Latest News

Kelly Byrnes • July 16, 2015

Four Georgetown establishments — Lady Camelia Tea Room, Georgetown AMC, Chaia Tacos, and an unnamed Greek restaurant to be located on Prospect Street — have acquired new liquor licenses, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration announced June 25.

The Administration announced in late May the licenses would be open for application and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The announcement came on the heels of license cancellations at M Café, Puro Café, Zenobia Lounge and Pizzeria Uno.

Georgetown’s Moratorium Zone places a number of permit restrictions on area establishments, including a limit to 68 liquor licenses issued to restaurants to allow for sale and consumption of beer, wine and spirits. All Georgetown hotels, as well as businesses located in Georgetown Park, Prospect Place, Georgetown Court and Washington Harbour are exempt from the moratorium.

The moratorium is currently in effect in Georgetown until February 2016 and is one of five neighborhood moratorium zones in the District along with Adams Morgan, Glover Park, and both East and West Dupont Circle areas.

Gary Tischler •

In all the major and epochal events that have occurred over the past few weeks, nothing—not even the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage—seems to have been quite as tumultuous, and quite as dramatically full of rapid change as the political and cultural reaction to the shooting of nine African Americans at the historic Emmauel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nine people—the kind of people, pastors, religious leaders, community leaders, old, young, and blameless folks, women and men, fathers and grandmothers, all of whom led lives that were admired and inspirational—were killed in the church by a young 21-year-old white supremacist. He sat with these people, members of a bible study group, for an hour, felt their presence and individuality intimately, but no curb, no compassion or empathy, no emotion touched him except the urgency of killing them because they represented everything he resented and hated in the world.

Political leaders at first were outraged—South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s first response was to emphatically call for the death penalty of the alleged killer who was apprehended and arrested not too long after the murders, but she did not at first embrace the idea of doing away with the Confederate battle flag that flew at the state capitol. Like some others, she insisted that the flag needed to fly free. Republican presidential candidates responded with shock and not a little confusion, wondering how this atrocity could have happened and seemed baffled that it did. President Obama’s initial response was one of strong outrage, and frustration on the issue of guns.

But something else happened—the crime and the killings stunned African Americans, who felt the losses keenly and deeply, like vivid aftershocks from the worst and most violent days of the Civil Rights movement as well as more recent events involving the deaths of black men at the hands of white police officers.

But there were no people raging in anger in the streets. There was grief, lamentation and, shockingly, forgiveness. And this time, they were not alone—the outrage, and perhaps more important, the sense of loss and lost was acutely universal. In South Carolina, , where the South’s most avid secessionist had left the United States of America first as the country moved toward Civil War—white neighbors embraced their fellow African American neighbors in Charleston, weeping and full of grief.

But when the alleged killer’s manifesto fully revealed him to be a white supremacist and racist gnarled and defiant, and when a photograph of him with the confederate flag emerged, there was bi more mystery to motivation—he murdered good and upstanding people in the black community out of sheer hate. And that self-evident fact changed everything.

Governor Haley emphatically called for the removal of the flag from the state capitol grounds. “It is time to move the flag from the capitol” and she was joined in South Carolina by Senator Lindsay Graham, and perhaps more surprisingly and resonant as metaphor, South Carolina State Senator Paul Thurmond, son of the South’s uber-segregationist, the late Strom Thurmond.

The presidential candidate fell in line too, suddenly finding the wisdom to understand that the killings were not a mystery, but inspired by symbols and a warped view of history, including the Confederate battle flag. Businesses were eliminating logos and products embedded with confederate flag logs, Virginia contemplated taking the flag off of license plates.

It was a watershed rush to judgement, which seemed to include questioning the values of Southern traditions, values and history itself. One man interviewed on television, whose house was lathered in walls of confederate flags, wailed about an attack on Southern traditions, courage and values. Told that the Ku Klux Klan had used the flag, he wailed that they “stole it from us, they defiled the flag.” He, like many others, insisted that the flag (and the war) was not about slavery, but about state’s rights.

It seems in many ways a peculiarly Southern thing, this battle over the flag as a battle over the Civil War and how it is remembered and commemorated in the South. But it’s also a wholly American thing, because the war is so ingrained in the nation’s popular culture—there remain millions of people who had seen “Gone With the Wind” over and over again, and its effects should not be minimized.

