Mayor Muriel Bowser and four District councilmembers will attend a town hall discussion hosted by the Ward 6 Democrats this Wednesday in Hill East.
The meeting is planned to take place from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Friendship Public Charter School campus at 1345 Potomac Ave. SE. Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and At-Large Councilmembers Anita Bonds and Vincent Orange are scheduled to attend the meeting.
Bowser, Allen and Bonds will join a representative from the D.C. Attorney’s Office to discuss affordable housing and homeless services. The meeting will also cover crime prevention and enforcement, according to a Facebook post from Ward 6 Democrats.
Representatives from the Metropolitan Police Department are also scheduled to attend the town hall. Other invited participants include the Capitol Hill Village, MPD’s Citizens Advisory Council, Metro Transit Police and the U.S. Capitol Police.
This week, D.C. broke the record for time before the first snow of winter, and the snowless streak is set to continue at least through this weekend. With possible scattered showers across the area and temperatures reaching the low 60s on Sunday, this weekend is shaping up to be wet and relatively warm.
It is also shaping up to be a busy weekend in the Capitol Hill area, with the holidays over and multiple events planned across the area. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this weekend in the Capitol Hill area:
Events
Freed Bodyworks Open House
Freed Bodyworks (1337 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
Friday 5-7 p.m.
Learn about Freed Bodyworks’ newest services, meet practitioners, enter a raffle and snack on handmade pies, punch and mulled wine.
All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Maury Elementary School (1250 Constitution Ave. NE)
Saturday 9 a.m.-noon
The Basketball and cheerleading teams at Maury Elementary School are hosting an all-you-can-eat breakfast to raise money for the basketball team’s annual trip and the cheerleading team’s trip to a championship competition in Virginia. The breakfast will include pancakes, bagels, bacon, sausage, fruit, juice and coffee. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and free for preschoolers.
Winter Coat and Potato Giveaway
D.C. Armory (192 19th St. SE)
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Hundreds of gently used winter coats and other clothing and more than 11 tons of potatoes will be distributed for free Saturday at the D.C. Armory. There is no need to pre-register for the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and everything will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in volunteering to help set up the event can arrive between 7:45 and 8 a.m. to help sort the clothes into men’s, women’s and children’s areas.
Friends of the Southeast Library Book Sale
Southeast Library (403 7th St. SE)
Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
So many books, so little time! Come to the Friends of Southeast Library book sale on the lower level of the library the second Saturday of each month. History, biography, mystery, fantasy, literature, photography, cookbooks — it’s all here! Plus, most books are only $1. Proceeds from the sale supplement programs for children.
Meet Up With Mendo
Ben’s Chili Bowl (1001 H St. NE)
Saturday 10-11 a.m.
Join DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson at a community ‘Meet Up’ in Ward 6. Share your questions and concerns with the Chairman on Saturday January 9, at 10 am until 11 am at the H street location of Ben’s Chili Bowl (1001 H Street Northeast). For more information call: 202.724.8032
12th Night Mardi Gras Party
Gallery O on H (1354 H St. NE)
Saturday 8-11 p.m.
The H Street corridor gallery will have live music, king cake, fortune tellers and more at their annual Twelfth Night party, celebrating the begining of the Mardi Gras season. There’s no charge but the gallery will be collecting donations for Santa’s Cause D.C., an organization that supports foster children in the area.
Metrorail
- Green Line Trains will operate on regular intervals between the Branch Avenue and College Park Stations, with shuttle buses replacing service to Greenbelt
- Silver Line Trains will operate between Wiehl Reston-East and East Falls Church only
- Red Line Trains will operate every 10-18 minutes
- Orange and Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes
- Rebuilding on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines will stop at noon on Sunday, allowing trains to run every 15 minutes Sunday evening for the NFL game at FedEx field
Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen introduced a bill today that will make it easier for District residents to shop locally.
The Made in DC Program Establishment Act of 2015 would task the District Department of Small and Local Business Development with making a “Made in D.C.” logo, brand and marketing campaign. The DSLBD would then certify local products and help market them at major District events.
“With the holiday season in full swing, I’m proud to help promote the District’s growing creator economy with a program to communicate the importance of buying local and having pride in DC-made products year-round,” Allen said in a statement about the bill.
The bill also includes instructions for the DSLBD to look into opportunities for a District-sponsored “innovation space” that would provide local artisans with studio space, shared equipment and classrooms.
The bill was co-introduced by District Council Chairman Phil Mendelson.
Photo via Councilman Allen/ Compass Coffee
The D.C. Council is used to a lot of back-and-forth, but it’s not usually this literal.
Councilman Charles Allen of Ward 6 joined seven other councilmembers for a ping pong tournament in Farragut Square this afternoon. The event was organized by at-large Councilman Vincent Orange and the Golden Triangle BID, which holds events in the square every Friday.
Allen faced off against Orange, as well as Council Chairman Phil Mendelson; at-large Councilwoman Elissa Silverman; councilmen Brandon Todd of Ward 4 and Jack Evans of Ward 3; and councilwomen LaRuby May of Ward 8 and Mary Cheh of Ward 3 in singles and doubles tournaments.
The Ward 6 councilman entered the tournament with little confidence, saying “I’m going to embarrass myself aren’t I?” before explaining that he hadn’t played ping pong since at least high school.
Allen faced a tough first-round game against Orange, who had the best serve on the Council. Orange knocked Allen out of the singles tournament easily with an 11-5 victory on his way to winning the whole competition.
Evans had the last laugh in the singles tournament, though. As Orange posed with his trophy, Evans interrupted and accused Orange of using deflated ping pong balls.
The smack talk from Evans continued into the doubles round, where Evans and Allen were paired. The two easily beat Mendelson and Silverman in the first round, but lost to May and Orange.
Allen joked throughout that his staff was not allowed to examine the ping pong tables prior to the tournament and was “playing in protest.” He joined several other councilmembers in accusing Orange of having an unfair advantage due to the orange-colored ping pong ball used.
Although he left the tournament empty-handed, Allen said he had fun competing against his fellow councilmembers and complimented the Golden Triangle BID on its work organizing events for the square.
“It’s just nice that the park is being used, whether it’s for ping pong or places people can sit and eat from the food trucks,” he said. “It’s good that it’s not just an empty space.”
Buy Me Zucchini and Crackerjacks — The Washington Nationals are adding a unique twist to ballpark concessions — fresh vegetables from a new rooftop garden at the stadium. In a new pilot program, 180 plants have been added to grow tomatoes, herbs, zucchini and squash. [WTOP]
False Alarm — “U.S. Capitol Police shut down a Capitol Hill intersection while they investigated an unattended backpack that they eventually found contained ‘food and stuff,’ a police spokeswoman said.” [Washington Post]
The Week Ahead — A roundup of upcoming ANC meetings in the area, with agenda items including a DC Streetcar update, a Belga Café summer rooftop garden and a new restaurant liquor license for &Pizza on Barracks Row. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Mass overdose — At least seven people in the District’s largest homeless shelter overdosed on synthetic marijuana on Friday, according to the D.C. Fire Department. Community for Creative Nonviolence shelter is located on the 400 block of 2nd Street NW. [Washington Post]
Mendelson Downplays Possible D.C. United Departure — Speaking on WAMU’s The Politics Hour Friday, D.C. City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson shrugged off the possibility of Virginia luring the soccer team from D.C. [WAMU]
Photo via Twitter/U.S. Capitol
