‘DC Brau’ On the Way
• June 18, 2013

As a cultural hub, Washington is usually on the forefront of most national trends, both minor and major key. However, the bursting popularity of the craft beer movement nearly seemed to have passed over the nation’s capital. Until recently, it felt like the only places to get a decent brew within the city were the Brickskeller or Pizzeria Paradiso.

But with many laudable new additions to the city’s bar scene serving unique microbrews and seasonal beer selections — among them the stellar Churchkey on 14th Street — it is clear that this town is coming around.

Now Washington is to receive the sanctifying cornerstone of any city’s beer culture: a brewery. DC Brau Brewing Company will be opening its doors this January. Founders Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock, two D.C. residents, are acutely aware of the empty tap handle or store shelf where a local beer ought to be found. The pair share years of experience in both brewing and beverage distribution, and have combined their knowledge and passion to establish the District’s first brewery since before Prohibition.

Hancock will be the acting brewmaster, having made beer with Grizzly Peak Brewing, Arbor Brewing companies and Flying Dog Brewery. With the beers named for various elements of democracy, expect to see such drinks as the Public Ale, The Citizen Belgian-style IPA, and the Corruption IPA. Their seasonal selections will be named after the neighborhoods of the city, such as the Georgetown Porter. Keep an eye out for DC Brau at your local corner stores and watering holes this winter.

DC’s First Synagogue to be Moved for Urban Development
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In 1876, a group of European-born Orthodox Jews built the city’s first synagogue in downtown Washington. Since its construction, the building has been turned over to three congregations, converted into a grocery store and a barbecue joint, slated for demolition, saved and dubbed a historic landmark. In 1969 it was literally cut in half, torn from its foundation, and relocated to Third Street, where it was renovated and reopened as a museum owned by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington (JHSGW) at 701 Third Street.

Now, as fate would have it, the structure is being moved again to make way for a deck above an entrance to I-395 south of Massachusetts Avenue, meant for high-rises and greenery where there is now only a recessed highway.

“It’s a great opportunity for the museum,” says Laura Apelbaum, executive director for the JHSGW. “In 1969 when we were initially moved, it was fortuitous that the triangular lot where we sit now was on 395. But when 395 went through, it scarred that part of the city – it cut off F and G Street. Even though we were saved by that, it has never afforded us the opportunity to tell the bigger story of Jewish life in the city.”

The temple, originally Adas Israel synagogue, was founded and built by around three dozen Jewish families angry over liberal reforms instituted at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, including the new practice of seating men and women together, the use of English-language prayers and the playing of Christian-style organ music during songs. Raising $4,800, they constructed the building in Washington’s “Synagogue Row,” which served downtown’s immigrants along the growing Seventh Street commercial corridor. President Ulysses S. Grant attended the dedication ceremony on June 9, 1876, the first time a U.S. president attended a Jewish religious service.

When the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority decided to build its headquarters on the block spanning Fifth and Sixth Streets, the brick synagogue was forced to find a new home or face demolition. Through the historical society’s efforts in the late 1960s, the building became a federal and city landmark, and collected both congressional support and a number of private donors.

At nearly 300 tons, the building, for the second time, will be delicately uprooted and moved by flatbed truck to a temporary spot. It will end up permanently at its new address at Third and F Streets.

“We’re going to regain the historic and religious orientation of the building,” says Apelbaum. “It will face East — Jerusalem — like it originally did. And we will have additional land with which to build a museum with gallery and educational space … in the same neighborhood, the same context that we were in originally.”

Contact laura@JHSGW.org.

DC Food Trucks Threatened by Local BIDs
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DC area food trucks are in the midst of major opposition from local BIDs and Restaurant Associations in the District. Proposed legislation threatens to restrict where food trucks can park and potentially threatens the ability of food truck proprietors to operate.

The regulation, Title 24 Chapter 5 of the DC Code, applies predominantly to stationary food carts, like the hotdog and pretzel stands by the National Mall. However there isn’t much attention paid to mobile vendors, aside from a rule that specifies that a mobile vendor cannot remain stationary for longer than it takes to complete a transaction with a customer, and that vendors that attract children (ice cream trucks) must park near crosswalks when possible.