Thousands—maybe millions—of people, amateur historians, battle-re-enactors—see the war as a series of battles fought bravely and most bravely by the confederate soldiers and their romantic, brilliant cadre of generals and officers—Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jubal Early, Jeb Stuart, George Pickett, Longstreet and all the others In many minds, the war exists as a series of actions—Pickett’s futile charge, the battle over bridges and ditches, the rebel yell, Stuart’s cavalier cavalry.

To African Americans in the South and all over the nation, the war was about the emancipation of the slaves, which freed slaves, without giving them freedom in their daily lives, especially in the South, which continued slavery by other means with segregation and Jim crow.

In the Washington area, the beltway culture, those symbols from the war and the old south and American history abound and abide still. At an overnight stay last year in Frederick, Maryland, we visited the cemetery where Francis Scott Key is honored and were we were startled to see the statue of a Confederate soldier, with the Confederate flag flying free behind him. Frederick also honors Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney—Scott’s father-in-law—with a statue, as does Baltimore. Taney was the author of the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision which stated that the federal government could not regulate slavery in territories and that slaves free and not could never be citizens of the United States.

Perhaps the horrible murders in South Carolina might lead to some real conversations, white and black, white and white, black and black, old and young, about the past. Maybe the political air around state capitols will be a little clearer with the removal of that wounding flag.

And maybe not. You can expect the process to be painful and difficult and long. Already, no less an intellectual than Ann Coulter—and others—suggested that perhaps Governor Haley—a staunch conservative—did not fully understand the traditions of the south because she was raised in an immigrant culture..

But that initial reaction—across the country, and from most politicians on both sides of the aisle-was thunderous, in the heat of a battle that has not yet been fought, but will surely continue forward.

Georgetowner •

Dinner & A Movie

June 18th, 2015 at 07:45 PM | 0 | isobel@taapr.com | Tel: 2026258370 | Event Website

Market Common Clarendon will be hosting Dinner & A Movie On The Loop for four consecutive Thursday’s kicking off on June 18. Each week will have a Market Common Clarendon restaurant partner serving dinner for a fixed amount to enjoy during the movie. Movie’s will begin at 8:30 PM, with food available beginning at 7:45 PM.

Thursday, June 18th: Big Hero 6

Address

Market Common Clarendon; 2700 Clarendon Boulevard; Arlington VA 22201

Cooking Light & Health’s The Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend

June 19th, 2015 at 06:00 PM | $55-$150 | sarahj@breadandbutterpr.com | Event Website

Ready, set, go – To the most delicious 5K race ever! Cooking Light & Health’s The Fit Foodie 5K Race Series is the ultimate celebration of food, fitness and fun. The race weekend is jam-packed with delicious bites and sips, a scenic 5K Race, Finisher’s Village Celebration, interactive demonstrations from acclaimed fitness and culinary talent, Tracy Anderson Method, a Sunday Brunch, tons of giveaways and more! At The Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend, crossing the finish line has never tasted so good!

Address

Strawberry Mark at Mosaic District; 2910 District Avenue; Fairfax, VA 22031

Summer Lounge at the Shops at Wisconsin Place

June 19th, 2015 at 06:00 PM | isobel@taapr.com | Tel: 2026258370 | Event Website

Summer Lounge at the Shops at Wisconsin Place will be hosting its second live music performance as a part of the Summer Music Series on Friday, June 19 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Guests will be able to experience a relaxing evening complete with The Christopher Linman Jazz Experience while also enjoying summer food offerings provided by the Capital Grille, Le Pain Quotidien, and Whole Foods Market. In addition, there will also be an Enter To Win, featuring items from your favorite retailers.

Address

5310 Western Avenue; Chevy Chase MD 20835

Millennial Made: Food Face Off

June 19th, 2015 at 07:00 PM | $30 | Event Website

Description: What could be better than an evening of savory cuisine and cocktails? In partnership with Union Kitchen, Millennial chefs will showcase their use of cool gadgets and cooking technology. Featuring live cooking stations, attendees will sample foods from each station and vote to determine which Millennial chef creates D.C.’s “best bite”.
Sponsor: Union Kitchen

Address

1776; 1133 15th St NW

Humane Society Pet Adoption Van Visits Georgetown Library!

