Capitol Hill Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in the Capitol Hill area. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out our event submission form.
For more events, be sure to check out our event calendar.
Tuesday
We Called Him Rabbi Abraham: Lincoln and American Jewry, a Documentary History
National Archives (700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)
7-9 p.m.
Scholar and Rabbi Gary Zola shows why President Lincoln was given the affectionate title “Rabbi” by America’s small but growing Jewish population.
Wednesday
Reptiles Alive!
Northeast Library (330 7th St. NE)
2 p.m.
Kids ages 5 and up are invited to meet live animals and learn stories and facts about them at the Northeast Library.
Redefining Antisemitism through the Stories of Jews and Muslims during the Holocaust
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW)
7-9:15 p.m.
Manhattan College professor of religious studies Dr. Mehnaz M. Afridi discusses antisemitism through stories of Jews and Muslims during the holocaust.
Saturday
Southwest Farmers Market Grand Opening
The Lot Southwest (425 M St. SW)
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
VIDA Fitness and UDC SNAP-Ed specialists join the usual produce and food vendors for a kick-off celebration at the Southwest DC Farmers Market at the Waterfront Metro Station.
Retro Jumpers: Double Dutch Team
Southeast Library (403 7th St. SE)
2 p.m.
Learn how to Double Dutch and work out by jumping rope. Participants will have to sign a waiver to participate.
Summerfest DC: Beer, Wine & Music Festival
Half Street Fairgrounds (1201 Half St. SE)
12 p.m.
The fairgrounds in Navy Yard will host a festival where residents can taste more than 80 craft beers in addition to wine, cider, food, live music and art. Tickets can be purchased online.
Sunday
Smithsonian’s Sci-Fi Sunday Screening: Star Trek
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (600 Independence Ave. SW)
4:15-6:30 p.m.
The National Air and Space Museum screens Star Trek in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater.
Photo via Facebook/ Summerfest DC
A woman was shot in Hill East just before 3 p.m. today.
The shooting occurred about 2:55 p.m. on the 1000 block of 13th Street SE. The woman was shot multiple times and was conscious and breathing, according to police.
Police have not yet released any suspect description or information.
CRIME ALERT: Shooting in the 1000 b/o 13th Street SE. Adult female has sustained multiple gunshot wounds and is conscious & breathing
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) May 31, 2016
Photo via Google Maps
The District Council today approved a new location for the homeless family shelter planned for Southwest.
The move was part of a revision to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Homeward DC plan to replace the aging D.C. General shelter with smaller, safer shelters in all eight Wards. As part of the council’s revised plan, the Ward 6 shelter was moved from its initial planned location at 700 Delaware Ave. SW to 850 Delaware Ave. SW.
Today the council voted unanimously to approve the revised plan.
The Ward 6 shelter, which will offer transitional housing to up to 50 homeless families, was originally slated to be built next to Blind Whino, an art and event space in Southwest. However, neighbors expressed concerns about the chosen site which was not on land owned by the District.
Neighbors identified District-owned property at 850 Delaware Ave. SW as a possible alternative. After considering another alternative location at 200 K St. NW, Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen recommended that the council choose 850 Delaware Ave. SW for the future shelter.
Currently, 850 Delaware Ave. SW houses a Unity Health Care clinic in need of repairs. Allen said in a statement that the city has committed to rebuilding the clinic as part of the shelter construction.
“I believe today’s vote represents a better deal for D.C. taxpayers, a better deal for the Southwest community, and most important, a better deal for those families experiencing homelessness,” Allen said in a statement on the change of location.
Photo via Google Maps
A new exhibit opening at the National Postal Museum in June will celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service by exploring how mail has moved to and from the national parks and historic sites throughout history.
The exhibit, “Trailblazing: 100 Years of Our National Parks,” is set to open on June 9 will feature artifacts from the museum’s collections as well as postage art inspired by national parks and items loaned by the National Park Service. The exhibit will run through March 2018 at the Postal Museum at 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE.
“This exhibition marks the centennial of the National Park Service by exploring how the parks and the mail are intertwined, sometimes in surprising and unusual ways,” Daniel Piazza, the museum’s chief curator of philately said in a press release. “We’ve also managed to bring a little bit of the national park experience indoors through artifacts and photographs loaned by Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Petrified Forest and other national parks.”
The museum will celebrate the exhibit’s opening with a family day on June 11. Families will be able to achieve “Junior Ranger” status by exploring the exhibit with an activity booklet that will guide them through kid-friendly activities.
