he saw what was happening in the city's housing This responsible approach to development has made Abdo the darling of preservationists. Bryan's designation as a historic landmark precluded Abdo from making any substantive changes to the school's façade. His chief responsibility was to protect the façade and restore it fully. He met regularly with mem·bers of the DC Historic Preservation Office, including Callcott, and local community groups who had a stake in the restoration of the Bryan School. "From the historical society's point of view, the exterior is the principal concern and they've shown a lot of respect for it," said Robert Nevitt, president of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society. "There hasn't been use of materials like vinyl. The basic structure of the windows, the details of the façade look much as the original school building itself looked." Going to School Upon first glance of the school's façade--the beautifully restored brick, the stately columns, the signs indicating a "boys entrance" in the front of the school and a "girls entrance" in the back--it's difficult to envision anything but classrooms in the building. But while the exteri·market as a trend that needed to be reversed. "I saw the nation's capital filled with distressed, vacant and aban·doned housing," he said. "And it bothered me that the mindset at the time was to go outside of the city and continue to develop pristine green space and wetlands that would only contribute to more traffic prob·lems and pollution. It didn't make sense to me when we had this abun·dance of housing stock that was beautiful housing stock--albeit dis·tressed housing stock--right here in the city. So my plan was to go in and make this old stock viable again." or retains the character and integrity of a century-old school, the interior is an homage to state-of-the-art urban living. The before and after shots of the school are compelling. It's the stuff that makeover shows are made of. Bryan had been abandoned for more than 25 years before Abdo and his crew began their painstaking restoration nearly a year ago. The brick was in such poor condition that it was more black than red. The inside of the building had become home to hordes of pigeons. "It had turned into a pigeon factory," Abdo said. The Bryan School was purchased initially by another development company, Eakin/Youngentob Associates, who ultimately sold the school to Abdo and focused instead on constructing 38 new townhouses around the Bryan School Lofts that complete Bryan Square. "Once they started peeling back the layers of the onion and looking at just how formidable of a task it was to take on this 40,000 square foot, 100-year-old building, they called me up," Abdo said. "I'm not going to say that they were intimi·dated by it, but it wasn't their realm of expertise," Abdo said. Challenges Historic preservation isn't for the weak-hearted. "It's not so much that it's more difficult than new con·struction, it's that whenever you're working with an existing condition you don't always know what you're up against until you physically get into the building and find out what's there," Callcott said. "You'll assume that something is structural·ly sound or that you can upgrade a mechanical system in a certain way, but sometimes when you get into a building you'll find out that maybe the structural system isn't sound or maybe you can't snake through your duct work the way you assumed." Taking a century-old school and converting it into something that it was never designed to be--lofts-- required a lot of fluidity on the part of Abdo's development team. For starters, Abdo reduced the number of lofts from 30 to 20. Although the building was approved and zoned for 30 units, once physically in the space, Abdo said he felt the interior scale of the project would have suf·fered had they gone with 30 units. While the decision dramatically shrunk his base of purchasers, Abdo said he refused to compromise on proportionality. The safer, more profitable play would have been to do the most units, real estate agent Smith said, but "if you cram too many in, you just miss the big spaces. Jim believes in doing things the right way, regardless of cost," Smith said. The crew also faced hurdles with the construction of the lower level of the building, where the school's auditorium and gymnasium once were. Last year's record rainfall raised serious concerns about ground water penetration in the lower-level units. The solution: Abdo's team dug around the entire fouf the school, down to the original footers, and installed a complete waterproof·ing system. "I doubt anyone else would have gone to that extent, but for me, I want my owners to go there and say, 'Wow, I've got this spectacular ter-race-level unit with an outside patio, and it can rain 24 hours a day for a month and it's not going to matter," Abdo said. Another challenge was incorporat·ing an elevator into the building. The original structure didn't have an elevator, so Abdo and his team cut through the floors of the school, built a shaft and installed a hydraul·ic elevator system. Remaining sensi·tive to the exterior of the building, Abdo installed all mechanical sys·tems inside the school. "I didn't want to have this massive shaft sticking up out of the roof of the building," Abdo said. We were able to that by putting in what's called a hydraulic rope elevator that is silent pretty much for people inside the building, but also doesn't compromise the character of the building." A Loyal Following Abdo's refusal to cut corners and his attention to detail has earned him a loyal following, Smith said. Among the 15 units that have already sold, five of the purchasers are former Abdo property owners. One such client is John Caracappa, an attorney for the downtown firm Clifford Chance. Caracappa sold his Abdo condominium in Logan Circle last month. It sold the first day it was on the market. He moves into his new loft in Bryan on Feb. 27. "I've been down there," Caracappa said. "I've looked at other town homes for sale around that area. I've spoken to Jim and I have the same good feeling about this property and this area that I had when I moved into Logan." Caracappa said he couldn't resist the "character" of the Bryan School, its Capitol Hill location and, most importantly, the space. His loft has two bedrooms, two baths, a 32 feet long by 32 feet wide combination kitchen-living room-dining room, a 16-foot ceiling with exposed duct·work, eight 10-foot-tall custom made windows and