So the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), by request of a number of local BIDs and restaurant associations, has now proposed a slew of new regulations that would specifically apply to mobile food trucks, formalizing the requirements that food trucks have to keep moving, must have a line of customers, and must park at least 60 feet from a stationary business selling similar of food.

Unfortunately, that isn’t enough for the BIDs. In comments submitted to DCRA, many have suggested additional language and changes to further protect its members from food truck competition. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s comments specifically seek to move all vendors more than 25 feet from the entrance of any licensed restaurant. The amendment to include additional language has prompted outcries from the local food truck community, resulting in the “Yes on Title 24” campaign, urging that the reulations not be amended to suit the desires of big-business BIDs and restaurant associations

Helder Gil, the Legislative Assistant collecting comments from the general public, has reportedly received hundreds of emails in support of food trucks during the comment period. The public comment period is technically over, but comments continue to pour in. Gil says that DCRA will continue to accept public comments on these regulations until his “email inbox melts down from the deluge.”

Fall Festivals Downtown
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Think of September. Think of fall, the falling of leaves, the recessional of summer, and the time before winter. Actually, September is party time. September in Washington and the surrounding area is festival time, big time. It’s what makes living in a city like this, with its center-of-the-world, center-of-the-body-politic bigness, so exciting.

In fact, this September is so exciting that you almost can’t stand it. It’s like living in a house equipped with a big buffet, a bar, a major-league flat-screen TV, a dance hall, a bandstand, and the biggest book and record collection — sort of like living in the Internet.

September has the Washington Redskins opening their season against Dallas for God’s sake, and September is when Washington’s world-class theater community begins its productions. All the big orchestras and cultural institutions from the Kennedy Center, to the D.C. Arts Center, to the Atlas Theater, and to the Music Center at Strathmore begin their seasons. September 14 is when D.C. voters go to the polls for that every-four-years political bloodletting called the Democratic Primary. September is when the colleges open their doors yet again.

Also, September is the time to go to the neighborhoods to get a flavor for the city’s widespread, oh-so-diverse cultural offerings. Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite Washington area festivals. Look around for more. They’re everywhere.

Arts On Foot

There’s September 11 — this Saturday — where an ever-expanding Arts on Foot Festival spreads itself out in the Penn Quarter’s downtown area, around the Seventh Street corridor from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This major league downtown revelation wraps itself around the city’s cultural, culinary and art offerings with both indoor and outdoor presentations.

The annual Art Market (already in progress) features the arrival of a host of local and regional artists offering everything from jewelry to painting, photographs, sculptures, woodwork art, and clothing. Look for the market in front of the National Portrait Gallery, along with musicians like Seth Kibel, folk group The Sweater Set, and guitarist Dave Chappell. On bigger stages there are performers like progressive hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon, CariTango, Dizzie Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue, swing music performers Gina DeSimone and the Moaners, Kid Goat, and Memphis Gold.

For foodies there’s the return of the O Organics “Cooking As Art Pavilion,” with D.C. chefs demonstrating their specialties. From an area rich in restaurants, there’ll be 25 top D.C. restaurants offering samples of their signature dishes at low prices in the restaurant sampling courts.

New this year is a special showcase of the District’s theater offerings at the Harman Center for the Arts, with short presentations from some of the very best theater and performing arts companies the Washington area has to offer. Among the 25 groups are the CityDance Ensemble, Ford’s Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Arena Stage, the Washington Improv Theater and the Washington National Opera.

The meteorologists say the weather is perfect that day. (At F Street between Sixth and Ninth Streets and Eighth Street between E & F Streets.)

Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival

The weather forecast also bodes well for the 26th Annual Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival, also on September 11 (this Saturday) from 12 to 6 p.m. That makes for a rich menu for cultural mavens, with performances heavily geared toward celebrating “Celebrate Mexico 2010,” — a festival inside a festival so to speak. Celebrate Mexico 2010 events include performances by Eugenia León, El Gran Silencio, the Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad Veracruzana, Nayas, Sherele (a klezmer a quartet from Guadalajara), Eugenio Toussaint with the National Symphony Orchestra, El Rincón de la Marimba, and the Macari-Sotelo Ensemble.