Photo via National Postal Museum
Questions Remain After District Council Votes to Move Ward 6 Homeless Shelter to Mount Vernon Triangle — Mount Vernon Triangle residents are questioning the process of selecting sites for homeless shelters after the District Council voted to move the proposed Ward 6 shelter location from Southwest to 2nd and K streets NW. [Washington City Paper]
Jefferson Middle School, Capitol Hill Montessori to Receive Improvement Funds — As part of the proposed 2017 education budget, Jefferson Middle School at 801 7th St. SW could receive $1 million to upgrade its science labs while Capitol Hill Montessori at 215 G St. NE is slated to receive $4 million to pay for a new heating and cooling system. [Hill Rag]
Interviewing the Owner Behind Capitol Hill’s Most Unique Bookstore — Jim Toole, the owner of Capitol Hill Books, spoke to Washingtonian magazine about his unorthodox organization and his handwritten rules posted throughout the store. [Washingtonian]
Navy Yard Eatery Due South Eyeing Satellite Location on Yards Park Boardwalk — Navy Yard restaurant Due South is in the early stages of planning “Due South Dockside,” along the Yards Park boardwalk to serve drinks and a limited food menu. [JDLand]
Monthly Capitol Hill Area ANC Meeting Roundup — Hill Rag takes a look at what happened last month with Capitol Hill area ANCs, including 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D. [Hill Rag]
Residents across the Capitol Hill area will be pedaling through puddles this weekend, with two major biking events planned over the next two rainy days.
Cycling enthusiasts will brave the weather on Saturday for New Belgium Brewery’s Tour de Fat, a celebration of bicycling and beer drinking at Yards Park. On Sunday, roads around the National Mall and in Georgetown will be closed for the citywide DC Bike Ride.
Steady rainfall is expected throughout Saturday morning with temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s. Less rain is expected on Sunday, though there will still be some scattered showers across the area. Sunday wil also be about ten degrees warmer than Saturday.
Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:
- Balance Gym on Capitol Hill are holding a free Community Fitness Day on Saturday with family-friendly activities to inspire a more active lifestyle
- A ten-day art festival called the POW! WOW! Festival kicks off in NoMa on Saturday with a party and market set to include food trucks, DJs, vendors and, of course, art.
- The Folger Theatre hosts screenings of Shakespeare-based movies at Yards Park in Navy Yard both days this weekend. On Saturday they will screen the 2004 version of “The Merchant of Venice” starring Al Pacino and Sunday will feature a screening of the classic Romeo and Juliet-based musical West Side Story. Both screenings begin at sunset.
- The National Postal Museum celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a special themed story time for young children.
- The Hill Center’s “Seeing Red Film Series” continues with a screening of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” which has been called the most frightening film ever.
- The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is screening the 1987 comedy “Spaceballs” in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater Sunday evening.
Photo via Facebook/ Washington Area Bicyclist Association
The Alibi pub near the U.S. Capitol will soon be able to serve alcohol after the owners’ application for a liquor license was approved by the District Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.
The license was granted on the condition that Martin Scahill, a former business partner of the owners, is barred from any involvement with the pub. Scahill was a part owner of My Brother’s Place, a bar that used to occupy the building at 237 2nd Street NW but shut down after failing to pay fines for multiple charges of serving alcohol to minors.
Rachel Traverso, who, along with her father Richard Traverso, owns The Alibi, was previously engaged to Scahill and was an employee at My Brother’s Place, according to the ABRA order.
The order detailed numerous penalties levied against My Brother’s Place during its “sad and sordid history.”
“The litany of misdeeds committed at the establishment includes multiple incidents of illegal alcohol sales to large numbers of minors and the intentional sale of age identifying wristbands to minors by employees so that the minors could buy alcohol inside the establishment,” the ABRA order says.
My Brother’s Place developed a reputation for serving to minors, particularly among Catholic University students, who reported being served alcohol without showing ID or after showing poor-quality fake identification, according to ABRA. The owners of My Brother’s Place still owe $16,500 in unpaid fines related to these charges.
After My Brother’s Place closed, Scahill applied for a license for a new eatery at the location. Scahill was accused by the alcohol board of being unfit to receive a license based on his history with My Brother’s Place, but a hearing was never held as Scahill revoked his application.
The license process for The Alibi was delayed as the regulation board attempted to determine Scahill’s involvement with the new company that owns and operates the pub. Ultimately, the owners offered to obtain an order barring Scahill from the location and any involvement with the company for five years.
The barring notice requires the owners of The Alibi to call the police if Scahill is on the premises and prevents Scahill from doing any paid or unpaid work for the company.