an exposed brick wall. "The loft really is for me the way to go because of the raw open space," Caracappa said. "The living and entertaining areas are huge, and for me, what I wanted in a condo was a large space to be able to enter·tain." The amenities aren't too shabby either--including among many oth-ers--stainless-steel refrigerators and dishwashers; granite countertops; hardwood cherry floors; rooms wired for any electronic device in this galaxy; remote-controlled gas fireplaces; laser-leveled ceilings; dou-ble-insulated glass windows. Editor's note: A profile on Jim Abdo, the man behind the Bryan School Lofts will appear in the Voice's March issue. Timur Loynab is one of the Voice's reg·ular contributors. A Lasting Legacy Black Patriots Memorialized on National Mall BY ANDREW NOYES "In every human breast, God has fundraising will focus on garnering memorial funded. "I know a lot of implanted a principle, which we call support from the original 13 people around the country, and I've love of freedom; it is impatient of colonies--now the states of New given these people the opportunity oppression, and pants for deliver-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode to raise it themselves--now I'm ance." Island, New York, New Jersey, doing it too." These stirring words entered into Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North the repository of our nation's collec-Carolina, South Carolina and The Designtive consciousness by 18th Century Georgia. The concept for the design of the poet Phillis Wheatley will soon be Fundraisers are making contacts Black Revolutionary Patriots painstakingly etched on a hefty with state leaders, historical societies Memorial consists of two comple· granite slab on the National Mall--a and educational institutions and mentary curved walls with a plaza in carefully crafted section of the Black other community minded groups the center. Several yards from the Revolutionary Patriots Memorial in interested in donating. The goal is Reflecting Pool, where Rev. Dr. Constitution Gardens paying hom-raising $1 million in each of the Martin Luther gave his unifying "I age to some 5,000 African Americans states to pay for final costs of the Have a Dream" speech, there is a who fought for independence in the memorial and an added $1 million gently sloping grassy area that will Revolutionary War. to underwrite the expense of operat-extend down to the southern wall of The memorial, however, has a $12 ing the organization in its remaining the memorial--an area conducive to million price tag and an impending two years of fundraising. seating and personal reflection. fundraising deadline. Both chal-Corporate America funds most of lenges have organizers scrambling to the large scale, contemporary raise awareness--and money--for memorials in the U.S., says Ed this monument to an American lega-Dwight, the Denver, Colo., sculptor cy. charged with designing the Black The Black Patriots Foundation Revolutionary Patriots Memorial, expects to begin casting the sculp-and in the current economy, there is ture in early 2005 and to complete a very small pool of funds to draw construction of the memorial a year from. later, with a dedication scheduled "We've had our share of fundrais·for Independence Day 2006. But ing problems," he admits. Planners first, there's a great deal of work to for the Korean War Memorial, The 90-foot north wall, fashioned be done. Vietnam Memorial, Martin Luther out of sculpted bronze, rises from King, Jr. Memorial and others had an the eastern direction of the Money Talks easier time getting bankrolled, he Washington Monument and faces Having amassed just over $5 million, quips. Companies can get a lot of west, symbolically, toward the the foundation began the final two-mileage out of giving money to the Lincoln Memorial. Nearby, a series year phase of its capital campaign King memorial but they think 'how of more than 80 intricately detailed last month, in which the final much money can we get out of a figurines depicts a variety of scenes amount must be raised before the memorial to historical events that from the revolution at its finish authority over the land, granted to many people don't even know stands a black family gazing in the the group by Congress, expires in about?'" he adds. direction of the mammoth monu· late 2005. The foundation raised $1 million ment to the president whose While the organization has through a commemorative coin Emancipation Proclamation was still already obtained the required plan-sale--a charity that Dwight says 100 years away. ning and design approvals required "should have been a $5 million Dwight--a renowned sculptor and by Congress and has been funded by piece." He faults the U.S. Treasury the first African American to be grants from General Motors, Department for not promoting it as trained as an astronaut--scupted the Lockheed Martin, Eastman Kodak vigilantly as they could have. work that serves as the centerpiece and other corporate and individual "I've raised money before, but of the memorial and has become donors, the heat is on to raise more here, I've stayed out of the fray," one of the premier figurative artists money to pay for the memorial itself Dwight said, adding that the foun·in the world. and permanent maintenance of the dation's staff has had the responsi- The artist has created a slew of memorial by the National Park bility for infusing the project's bank monuments and memorials situated Service. account. But, the artist has begun a in both national and international According to the foundation, campaign of his own to get the locations. Dwight's works include a Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial as well as sculptures of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Hank Aaron. He says the memorial on the National Mall is the largest and most challenging project of his career. The sculptor said his planning team, which included Marshall Purnell of Devoraux & Purnell Architects in DC and Roger Courtenay, a landscape architect from Alexandria, Va., agonized over the design concepts. They drafted 30 different proposals of al sizes and formations but couldn't agree on a single one. On one particular day the design team had assembled, a hurricane was making headlines. The graphical representation of the storm on tele-vision--with its wide, swirling arms and tight, innermost eye provided the inspiration they needed. "This is brilliant," Dwight remem·bers thinking. "All of our eyes lit up. It was the greatest thing in