June 20th, 2015 at 12:00 PM | FREE | rebekah.smith@dc.gov | Tel: 202-727-0232 | Event Website

Be a real hero this summer — adopt a pet in need! Come celebrate the DC Library’s summer reading program, “Every Hero Has a Story” with a special visit from the Washington Humane Society’s pet adoption van on Saturday, June 20th, from 12-4pm. You can visit with their adorable animals, learn about volunteer opportunities, and even complete a same-day adoption process to take home a new furry friend! All are welcome!

Address

Georgetown Neighborhood Library; 3260 R Street NW

Nordic Jazz Festival 2015

June 20th, 2015 at 04:00 PM | 0-$35 | idaang@um.dk | Tel: 202-304-0402 | Event Website

Nordic Jazz 2015 presents Scandinavia’s top performers in Washington D.C. June 20th – 27th.
The Nordic Embassies, Twins Jazz Club, the Dupont Circle Festival and the Phillips Collection are excited to present the ninth annual Nordic Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C., June 20th – 27th, 2015. Internationally acclaimed performers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden will present the modern sound of Nordic Jazz over the course of 11 concerts.

Address

Twins Jazz; The Phillips Collection; Embassy of Finland; House of Sweden; and Dupont Circle Park

Friends of Rose Park Summer Movie Nights

June 20th, 2015 at 08:00 PM

Bring your picnics, chairs, and blankets for a screening of “Rio 2” at 8 p.m. June 20. Drinks and snacks available!

Address

Rose Park; 26th and O Streets

Sunday Serenity: Yoga in the Park

June 21st, 2015 at 09:30 AM | $5 suggested donation | info@dumartonhouse.org | Tel: 202-337-2288 | Event Website

From June 21 to August 30, Dumbarton House will host a guided yoga session every Sunday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM in the East Park. The classes are followed by a meditation. Bring a yoga mat and wear something comfy to enjoy a relaxing experience in one of our lovely gardens.

There is a $5 suggested donation to the instructor that will be collected during each class. Reservations are not required but to find out more information and to claim a spot, visit DumbartonHouse.org/events.

Address

2715 Q St NW

Tchikovsky’s 1812 Overture/Emanuel Ax Plays Brahms

June 21st, 2015 at 08:15 PM | Event Website

Tchaikovsky’s triumphant masterpiece complete with cannon blasts, and his romantic overture to Romeo and Juliet, with internationally-acclaimed pianist Emanuel Ax’s “thoughtful, lyrical, lustrous” (The Washington Post) playing of Brahms.

Address

Filene Center; 1551 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22812

Robert Devaney •

America was again shocked, embittered, if not enraged, after a mass murderer shot nine persons to death in a church during bible study on a Wednesday night, June 17, in Charleston, S.C.

The suspected killer, Dylann Storm Roof, 21, was arrested in North Carolina June 18, as photos of him were viewed around the word as deeply as his mass sins were felt.

The suspect entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically black church on Calhoun Street, to sit near and observe those in prayer and reading the bible. After an hour, allegedly, the hate-filled white racist pulled out his .45 caliber pistol, which he’d gotten as a birthday present, and took away those lives that would be the opposite of his: a reverend, a coach, a librarian, a lovely old lady.

According to the Charleston Courier & Post, Charleston County Corner Rae Wooten identified the victims who died as:

— State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, the church’s pastor;

— Cynthia Hurd, 54, St. Andrews regional branch manager for the Charleston County Public Library system;

— Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, a church pastor, speech therapist and coach of the girls’ track and field team at Goose Creek High School;

— Tywanza Sanders, 26, who had a degree in business administration from Allen University, where Pinckney also attended;

— Ethel Lance, 70, a retired Gilliard Center employee who worked recently as a church janitor;

— Susie Jackson, 87, Lance’s cousin who was named by a relative and was a longtime church member.
relative and was a longtime church member;

— Depayne Middleton Doctor, 49, who retired in 2005 as Charleston County director of the Community Development Block Grant Program;

— Mira Thompson, 59, a pastor at the church;

— Daniel Simmons Sr., 74, who died in a hospital operating room.

“They say to each of us, black and white alike, that we must substitute courage for caution. They say to us that we must be concerned not merely with [about] who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers. Their death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of the American Dream,” said President Barack Obama, quoting Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., of racist murders a half century earlier, to illuminate a path to a place beyond the Charleston massacre. Next to him somberly stood Vice President Joe Biden before the press June 18 in the White House briefing room.

“Now is the time for mourning and for healing,” the president said. “But let’s be clear: At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency. And it is in our power to do something about it.”