On Wednesday, ABRA accepted the barring notice against Scahill and granted the pub a license to serve alcohol on the condition that they adhere to the terms of the notice.
The pub, which has operated as a restaurant without liquor since March 2015, does not have a set drink menu yet. However, a sample preview menu on their website lists a mix of American and British craft beers as well as a cocktail menu.
The owners of The Alibi could not immediately be reached for comment.
Photo via The Alibi
A woman was robbed at gunpoint by three teenage boys in Hill East last night.
The woman was walking on the 200 block of 16th Street SE about 9:15 p.m. when the three teens confronted her. According to Metropolitan Police Department Captain John R. Knutsen, one of the attackers flashed a handgun and stole the woman’s purse.
All three suspects were described by police as black boys between 16 and 18 years old. Police arrested one suspect in connection with the robbery but are still looking for more information about the others.
There was another armed robbery nearby about 12:45 last night. That robbery happened near Lincoln Park at the intersection of 13th Street and East Capitol Street. According to police, a man was robbed by a man armed with a gun. The suspect was described as:
Black man wearing a black shirt and mask and armed with a gun
Earlier today police responded to the 1200 block of I Street SE after reports of gunshots heard in the area. Police briefly shut down the block to investigate. There were no reported injuries.
More than 950 Pepco customers in Navy Yard and Southwest were without power this morning.
The outage was first reported at about 9:10 a.m. today and affected the area below Southeast Freeway between 5th Street SE and Delaware Avenue SW and extending south into Buzzard Point.
Power was restored to the entire area this afternoon, according to a D.C. government alert sent out at 1:45 p.m.
Image via Pepco
Capitol Hill Intersection Named Among Most Dangerous for Cyclists — The intersection of 8th and F streets NE was listed among those with the most reported accidents involving bicycles. [Washingtonian]
Car Catches Fire Near Capitol Hill Hyatt — Yesterday morning a car fire broke out near the intersection of 1st and E streets NW behind the Capitol Hill Hyatt. Nobody was in the car at the time and authorities successfully put out the fire. [WJLA]
Alcoholic Control Board Approves Bulldog Bagel Application in Eastern Market — The District Alcoholic Control Board approved Bullfrog Bagel’s application to serve bagels, brunch and booze at their new location at 317 Seventh St. SE near Eastern Market. [Hill Rag]
Survey Showing Native Americans’ Indifference to ‘Redskins’ Name Could Affect Decision on New Stadium — A Washington Post poll that found that most Native Americans are not offended by the Redskins name, which could affect how officials view the push to move the team’s stadium back into the District. [Washington Post]
Capitol Hill Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in the Capitol Hill area. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out our event submission form.
For more events, be sure to check out our event calendar.
Tuesday
Hill Center Galleries Opening Reception
Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
6-8 p.m.
Grab a glass of wine and meet the artists featured in Hill Center’s new gallery shows.
Wednesday
Voices of Now Festival
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 6th St. SW)
May 18-21 7:30 p.m.
Plays written and performed by groups of local students show at Arena Stage for four nights.
Thursday
Red, White + Brew
Charlie Palmer Steak (101 Constitution Ave. NW)
6:30-9:30 p.m.
D.C. breweries 3 Star Brewing Company, Atlas Brew Works, DC Brau Brewing Company and Port City Brewing Company come together for a celebration of local beer. Tickets are available online.
Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination
National Archives (700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)
7-9 p.m.
Pulitzer Prize-winner Annette Gordon-Reed nd University of Virginia history professor Peter Onuf will shed light on Thomas Jefferson’s views on Christianity, slavery, race and philosophy.
Friday
Bike to Work Day 2016
6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Bike commuters can celebrate Bike to Work Day with free giveaways in NoMa, Eastern Market and Navy Yard.
Ward 6 Office Hours on Capitol Hill
Radici Market (303 7th St. SE)
8-9:30 a.m.
Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen meets with constituents.
Family Movie Night: Minions
J.O. Wilson Elementary School (660 K St. NE)
8 p.m.
J.O. Wilson Elementary screens Minions during a family outdoor movie night.
Saturday
Capitol Hill Community Fitness Day
Balance Gym Capitol Hill (214 D St. SE)
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Balance Gym Capitol Hill hosts a day of family-friendly activities to inspire a more active lifestyle.
Tour de Fat
Yards Park (Water St. SE)
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
New Belgium Brewery hosts its annual celebration of bicycling and beer drinking at Yards Park. After the festival, Yards Park hosts the first show in its summer concert series.