the world." A memorial was born. The eye of this particular storm is its quiet, central atrium and its arms-- "the things that cause the unrest and agitation"--flow outward from its nucleus. "It's far and away the most impor·tant thing I've ever done," Dwight says proudly. "It will bring folks from all over world. Now there will be some relationship with the black community here on the mall." Andrew Noyes is assistant editor of Voice of the Hill. What's In a Name? A Lot More Than You Think BY RUTH HAYES R OBBINS If my mail had been even slightly of the Mailboxes are another treasure more fascinating that day, I might health-trove for thieves. Unlocked mailbox-have tossed the envelope from the care man-es offer a goldmine of information, post office instead of opening it. It agement including bills with personalized was a non-descript white envelope company information, unsolicited pre-with a smudged form letter inside serving approved credit cards and bank requesting confirmation for my the account statements. If the haul change of address submitted earlier Pentagon. looks promising, thieves might that month. Since I had moved near-In another go to the next step and submit ly six months before I was surprised case, com-a change of address to con-to receive it, but also grateful. My puter hackers tinue depleting your mail had dwindled considerably over breached a esources. the last few weeks and I had misgiv-data center Because it takes a ings that there had been some sort containing while for the victim to of innocent mix-up--and though I information on ecognize this, the didn't miss the jolt I feel receiving 265,000 burglar has a win-bills, I did yearn for my occasional California state dow of opportu·magazines. employees. In New nity to run up Only it wasn't a mix up and defi-York alone 30,000 credit, apply for nitely not innocent. Someone had had their bank loans, and pur-submitted a false address change, accounts drained, chase big ticket and funneled my mail, including addresses changed, items. bank statements, bills and credit lines of credit opened "Dumpster offers to another address, and was and credit cards issued, diving" is using the information to open new causing their credit ratings not accounts in my name. I was sudden-to nosedive due to three beneath ly the victim of a crime I had not men running a sophisticat-those heard of before; identity theft. I felt ed high-tech identity scam. deter-like the unwitting target in a Pac-Regardless of the scope of the mined Man game. One minute I was there, crime, all identity thieves are look-to rob the next I was gone, gobbled by a ing for three things: your social secu-you of nameless foe with a voracious rity number, driver's license identifi-crucial appetite. cation number and bank, credit card informa- Unfortunately, my experience is or other account numbers including tion. A not unique. According to a all PINs and passwords. And they recent string of September 2003 survey by the find this information much more emails on a local list-Federal Trade Commission (FTC), easily than most of us realize. serve focused neighborhood 27.3 million Americans were identity According to the Better Business concern on this topic when some-theft victims, and the numbers are Bureau most people casually carry one was observed rummaging growing. Victims of this crime can around a tremendous store of per-through paper recyclables. The experience years of damage control. sonal information. But a few preven-financial benefits of gathering infor-For example, my "theft" occurred tive measures are the best defense. mation far outweigh the momentary three years ago, but an account was Think like a thief, and open your discomfort of going through the opened under my name, and never wallet. Try to focus on available trash. If you do not shred your per·used until this fall-in England. information that could be used ille-sonal papers you are offering person-Whoever perpetrated the crime gally. Are there too many credit al information that might as well be apparently decided enough time had cards? Is your PIN number jotted posted in chat rooms on passed to begin using the account, down on a scrap piece of paper or theIinternet. and once again I am forced to repair your health insurance card mixed in Personal computers are another the damage to my name and credit with the bills? Frequent flyer cards, source of easily accessible informa·rating. auto insurance or driver's license? tion for high tech burglars. Many of Five-hundred-thousand military Any of these could have your social us are unaware how sophisticated personnel and their dependents felt security number on them. Once you information retrieval is if you are not similar anxiety when their identities begin this process of thinking like a careful. If you do not install a fire-were stolen by an unknown hacker criminal, you might become more wall or regularly update your virus who accessed the computer database cautious. protection you are vulnerable. If you use an automatic login password you are vulnerable, as is staying online when you are not working. Theft from a secure site is less like·ly to occur than handing over your credit card at a restaurant, but it still exists. To combat this, Citibank has created a software program that uses a random substitute number rather than the credit card number for phone and internet transactions. The number becomes invalid after each purchase. Jim Didden, senior vice president of Capitol Hill's National Capital Bank confirmed that banks are increasingly vulnerable to the finan·cial damage of this crime. "In a small neighborhood bank, we keep regular customers signatures on file in order to verify transactions and keep down unlawful authorization, but if some·one applies for credit through the mail, and the information is legiti·mate, we currently have no way of knowing whether it was requested by the real person or a poser." Unfortunately, in this day and age, stealing credit for money is not the only motive for identity theft. Information that is retrieved can be used to create counterfeit passports, for use by terrorists to enter the U.S. undetected, or less threatening but still problematic, to make passports for illegal aliens to enter the country without permission. There is still talk of creating a national identity card similar to ones used in many European countries, but it might take time before that becomes a real·ity. Meanwhile, it is in everyone's best interest to be more cautious. I certainly am. What do you