“I say that recognizing the politics in this town foreclose a lot of those avenues right now. But it would be wrong for us not to acknowledge it. And at some point it’s going to be important for the American people to come to grips with it, and for us to be able to shift how we think about the issue of gun violence collectively.”

“The fact that this took place in a black church obviously also raises questions about a dark part of our history. This is not the first time that black churches have been attacked. And we know that hatred across races and faiths pose a particular threat to our democracy and our ideals.”

“The good news is I am confident that the outpouring of unity and strength and fellowship and love across Charleston today, from all races, from all faiths, from all places of worship indicates the degree to which those old vestiges of hatred can be overcome.”

Indeed, services and meeting in prayers happened in the city of the latest mass murder as well as in the nation’s capital as lawmakers joined in prayer. “A church should be one of the safest places on the planet,” said Senate Chaplain Barry Black. “God is near to the broken-hearted, and that would match South Carolina and all of us today,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

“And if one will hold on, he will discover that God walks with him, and that God is able to lift you from the fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope, and transform dark and desolate valleys into sunlit paths of inner peace,” said Obama, invoking King’s remarks about the murder of four black girls at Selma, Alabama, church, in 1964.

The president concluded: “Reverend Pinckney and his congregation understood that spirit.  Their Christian faith compelled them to reach out not just to members of their congregation, or to members of their own communities, but to all in need.  They opened their doors to strangers who might enter a church in search of healing or redemption.”

“Mother Emanuel church and its congregation have risen before –- from flames, from an earthquake, from other dark times -– to give hope to generations of Charlestonians. And with our prayers and our love, and the buoyancy of hope, it will rise again now as a place of peace.”

Kelly Byrnes •

On June 19, 150 years ago, one of the last groups of American slaves learned that they were freed of their bondage, a moment in history that continues to be celebrated today.

Juneteenth, as the celebration is called, commemorates the 1865 announcement of freedom by U.S. Army Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas. While Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in rebel states two years before in 1863, news of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach Texas until June 19, 1865.

Now a cultural holiday, Juneteenth is marked with events that recall the struggles and triumphs of African Americans.

Washington, D.C., has been a hub for Juneteenth celebrations in recent years, including a 2000 effort to call upon Congress to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday. The campaign proved successful, as Juneteenth is now observed as a state holiday or day of observance in the District and 43 states.

Books and reading are at the center of this year’s celebration, whose slogan is “Literacy is the backbone of freedom.”

Hosted by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the two-day Juneteenth Book Festival will feature a June 19 conference with discussion panels, workshops, as well as an awards reception at Sankofa Video Books and Cafe on Georgia Avenue NW. The main event, a family-friendly outdoor festival, is planned for June 20 at Anacostia’s St. Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion? at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, in which every child will leave with a book to recognize the importance of literacy in freedom and civil rights.

“The U.S. Capitol and the White House were built through the uncompensated labor of the ancestors of Americans of African descent during the tyranny of enslavement,” says Ronald V. Myers, Sr., chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign and National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. “The leaders of the ‘Modern Juneteenth Movement’ will continue to honor their contributions in building key American institutions during the annual observance of Juneteenth in the nation’s capital.”

This is the first year of the annual festival, which will feature publisher Haki Madhubuti, author Marita Golden, as well as Myers. 

Gary Tischler •

At times, the annual N Street Village Empowerment Luncheon June 18 at the Mayflower Hotel felt like a buzzing, high-energy convention of a major national sorority. There were women everywhere, all kinds of women, united in a mission of making people’s lives better.

There were retired nurses, retired psychologists and retired history professors, and there were volunteers and board members and donors, and there was Mayor Muriel Bowser, promising with force to end homelessness and lauding the rising reputation of the city over which she presides. There was singer Jennifer Holliday, the original “Dreamgirl” girl, belting out her signature song “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.”

There were speeches by Pepco exec Debbi Jarvis, and Schroeder Stribling, the ebullient and impassioned Executive Director of N Street Village.

And there were direct, honest, and dramatic talks by Cheryl Barnes and Gisele Clark, both of them alumnae of N Street Village, two women of many who are the reason N Street Village exists. Barnes described how she was homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol for some 30 years of her life. “I stand before you 24 years recovered and it is a miracle that I stand here. I sit at a table of hope and vision as a former homeless representative.” “You,” she said, indicating the audience members of volunteers, contributors, directors, workers and supporters, “ are giving life and hope to all the women who come to N Street Villages for hope, sustenance and help.”