POW! WOW! Festival
NoMa Junction at Storey Park (1005 1st St. NE)
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
A ten-day art festival in NoMa kicks off with a party and market set to include food trucks, DJs, art and other vendors.
Sunday
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Story Time
National Postal Museum – Lower Level Atrium (2 Massachusetts Ave. NE)
1-3 p.m.
The National Postal Museum hosts a story time for young children to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Seeing Red Film Series: Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
4-6 p.m.
New Yorker staff writer Margaret Talbot and movie critic Nell Minow host a screening of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” a 1956 movie that has been called the most frightening film ever.
Smithsonian Sci-Fi Sunday Screening Series: Spaceballs
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (600 Independence Ave. SW)
4:14-6 p.m.
The National Air and Space Museum screens 1987 comedy Spaceballs in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater.
Photo via Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Three teens, including one with a handgun, attempted to rob a person near the H Street corridor this afternoon.
The attempted robbery happened just after 12:20 p.m. on the 1100 block of I Street NE. According to a police alert, one of the would-be thieves was between 18 and 20 years old and had a silver handgun. The other two suspects were juveniles.
Police described the suspect with the gun as:
A black male wearing a black hoodie and black pants, 18-20 years old, slim build and armed with a silver handgun
Police said the other two suspects were black male juveniles and did not release any further description.
The attempted robbery occurred several blocks from the scene of another armed robbery over the weekend, which was also carried out by three men whose ages police estimated were between 16 and 22.
Commuters will have extra incentive to bike to work on Friday as pit stops with free food, drinks and T-shirts will pop up across Ward 6 for Bike to Work Day.
Bike commuters will be able to grab free refreshments at 83 different pit stops across the area. In the Capitol Hill area, pit stops will be located near the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro station, near the Eastern Market Metro station and at Canal Park in Navy Yard.
The event this Friday is free, but bicyclists must register online to receive a free T-shirt. Those who register will also be eligible to receive one of several bicycles that will be raffled off.
The NoMa pit stop will be open from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. while the Eastern Market and Navy Yard locations will open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 a.m.
A man was shot in Northeast Capitol Hill on Saturday after an argument with another man.
The shooting happened near the intersection of 17th and D streets NE just before 6:40 p.m. Saturday, according to a police alert.
Police said the two men were arguing over the sale of untaxed cigarettes and began to fight. One of the men tried to escape and heard four or five gunshots as he walked toward 16th St. NE. The man who fled was struck once in the shooting and hospitalized.
On Sunday there was an armed robbery near the H Street corridor. The robbery happened about 10:15 p.m. on the 1000 block of 8th Street NE according to a police alert.
Police are looking for three suspects in the robbery and described them as:
-
Black male with a dark complexion, slim, 16-22 years old, wearing a black sweatshirt and black ski mask
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Black male with a dark complexion , slim, 16-22 years old, wearing a dark sweatshirt
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Black male with a light complexion, slim, 16-22 years old, wearing a gray sweatshirt
Early this morning, a person armed with a gun robbed a 7-Eleven near the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro station. The robbery happened about 4:25 a.m. Monday at the convenience store at 1315 2nd St. NE.
The same 7-Eleven location was robbed by a man with a gun early on Friday morning as well.
Neighbors Raise Concerns About Homeless Shelter Planned in Southwest — Documents obtained by the Washington Post raise questions about Mayor Muriel Bowser’s plan to build a homeless shelter next to the Blind Whino event space. [Washington Post]
Man Accused of Killing American University Alumnus on Metro Train in NoMa Offered Plea Bargain — Jasper Spires, the 19-year-old man who is charged with killing American University alumnus Kevin Sutherland in July 2015 was offered a 30-year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. [FOX 5]
How a Man With a History of Crime Slipped Through the Cracks of the D.C. Justice System — Antwon Durrell Pitt, a man accused of raping a woman in her Hill East home in October, had an extensive criminal record and violated the terms of his release from prison, but the District justice system failed to prevent him from striking again. [Washington Post]
Plans for Summer Camp Themed Bar Near Union Market Cancelled — Sloppy Joes, sugary cereals and booze will no longer come together after plans for a summer camp-themed bar near Union Market were cancelled by the property owner. [Washington City Paper]
Peruvian Restaurant in NoMa Reopened After Closing Due to Vermin Infestation — Chicken Rico Peruvian restaurant in NoMa reopened on Thursday after briefly closing after a District food safety and hygiene inspector reported a significant pest problem. [Hill Now]