do if you think you are a victim of identity theft? There are immediate steps to take, immedi·ately that can minimize damage. The key is vigilance. After all, it's your good name, don't lose it. Ruth Hayes Robbins is a DC-based fea·ture writer and frequent contributor to the Voice of the Hill. Black Women Reading A Brief History of African-American Literary Groups BY STEPHANIE BRIGGS How is it that Oprah Winfrey can reading the Bible, performances of single-handedly ignite our passion individual writers' poems and narra·to read? tives, and focused on the develop- Her television book club not only ment of newspapers and schools, catapulted previously unknown opening doors for black women. authors to stardom--my favorite was the well-deserved recognition of Black Women and Literacy the Sunday school and secular class-things'...and here and there a new rooms. Black women educators, writ-poet or playwright...and the ers, and lovers of literature came whole group held together by the together in order to continue the dynamic personality of Mrs. African-American tradition of pre-Johnson...some poems by serving our literary history." Langston Hughes were read." (Opportunity, p. 212) Johle in Black DC's liter-author and fellow Bread Loaf writer In 1829, Boston feminist and activist 'Saturday Nighters Club' ary society history would serve as a and acquaintance Wally Lamb for Maria W. Stewart decided to dedicate It was in Washington, DC, on S literary think tank to some of the his book She's Come Undone--but she her life to the ideals of black self-Street, NW, where burgeoning in-country's most revered writers. Yet became the Pied Piper of the re-birth determination. While serving in the sights into the Negro Renaissance of women's book clubs. Now, after a Black Boston political scene, she were germinating. An elite group of after 10 years, the Saturday Nighters hiatus, Oprah's back, people are experienced a religious epiphany, artistic intellectuals were producing a discovered that the writers they were reading the classics, and book pub-and chose to play an active, albeit new, modernistic form of expression "feeding" were leaving Washington lishers are foraging through their short (1831-1833), role in the Black in the historic Shaw district. In the for what was described by Mark archives and experiencing publish-feminist movement. early 1920s the poet Georgia Gauvreau Judge in his FrontPage ing heaven. The American people are Her involvement led her to the Douglass Johnson started the Satur-Magazine.com article as the District reading (good for U.S. literacy) and African-American Female Intelli-day Nighters Club, also known as the bleeding talent. "Soon the number of the Saturday executing their power to purchase gence Agency, housed at the African S Street Salon, as an informal gather-Nighters had dwindled, its luster lost (good for the economy, or at least Meeting House, a site of community ing place for artists and writers. The meetings took place in John-to New York, which to this day had the book industry). We are indebted development and social activities in to the Queen of Talk TV and her love the black communities built in 1806 son's home on 1461 S Street, NW. not acknowledged siphoning much of a good book. by a group of black Baptists. The The story is that the writer Jean of the best and brightest to spawn the Harlem Renaissance." Despite its For those who are voracious read-Intelligence Agency was a literary Toomer--author of Cane, a bookers, books are companions, a journey and mutual aid society developed in composed of poetry, short stories, short history (there was a brief resur·into fantasies, or a window into a 1831, "providing a forum that spon-drama and prose covering African-gence in 1942), the Saturday Night·ers played a key role in carrying on new world. For some, books are ene-sored lectures and educational servic-American culture in the rural south the tradition of black women and lit·mies, a battleground of similes and es for Black moral and social uplift." and urban North--approached metaphors, draped in quotes, and In addition to its literary component, Johnson to open her house for week-erary societies. disguised as a magic elixir. Others the organization also provided ly conversations with local writers. find glorious escapes, ripping off a health insurance and other forms of Considered a milestone for the Black Women Reading book's cover to disguise a favorite relief to the Black community, all Negro Renaissance, the conversa-Black women are reading books. This romance novel, fearing fellow travel-financed through dues and monthly tions continued for 10 years with vis-shouldn't surprise anyone, and the ers will discover that we love trash! agency fees collected. It was here that its by prominent literary figures such fact is that women are actively sup- Then there are those who each Stewart promoted her opposition to as Langston Hughes, Alain Locke, porting and nurturing this long his-month take on the challenges of colonization and the importance of Marita Bonner and Zora Neal Hurs-tory of women in Black literary soci·another person's muse; reading the black women's participation in the ton. Even Johnson was inspired by ety. All one has to do is visit Readers novels, essays, or short stories select-"development of a black intellectual her social soirees, penning numer-of Black Literature at http://www. ed by a book buddy. We are stumped consciousness from which religious, ous plays because of her exposure to DMOZ.org/Arts/Literature/Reading_Gr by their choice as we struggle, digest-political, economic and, most impor-some of the primary figures in early oup/Readers_of_Black_Literature, oring each chapter until we meet in tantly, Black educational institutions twentieth century Black theater, the African American Literature our book group, have our first cup of would develop." such as Angelina Weld Grimke, Book Club (AALBC) sitetea, and begin to dissect what Other African-American literary Mary Burrill, Willis Richardson, and (http://aalbc.com), to gain a better appeared to an impervious account. groups included the Phoenix Society May Miller, including a series focus-understanding of the growing num-Then we are finally able to concede, literary debating club, established in ing on lynching from 1925-1931. ber of book groups. AALBC lists vari·or, upon reflecting on the opinions 1833 in New York City to "promote In 1927 Opportunity magazine ous book club sites and provides of others, refute what we thought we the