Also part of the festival is the annual Washington Chalk Festival, a gospel salute to Pastor Walter Haskins from Grammy Award Winner Richard Smallwood, the members of the Dance Theater of Harlem Residency, featuring young students ages 8-18, and the 16th Annual Multicultural Children’s Book Festival.

The National Book Festival

Even in the age of the Kindle, the National Book Festival, founded by former First Lady Laura Bush 10 years ago and sponsored by the Library of Congress, has to be a book lover’s go-to. It’s on the National Mall on September 25, it’s free, and it’s a celebration of books, authors and reading for everyone. Additionally, the festival features the presence—for signings and talks — of some of the best-selling authors plying their trade today.

Among the many authors are renowned Chilean novelist Isabel Allende (“The House of the Spirits”), best-selling legal thriller author Scott Turow, novelist Jane Smiley, Richard Rhodes, Edward O. Wilson, Ken Follett (of “The Pillars of the Earth” fame), Diana Gabaldon, Martha Grimes, Scott Spencer, Wil Haygood, David Remnick, Evan Thomas and Jonathan Franzen, whose long awaited novel “Freedom” is the major literary buzz of the year.

The Latino Festival of Washington and Adams Morgan Day

Two terrific, colorful and fun-filled neighborhood-flavored festivals that celebrate the city’s diversity and its Hispanic community can be found in Mount Pleasant and Adams Morgan — neighborhoods within smelling distance of the other’s ethnic restaurants. On September 12 (this Sunday) it’s the 32nd annual Adams Morgan Festival, which celebrates its own identity with the theme of “A Global Community of Diverse Interests.” Held along the length of 18th Street from Columbia Road to Florida Avenue (where the two main performance stages are located) this festival is so aromatic that you’ll feel like you’re a fried pepper after strolling through it.

The music has everything: latino, caribbean, reggae, salsa complete with a salsa contest, as well as soul, rock, afro-pop, blues and the Elikeh Band. From 12 to 7 p.m. it will be rock and roll and ola time.

There’ll be a health pavilion, dozens upon dozens of food vendors, and opportunities to shop from local stores and pavilions.

In Mount Pleasant, the Latino Festival of Washington will be held September 26, from noon to 7 p.m. There are five performing stages, but more importantly there’s the colorful Parade of Nations, which will include hundreds of dancers from 30 folkloric groups from Latina America, Spain and the Caribbean. There’s also a children’s festival, science fair, a diplomatic pavilion and international cuisine. Plus, as always, it’s free.

New Metro Stop Names
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-On September 13, the ANC 6D voted 4-1 to lengthen the names of the Navy Yard and Waterford/SEU metro stations. The vote took place at the behest of the Capitol Riverfront BID, although any resulting changes will need to be approved by DDOT and WMATA.

Among the desired additions were the inclusions of Capitol Riverfront and Nationals Park in the Navy Yard title and Arena Stage in Waterfront’s. ANC 6D was on board with the alterations;
however, one stipulation was that Capitol Riverfront could not appear first among the growing list of sites to be included in the Navy Yard label. Still, as Washington blog DCist notes, in recent years Green Line metro stop descriptors have gotten out of hand.

At what point do titles cease being informative and start being excessive? Locals have little use for sentence-long destinations, so the move seems more of a ploy to draw in unassuming tourists to particular local attractions.
Hopefully, this is a trend on the wane, otherwise “map” may soon become another literary genre.

Curbside Cookoff Kicks Off
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-October 7 and 8, the District’s most popular street vendors will converge at CityCenterDC for the two-day First Annual Curbside Cookoff. The event is being hosted by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCRA), in conjunction with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Brightest Young Things, and the Downtown BID. 20 of DC’s favorite food trucks were invited to participate after a weeklong online voting process. Additionally, all who attend will have a chance to vote for their favorite on-site vendor via paper ballot and text messaging.

Selected vendors include Red Hook Lobster Truck, BBQ Bandidos, Curbside Cupcakes, Fry Captain, and Pleasant Pops. Flying Dog will also be sponsoring a happy hour beer garden after work both days. The event will be rounded out with music, graffiti art and several performances.