Clark, likewise an alumnae, talked about addiction and relapse, detailing her journey through N Street Village whuch ultimately led to permanent housing and fall classes at UDC.

N Street Village is a long-standing organization which empowers homeless and low-income women to “claim their highest quality of life by offering a broad spectrum of services and advocacy in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.”

Here is what N Street Village does:

– It is the largest provider of women-only services for D.C.’s homeless population, serving more than 60 percent of the city’s adult female homeless population.

– It provides a self-contained continuum of supportive services and housing in order to help women achieve stability and improved quality of life.

– It focuses on creating a safe and welcoming community where women are empowered to make positive changes in their lives.

The women who come to N Street Village, often in the beginning for respite, rest, and peace, suffer from mental illness, addition, have physical, sexual, and trauma histories. Some are living with HIV, most have chronic health problems and half are over 50 years old and one in three have no source of income.

N Street Village provides basic needs, including food, clothing, crisis support, integrated health services , housing, and a path to employment. [gallery ids="102123,133751,133747,133753,133756" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

A man was found dead June 20 after 10 p.m. in the 3600 block of Calvert Street NW, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. He was identified as Joel Johnson, 53, and pronounced dead at the scene. He was stabbed and had other injuries.

Johnson was described by police as homeless and found in a courtyard of St. Luke’s Mission Center in Glover Park and next to the condominium, Georgetown Heights, close to the U.S. Naval Observatory.

According to MPD Second District Commander Melvin Gresham, “A number of homeless men were sleeping outside of the St. Luke’s Mission at Calvert and Wisconsin when an altercation resulted in one of the men being stabbed. The men were all associates, and this was not a random act.”

St. Luke’s Shelter is a small, year-round facility that helps homeless men transitioning into jobs, housing and recovery programs. The church merged with Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, where it holds services.

The Rev. Charles Parker, a pastor at Metropolitan, told the Washington Post that the killing “is a great tragedy and I think a real indictment of our community.” Parker, who said that Johnson was not staying at the shelter and did not know him, added that it is sad that those in need “don’t have the resources available that they need.”

No arrests have been made.

Georgetowner •

American Affinities: Pop Art from John Stango

June 26th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free | morgan@aproof.net | Tel: 202-803-2782 | Event Website

Artist’s Proof is proud to announce the unveiling of their upcoming exhibition, “American Affinities: Contemporary Pop Art from John Stango,” which features a compilation of works from artist John Stango starting Friday, June 26th to Sunday, July 19th. Stango builds upon traditional Pop Art imagery while incorporating influential contemporary brands and uniquely American icons to create bold, colorful, and dynamic pieces that resonate with twenty-first century pop culture energy.

Address

Artist’s Proof; 1533 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Guided Garden Tour: Historic & Growing

June 26th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free-$10 | press@tudorplace.org | Tel: 2029650400 | Event Website

This lively walk traces the history and horticulture of centuries-old trees, heirloom plants and flowers, and abundant English boxwood across the 5½-acre landscape. Learn how Tudor Place’s design reflects its Federal-period origins and how land use changed over time. Identify species cultivated here over two centuries, and see how four owners and six generations cared for and embellished their land as Georgetown and the Federal city developed.

Address

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden; 1644 31st Street NW

Book Hill Dog Parade

June 27th, 2015 at 8:00 AM | free | Tel: 202-944-2753

At the annual Dog Parade and Show, in Georgetown’s Book Hill Park, dogs will meet Uncle Sam, strut in the parade, and compete for prizes (best costume, best couple, best trick and others). The event is open to the public. Rain date: June 28.

Address

Book Hill Park is located behind the Georgetown Library at the corner of Reservoir Road and Wisconsin Avenue.

Garden Party

June 27th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | free | art@liveanartfullife.com | Tel: 540-253-9797 | Event Website

Live An Artful Life® Gallery will host a floral celebration of art with their show “Garden Party”. The show will feature artwork depicting a garden theme from a group of talented artists residing in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The public is invited to vote for their favorite painting for the People’s Choice Award. An opening party is planned for the evening of June 27th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Show runs June 27 through July12, 2015.