improvement of colored people columnist Gwendolyn Bennett what could best be described as a understood. in morals, literature and the wrote about the Saturday Nighters in "primer" to black books with listings Book clubs, as diverse as each title mechanical arts;" the Minerva her "Ebony Flute" column: categorized as general, women's chosen, are growing and attracting Literary Association in New York "It was particularly pleasing to see interest, children, and classics. members willing to take on the chal-founded in 1834; and the Ladies and talk with Miss Angelina In DC there is the Isis Collective lenge of exploring literature. In the Literary and Dorcas Society of African-American community, there Rochester, NY, organized in 1836 to is a long history of book clubs. "encouraged reading and educationRefusing to be hindered by a society as a tool to combat prejudice." These Grimke. She is a beautiful lady Book Club, a two-year old group that with ways as softly fine as her meets once a month. An email from poems. The company as a whole member Alseta Gholston explained was a charming medley. E.C. the group's vision. that prohibited slaves from reading, organizations as well as educated Williams with his genial good-"The Isis Collective Book Circle in the 1800s free blacks formed women from the North played an humor; Lewis Alexander with his has been meeting once a month for African-American literary societies, important role in educating newly with goals to assist in educating freed blacks. newly freed slaves and promoting According to Kay Brown, artist, the uplifting of the African-author and activist, "These women's American race. They encouraged efforts transcended the confines of jovial tales of this thing and that the past two years. The book club is as well as a new poem or two mainly comprised of women in the which he read; Marita Bonner DC metro area from across the with her quiet dignity; Willis African diaspora, although we wel-Richardson with talk of 'plays and come women from any background. www.voiceofthehill.com We read books by and about women of color from a variety of cultures, not just African women. We felt it was important to focus our book club selections on women of color, not only to actively support women authors of color, but also because the voices and experiences of third world women are often not repre·sented in mainstream literature appreciation. What we strive for is to unite women, particularly women of color, in bringing forth awareness of issues that affect women of all eth·nicities throughout the world, and to increase the knowledge of our col·lective struggles through intellectual and cultural exchange." (Visit the Collective's web page at www.isis collective.bravepages.com.) Black Women's Arts Resource Collective WhenI first moved to DC in 1993, I had the fortune of discovering what might be considered one of the Dis-trict's grandmothers of Black book clubs. The Black Women's Arts Re·source Collective (BWARC) is poised to celebrate its 20th year in April. Founded by book lovers Michelle R. Smith and Lois Alexander, with the guidance of Professors Elleanor Traylor and Joyce Ann Joyce, and poets E. Ethelbert Miller and Reuben Jackson, they set out to create a vehi·cle for women of color to come together to "re-educate ourselves, adopt other points of view, and heighten our sensitivity to womyn with whom, under any other circum·stances, we would not have the opportunity to associate." Through an initial flier soliciting women to join their group in 1984 (and the only time the group has ever adver·tised), they stated their mission: "Our group intends to explore the Black female literary tradition, pri·marily through the forms of the novel, poetry and essays. In terms of content, we will discuss the relation·ship between the Black woman as Mother, Lover and Friend and its effects and influence upon her devel·oping within a community/society which has not fully realized/ acknowledged her personhood." So it was in mid-April that a group of six women met for the first time at the Martin Luther King library. Their second meeting was the per·formance of Jennifer Cover's "Her Stories: Excerpts from Novels of Black Women Writers" at the Bethune Museum and Archives, and their first book was You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down by Alice Walker. They decided that their primary focus would be the works of African-American women. Between the years of 1984-1994, out of 120 titles read, 110 were by black women, nine were by black men, and one by a Hispanic woman. During that time they host·ed readings by J. California Cooper, Marita Golden, plus their own mem·bers' successes including works writ·ten by Kwelismith and Valerie Jean. My fondest memories are that of the 10th anniversary celebration entitled "My Sisters Are Around Me Everyday." It was held at Gallery W on Q Street, NW, with guest speaker Verta Mae Grosvenor, author of Thursday and Every Other Sunday Off, Vibration Cooking, as well as an NPR correspondent. BWARC was every·thing and more than I would ever have expected of a book club. As stated in our 10th anniversary book, they provided me with a "'home' at a time that I had none." But as in all things in life, there is change. And so it was with BWARC. My time with them was brief. Before celebrating my first year, I was hired as Director of Education of the Capi·tol Hill Arts Workshop and was too busy to fully participate. I lost contact with everyone for almost ten years. Yet as I sat to chat with Joanna Banks, touted by BWARC member Diane Simpson as the official historian of "The Group," as it was called, it felt like only a short time had passed since our last meeting. I recalled my personal favorite archival story re·garding Maya Angelou and her book The Heart of A Woman. "The Group" discovered there were a number of questions and concerns regarding Angelou's ability of total recall re·garding conversations she'd had many years earlier. Her response to the members, which came in the form of a Christmas card, was "I seem to have total recall or none at all, and when memory fails, I try to recreate the conversation by recreating the moods in which they took place." Perhaps it is "total recall" that is lost after enough years have passed and the founding family members have moved on. The best survival tactic is to try and recreate the mood in hopes that we might be able to recreate what we've lost. BWARC is experiencing change that could impact the next ten years. Banks explained that over the