From 11:30 am to 2 pm Thursday, graffiti artists Tom Conlon and Decoy will be showing off their craft, and between 5 and 8pm djRBI will lead you on a Dance Party through the Decades. Friday will feature yoga artist Julie Eisenberg in the morning and a Farafina Kan dance demonstration that night. Swing by between 11am and 9 pm both days for good food and an even better time.

National Geographic Goes Live
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-The fall season of “National Geographic Live!” events is in full swing, featuring presentations by world-renowned explorers, scientists, photographers and performance artists. The lineup includes concerts, documentary screenings, insightful discussions and more.

Among the upcoming events are The Last Man on the Mountain with author Jennifer Jordan
(October 7), My Father, the Captain with ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (October 8), and The Last Speakers with linguist K. David Harrison (October 12).

The Last Man on the Mountain, shares its title with Jennifer Jordan’s new book, which tells the story of American socialite Dudley Wolfe. In 1939, Wolfe perished attempting to summit K2—abandoned at 25,000 feet. Wolfe was its first victim, and his remains were only recently discovered by Jordan in 2002. Her presentation promises to be both entertaining and moving.

For more information on these and other National Geographic events, visit Events.NationalGeographic.
com. All of the programs being offered will occur in the Grosvenor Auditorium of the National Geographic Museum.

Jewish Literacy Festival Approaching
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-The 12th Annual Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival will run from October 17 to the 27 throughout DC, and as always it promises to highlight the year’s finest Jewish literature and authors. Many of these emerging and established writers earned accolades from The Washington Post and The New York Times. Their selected works span an assortment of genres, including history, humor, politics, and children’s fiction.

The festival opens at the Washington DCJCC, on October 17 at 7:30pm, with a staging of “Strangers in a Strange Land,” directed by Derek Goldman. The performance highlights this year’s overarching theme: the Jewish Diaspora. Another event sure to attract a diverse audience will be the film screening of “Sayed Kashua: Forever Scared,” on October 18 at 7:30pm. In it Kashua, an award winning author and screenwriter, reflects upon the everyday challenge of being both Arab and Jewish.

Closing night, October 27 at 7:30pm, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein will discuss the problems of living rationally when religious impulses fill the world around us with Ron Charles, Senior Editor of The Washington Post’s “Book World”. Critics agree, Goldstein’s recent novel “36 Arguments
for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction” is quite a read.

Plenty of other authors will be featured daily, over the course of the festival. For information on obtaining a festival pass, ticket prices, locations, and times visit www.WashingtonDCJCC.org/LitFest or call (202)777-3251. Join the Washington DCJCC in perpetuating Jewish identity while bolstering DC’s bond with its Jewish community.

Downtown Neighborhood Updates
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-No Trash Pickup Thursday

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has opted to cancel trash and recycling pickup on Thursday, October 21. This is so DPW employees are free to attend the funeral of one of their own, 51-year-old Larry Hutchins.

Hutchins served the community as a DPW employee for 24 years. Regrettably, on October 13 he was shot and killed in the DPW parking lot. Additionally, a coworker of his was wounded. As of yet, an arrest has not been made, and the name of the other shooting victim has not been released.

The DPW collections schedule has been altered accordingly. Thursday’s trash will be picked up Friday and Friday’s trash on Saturday.

There are sure to be complaints from those who don’t get the memo, but hopefully those in the know will keep Hutchins in their thoughts.

The Know It Express Launches Bus Service from U Street to Brooklyn

The Know It, a popular D.C. tourist information site where D.C. travelers can trade tips, is launching a bus service which will connect U Street and Brooklyn. Washington dwellers and New Yorkers have always had a close relationship, and now spending a long weekend in one or the other is that much easier with The Know It Express. Brooklyn is an obvious destination for many who migrate to New York City, with its easy accessibility to the heart of Manhattan, despite its much lower living expenses and trendy, vibrant culture. Now transplants and non-transplants alike from both cities can visit their friends and families without the hassle of being dropped off at inconvenient locations.

The travel service aims to make a trip between the two cities both convenient and pleasant.
With cozy seats, Wi-Fi internet, and in-seat outlets, The Know It Express is miles ahead of other popular bus companies. Wi-Fi internet and in-seat outlets will not be ready for the first trip on October 22 but will soon be functional. The bus service gives travelers a comfortable atmosphere to work, relax, and anticipate their visit or return. Additionally, the bus has five storage spaces for bikes, a godsend for any exercise aficionados.