Address

Live An Artful Life Gallery; 6474 Main Street; The Plains, VA 20198

Mosaic Live

June 27th, 2015 at 05:00 PM | FREE | mmcgarry@edens.com | Event Website

Join us the last weekend of June for a special FREE concert weekend presented in partnership with Jammin’ Java!

Saturday Night:

From 5-9 p.m., will feature food and drink from Mosaic partners, including DGS and Sisters Thai and concerts by

-Brain Stew, A Tribute to Green Day (6pm-6:45pm)

-Good Time Boys, A Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers(7pm-8pm)

Sunday Morning:

From 11am – 2pm, will feature local family favorites

-Rocknoceros (11:30am-12:20pm)

-Rainbow Rock (12:40pm-1:30pm)

Address

Mosaic District; 2910 District Avenue; Fairfax, Virginia 22031

El Centro D.F. Brings Back Its Popular Guacamole Festival

June 29th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | $12.55 to $14.75 | Tel: (202) 328-3131 | Event Website

Richard Sandoval’s vibrant Taqueria and Tequileria, El Centro D.F., is pleased to debut its popular Guacamole Festival, which will run June 29th through September 30th, 2015. The Festival will feature different flavors that highlight various regional experiences of preparing guacamole. Dating back to Aztec times, the traditional Mexican dip was comprised of avocado, onion, chilies, fresh tomato, and salt.

Address

1819 14th Street, NW

Tudor Tots: Summer Fun in the Sun

June 30th, 2015 at 10:00 AM | $5 per child. Free for adults | Tel: 2029650400115

Tudor Place has enchanted young children for almost two centuries. Experience it yourself on family-friendly Tuesday mornings, joining others to read, sing, and play in the picturesque gardens. Each week introduces a new theme, from “adventurous animals” to “growing gardens” and more. Children enjoy interactive read-alouds, songs, and themed movements related to the week’s topic, sharing a shady green and tranquil setting with the grown-ups who care for them.

Address

1644 31st Street NW

Peter Murray •

The Metropolitan Police Department has discovered 3 dead bodies in Washington waterways this week, and has attributed the discovery of those bodies to heavy recent rain.

The first body was found in the rear of the Swedish Embassy at the 2900 block of K Street NW. Officers appeared on the scene to investigate a “body floating in the water” and “discovered a deceased male,” according to an email from the department. Police say the body was in the water for an “undetermined amount of time” and that they do not know the cause, or the location, of the man’s death. The department has scheduled an autopsy to find out more about the man’s death Officials also said that the deceased man “carried identification” indicating North Carolina residency.

On Wednesday, police retrieved two bodies from the Tidal Basin and the Potomac River, respectively. U.S. Park Police called MPD to the scene when they discovered a partially submerged, “unconscious and unresponsive” adult male in the Tidal Basin around 6:30 a.m. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, MPD is continuing their investigation of the death as a homicide and asking anyone with information about the body to call the department at (202) 727-9099.

Lastly, MPD’s Homicide Branch is investigating unidentified remains that were found in the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center around noon Wednesday. The police said in a statement that MPD’s K-9 Unit was the first on the scene and that Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the body to their facilities for further investigation.

Georgetowner •

The National Mall is vibrant with American politics, history, and spirit. Now, it’s bursting with Peruvian pride as part of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The event, which kicked off Wednesday, celebrates traditional Peruvian culture with a lineup as diverse as the country itself. Throughout the eight-day festival, visitors of all backgrounds can immerse themselves in every aspect of Peru’s lively culture.

The festival will serve up traditional Peruvian eats from pork stew and potatoes in cream sauce, to more exotic fare like stingray jerky and Andean rodent, prepared by both native cooks and D.C. chefs in live demonstrations.

For those seeking fun and festive entertainment, a number of dance troupes and musical performers will showcase their roots through song and dance, representing an array of regions. Notable dances scheduled during the festival are the Masquerade, which celebrates la Mamacha Carmen, the patron saint of Paucartambo, and the country’s national dance, the Spanish-and-African-infused Marinera.

Hand-crafted Peruvian artwork and objects will also be displayed, including carved gourds, reed rafts, textiles, masks, jewelry, painted wood crafts, ceramics, and woven goods. The various crafts represent 4 distinct regions of Peru.

The festival is held now through June 28, as well as July 1-5, between Third and Fourth streets on the National Mall. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. everyday, with evening concerts taking place at 7 p.m. June 25, 26 and 27, as well as July 2 and 3.