years the number of members have dwindled, with only eight to 10 remaining. The fact is that over 20 years, people's interests change; they become grandparents, start their own businesses, or go back to school. She conceded that there will always be competing interests. Therefore, in order to survive, it's imperative to reach out to friends and acquaintances, and to meet potential new members at book readings. Also, as the group ages, so does the institutional memory. Currently only four of the original group remain. "In the last 10 years, more than 50 women have passed through "The Group," explained Banks. "It takes a real commitment to say once a month that I will read a book, not of my own choosing but in the general area of my interest, and be ready to discuss it the third Sunday of the month." Despite the turnover, two decades later the group's philosophy remains solid. Yet something else is happen·ing, according to Banks. "If the philosophy is changing at all, it is dictated by the fact that the writing of black women has changed. In some ways, perhaps it's a blessing." This writing style is formulaic and referred to by Banks as 'sister-girl-friend' stories. She prefers not to read them. Yet she understands that in the publishing industry where histor·ically those who aren't great writers get published, it's also a good sign that black women who aren't great writers are getting published as well. "Publishers are naturally interested in what will sell," she commented. "I would certainly rather see black women reading 'sister-girlfriend' novels than not reading at all." Although an infusion of new members will play a role in BWARC's legacy, there are other choices that the group made contributing to their longevity. One in particular is the fact that there are no guidelines, rules, or officers. It is up to each member to take responsibility for the life of BWARC. Banks, who has tried to start other groups without suc·cess, is clear about why BWARC has been around for 20 years. "I think with our group the fact that each person was responsible for one month kept it going. With other groups that I tried to develop, people were willing to show up but unwill·ing to take responsibility. If you don't initially get a group of people where everyone is willing to be responsible, it's too much weight on one person. Once that person says, 'it's too much for me,' the group eventually folds." Banks reiterated the importance of change. "We have to attract new members, let go the reins, and let the younger women take the lead. Of course if they want to only read the 'sister-girlfriend' stuff," she chuck·led, "I'm outta there." The Legacy Lives On As Banks anxiously awaits BWARC's 20th celebration, she braces for the challenges of the next ten years. What is apparent is her unwavering commitment to BWARC. The chal·lenges are just that, challenges. Nothing more than what we experi·ence living and working each day. Except this group is different. It's not just a book club; it's a continuation of a long history of black women reading and intellectualizing. "Intellectual discussion is impor·tant in a group," Banks explained. "There needs to be an avenue out·side of the Academy. A book when read individually is not well read. It's only through discussion and being challenged to think through your ideas about what the author has said, that makes the book well read. "Reading is one of the big joys in life. The second big joy is to read a book that I really 'felt' and being able to talk to someone about it who doesn't necessarily agree. But you can find some points of agreement to come back to. One of the things that "The Group" did for me is that they made me realize that I couldn't just talk off my head; I had to think. Therefore, I'm challenged not to take it personally, but to be able to back up and say, 'I need to think this through.' I love the idea of having strong feelings about a work and after a discussion having some change of mind." To read is a gift. To think is power. To be challenged is to understand truth through compromise, refuta·tion, or concession. The women of BWARC and other groups like them provide a strong dose of each while carrying on a long tradition of liter·ary societies that serve as a linchpin for generations that follow. As our conversation wound down, Banks told me a story of a conversa·tion that she had with her mother who lives in Louisville, Ky., regard·ing BWARC's 5th anniversary. "Sixteen years ago, when I told my mother that 'The Group' was getting ready to celebrate its 5th anniver·sary, she said, 'Yeah, I belong to a reading group. We're getting ready to celebrate our 75th anniversary.'" Banks smiled, and I imagined what this group of black women looked like, how many of them still attended, and what books they were reading. Banks provided me with the answer my latter thoughts. "Even though they had long ago quit reading anything longer than some Bible verses, they were still meeting. And the same person had been the secretary all those years. Her name was Miss Fisher, and she lived to be 102. She was about 15 years old when the group started and continued to serve for 12 years after the 75th anniversary. The group folded after she died." I added up the numbers. They were together 87 years! So durinng this Black History Month and the months that follow, I'd like to honor those whose lives were endangered because of their choice to read and gain knowledge. I'd like to toast the Mrs. Johnsons, Miss Fishers, and all the black women who carry on the tradition. Thank you all! Stephanie Briggs is a regular contributor to the Voice . If you know of any Black book clubs that have been in existence for more than 20 years, please contact me at stefbriggs@hotmail. com. The Architecture of Jim Crow BY S.J. A CKERMAN rom the toddlers' play The local white populace resented gated DC public schools she had area in Garfield Park, you that Congress had forced them to attended than students get from the can view a phenomenon provide schools for the newly-freed system today. "I could get into any unique to Washington's (and usually penniless) ex-slaves college I wanted," she recalled. history: separate but who flocked here during the Civil Maintaining parallel schools was essentially equal school War, an "unfunded mandate" on fabulously expensive, even where buildings to accommodate racial seg-District taxpayers. Yet Congress ran black schools were skimped. To regation. Dent School (1899)--now the city, so the District developed nudge the country toward actual housing Capitol Hill Day School-- parallel racial school systems that integration, the strategy of the educated white kids. Giddings were indeed close to equal, visually National Association for the School (1877, expanded 1932)--now embodied by Dent School balancing Advancement of Colored People housing Results the Gym--educated Giddings. It even developed parallel (NAACP) in the 1930s was to sue to black kids. The twain probably did white and black school boards. force local jurisdictions to bring meet in Garfield Park at recess, for Much larger schools constructed black facilities up to parity with children played together here with-simultaneously in the 1870s explicit-white ones. Although devised by out discrimination from time imme-ly to balance one another were black brilliant DC attorney Charles morial, especially the younger ones. Sumner School at 17th and M, NW, Hamilton Houston, who had served Once the school bell rang, however, and white Franklin School, on 14th on the city's black school board, the they went their separate ways. Dent and K, NW, opposite Franklin strategy couldn't work in and Giddings are part of Jim Crow's Square. For a time, Sumner also Washington, the only place in the architectural legacy still in plain housed the first public African-country where the schools were real-sight around Washington. American high school in the United ly on a par. Jim Crow--derived from "Jumping States. Unlike their smaller Garfield The DC Public Library (1903) at Jim Crow," a minstrel show per-Park counterparts, however, the Mount Vernon Square--now the former in the 1830s--became the downtown schools aren't visible Museum of the City of Washing-popular shorthand for legally toler-from one another. ton--wasn't segregated, because ated or mandated racial segregation. Washington had parallel racial donor Andrew Carnegie insisted that Restrictions on free African-school administrations and faculties. it be open to all. Richmond, Va., Americans emerged in the 18th cen-The black schools became the best in actually turned down Carnegie's tury and accelerated when slaves the nation, in part because DC paid largesse rather than open a racially achieved freedom after the Civil teachers equally, regardless of race. integrated facility there. Alexandria's War. Such rules were spotty and Many African-American educators Barrett Library at 717 Queen St. was uneven around the country until with masters' or doctoral degrees another matter. Opened in 1937 on a 1896, when the case of Plessy v. came to work in them because they whites-only basis, it soon faced a Ferguson made it to the U.S. Supreme offered "white-level" salaries far lawsuit by 25-year-old attorney S.W. Court, brought by a light-complex-above those they could expect at the Tucker to admit his fellow blacks. To ioned Mulatto compelled to leave a black colleges of the time. They pro-speed his case, Tucker staged the first whites-only car by a Louisiana rail-duced excellent, disciplined educa-ever civil rights sit-in on August 21, road. The court ruled that separate tional institutions, probably the 1939. Rather than integrate, the city public accommodations were per-only public facilities in the country opened the minimalist Robert missible so long as they were sub-that actually were separate but equal. Robinson Library for blacks at 638 stantially equal. Indeed, by monopolizing the best North Alfred Street in 1940. Today, Jim Crow suddenly got the force of black educators to be had, they prob-both buildings have expanded. The law as racist legislation in towns, ably outpaced the parallel white sys-original Queen Street library is now cities and states all over the country tem, which had to vie for teachers essentially the lobby of a greatly took over restaurants, theatres, trol-who might find comparable pay enlarged facility, housing the city's ley cars, and schools. That "sepa-elsewhere. Discussing education at historical collections. The Robinson rate" in practice was never really the Ward 6 Democrats meeting a few Library is now a wing of the "equal" for African-Americans quick-weeks ago, Del. Eleanor Holmes Alexandria Black History Resource ly became blatant. Everywhere, Norton startlingly observed that she Center. Despite the enlargements, a except (sometimes) in old DC. got a better education in the segre-visitor can visually deconstruct these buildings to determine, as usual, that separate-but-equal wasn't. Potty Parity and the Pentagon The ghosts of Jim Crow architecture haunt the capital. Union Station offered black travelers utilitarian restrooms. The white restrooms, however, were as grand as the station itself. The men's room ran across the west front, with alcoves for shoe·shine boys, barbers, and towel atten·dants leading to toilet and even bathing facilities. All this sanitary elegance passed away in our hurried age. Now it's the bar at America, the Restaurant. The modest black rest·room area apparently leads now into a pizza place: note the white tiles. Women's facilities evolved compara·bly. "Potty parity" --or the lack there·of-- left plenty of redundant rest areas. The men's room at Alexan-dria's Union Station sits down the platform from the waiting room because it originally had been for blacks. That oversized vending area inside once housed the white facili·ties. The New Deal wrote a new chapter in Jim Crow construction. FDR opened federal government jobs to more African-Americans than ever, but he remained fearful of the old Southern Democrats who controlled many Congressional committees. Consequently, federal buildings dat·ing from the 1930s and 1940s con·formed to local racial customs. The specimens occupying the 300 blocks of Independence Avenue SW and C Street SW sport marble-lined rest·rooms at the ends of their central blocks, with more modest duplicates in the wings just a few feet away. More than likely, signs designating which were for which race were not in place; Washingtonians were used to figuring such mut. The most striking separate-but-equal restrooms adorned the Pentagon (1942), with doors to duplicate areas sometimes adjoining. Some of its overabundance of plumbing has been reduced through the years. More will no doubt van·ish in the ongoing renovation. The Pentagon indirectly ended an obnoxious Jim Crow habit of stop·ping buses in the middle of the 14th Street Bridge so that blacks entering Virginia could move to the back, as Commonwealth law required. (Imagine trying that in today's rush hour!) As more and more Washing·tonians unaccustomed to Virginia's more severe Jim Crow indignities got transferred to the building, the bizarre ritual seemed increasingly innocuous. One day in 1943, a bus carrying mostly clerks and secre·taries made its customary "Colored to the back" stop. Apparently, with- www.voiceofthehill.com out any pre-arrangement, nobody budged. Black and white--every-body--just stayed put. So the driver went back to his wheel and took everybody to work. It was as simple as that. Desegregation of Pentagon cafete·rias soon followed, this time by offi·cial mandate. Yet suspiciously set-apart nooks off the main dining areas of federal buildings from the 1920s through the 40s probably had Jim Crow origins. Public buildings had to be open to all, resulting in strange architectural accommodations. Jim Crow dabbled more subtly in private architecture, reflecting the realities of racial sepa·ration. An apt example is True Reformers Hall at 1200 U Street, NW, recently restored to its former grandeur. Opened in 1903 as "the best office, store, hall and lodgeroom that the Negro owns in the United States," it was entirely designed and constructed by African-Americans. Its decidedly multi-tasking design was a practical response to the exclu·sion of blacks from prestigious white establishments. Apart from the offices of the benevolent society/ insurance company that erected it, there were trade schools, profession·al offices, and retail establishments, along with a night club and a grand ballroom. The teenaged Duke Ellington rented a lesser space for the first performance of his new band. The most direct response to Jim Crow, however, was its basement, designed to provide a headquarters and drill floor for the First Separate Battalion (Colored) of the DC National Guard, which lacked the public facilities provided to its white brothers-in-arms. The success of True Reformers (later, Pythian) Hall galvanized the emergence of U Street ("You Street" to the hip) after World War I as the fashionable Black Broadway. The Hill's most ubiquitous archi·tectural souvenirs are our beloved alley houses. Although they originat·ed before the Civil War, these scaled-down townhouses proliferated when the newly freed slaves rushed into Washington. Squatting on ambigu-ously-titled alley land, some of the freedmen put up their own homes. Quickly, developers spotted a trend and rushed to put up cheap and sometimes shoddy housing wherever they could, a virtual city hidden within a city. The Jim Crow aspect of the alley houses is that they are scaled-down parodies of their neighbors facing the streets. To their first owners, coming from cramped slave quarters, they no doubt were comparative palaces. Although mostly built years before the Plessy decision, they embody the separate-but-equal social order it validated. Yet those who bought made a huge step into free life. Unfortunately, many remained renters, whose landlords allowed their properties to degenerate. Eleanor Roosevelt managed to have some of the worst housing bull·dozed in the late 1930s, but World War II stopped further work, saving the better-built homes that provide so much of the Hill's charm today. Washington is still largely racially segregated socially, economically, and in many other profound ways. Yet we are light years ahead of the days when, reigning by law, Jim Crow even designed the forms of our buildings. The seemingly greater racial tolerance--sometimes, oblivi-ousness--among many young peo·ple promises perhaps to make the weird racial obsessions of the past a distant memory. Yet we dare not for·get our history. Besides, it's amusing to deconstruct dated public build·ings, ferreting out the traces of Jim Crow architecture. Why has this hallway got so many water foun·tains? Why does this office have so many bathrooms? Why are there more staircases than needed? Why does this government cafeteria have an extra alcove on the side? Why are there two schools where one would do? That the answers aren't obvious any more is something to celebrate in February. S. J. Ackerman, a Hill resident, is a fre·quent contributor to The Voice of the Hill. Following the Need: So Others Might Eat BY RUTH HAYES R OBBINS n one of the coldest coming abusive relationships, the days so far this year, clients agree to go clean, and learn with a blustery wind the basics of re-entering society. chill factor in the Each step of the way they are helped single digits, the by the staff, whether it is a therapist, men outside lined nurse, or simply one of the friendly up quietly, anticipating a hot lunch faces that greets them at breakfast in a warm room. Inside, other clients each morning. For a few months waited for medical or dental care, or they live outside the city, away from for the elderly, a group "koffee the temptations, until they are klatch" to stave off their loneliness. strong enough to return. They One woman, bundled tightly in a receive intensive help finding work, torn red jacket and a black hat and eventually subsidized housing. pulled down low over her face, clutched a plastic grocery bag while "People without homes are not she sat, waiting for the dentist to "fix social inadequates. They are people my mouth." without homes." These are the homeless, the --SHEILA MCKECHNIE anonymous faces we hurriedly pass on the street because their neediness Finding affordable housing for seems overwhelming. But here, at those that work hard to overcome SOME (So Others Might Eat), these their difficulties is the biggest chal·individuals are treated with respect lenge the organization faces these and dignity despite their status as days. Despite bipartisan visits by "homeless" or "destitute." What Congressmen, who heartily agree began thirty years ago as a Capitol with the programs being offered, Hill church soup kitchen, is now one governmental monies are hard to of the major organizations in the get. Combined with a hot housing city devoted to helping those who market here in the city, available suffer from the worst abuses, and housing is hard won and frequently dedicated to assisting them regain too expensive. SOME buys and reno- their lives and become active mem- vates buildings to use as halfway bers of the community. houses and housing for individuals who have full time employment, but not enough to keep up with the Ending Homelessness--One demand. Housing is the linchpin, Person at a Time the last step in achieving independ-SOME's mission is simple: to directly assist those in need. This objective is two-fold; immediate help including food