The Know It Express will depart from Washington at 8:00 am and arrive in New York around lunch time. The bus will leave Brooklyn at 5:30 pm. Specifically targeting weekend visitors, the service will only operate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Next time you plan a visit to New York, keep The Know It Express in mind!

DT Neighborhood Updates
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-Stewart and Colbert restore sanity, or something like it

On Saturday, October 30, John Stewart, the comedian turned major leftwing political pundit, aided by inflammatory satirist sidekick Stephen Colbert, hosted a “Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear” on the National Mall, whose massive audience far exceeded the projected volume of participants. Assumed to be a direct counter to Glenn Beck’s “Rally To Restore Honor,” held August 28th and co-hosted by Sarah Palin, Stewart’s gathering seems to have trumped its predecessor.

While it’s hard to gauge accurate headcounts for events like these, AirPhotosLive.com, which takes overhead pictures of events and uses the photos to extrapolate the total number of people, estimated a crowd of 78,000 to 96,000 at Beck’s rally, and an estimated 215,000 for Stewart’s. Granted, Beck shortly after his rally thanked the 500,000 people who showed up for his cause, while Stewart praised the 10 million people in his own crowd and Colbert tweeted an estimated 6 billion attendees an hour before Saturday’s events kicked off.

Numbers aside, the event was an undeniable hit. While the GOP—spearheaded lately by the Tea Party movement—has been making most of the media racket over the past year, Saturday’s rally proved that there are just as many soft-spoken supporters of recent policies and social agendas who have simply not had a viable outlet. In a dazzling display of sheer irony, wit, and irritation, signs and costumes ridiculing the opposition littered the throngs: “Don’t Tread On Me Either,” “Honolulu Is Not In Kenya,” “Frustrated Arizonans Rejecting Tea [FART],” “We Can Disagree and Still Be Civil,” “Fringe Is Decorative, Not Substantive,” “Legalize Marijuana, Quick, Before They Search My Fanny Pack,” “I’m Too Disgusted to Vote” (this particular sign held by a toddler).

And while the crowd elated and Stewart’s veritable variety hour played out before the Capitol building (I never thought I’d see Cat Stevens perform live, let alone in a musical duel with Ozzy Osbourne), Stewart made sure to bring a resounding message home to his masses. This was not a rally with a heavy political agenda, nor was this a rally to pit “us” against “them.” This was a call to arms for reasonability, a reminder to display civil discourse in the government and in life, and a plea for national unity. We must listen to each other, he urged, and not dismiss anyone’s opinions as lunatic or inflammatory. We can all disagree and hold to our own unflappable opinions, but the beauty of this country is that it is allowed. So let us not forget.

Man arrested in connection with bombing plot

A Pakistani-born man who was residing in Virginia was arrested Wednesday, October 27, in connection with an al-Qaeda plot to bomb the metro. According to the FBI, Farooq Ahmed had been observing traffic flow at the Arlington Cemetery, Courthouse, Pentagon City, and Crystal City metro stops. The FBI also said the public was never in danger because they were monitoring Ahmed; people that Ahmed believed to be al-Qaeda operatives were really government officials.

From observing the metro stops, Ahmed deduced that the hour between 4 and 5 p.m. was the busiest time of day. If a bomb were to detonate during this period, the kill-count would be highest. When brought before the U.S. District Court of Alexandria, Ahmed did not enter a plea and told the judge that he did not have enough money for a lawyer.

Due to the event, Metro Transit Police said they are looking into performing random bag searches to ensure safety. The same proposal was made in 2008 but never saw implementation.

Drug busts at Georgetown University shock students and neighbors

At 6 a.m., Oct. 23, authorities ordered an immediate evacuation of Harbin Hall, a Georgetown
University dorm, where an alleged drug lab was discovered in a room on the ninth floor. Freshmen Charles Smith and John Romano, both Georgetown students, along with visiting University of Richmond freshman John Perrone, were arrested early in the morning after officials found the suspected lab intended to produce DMT, a hallucinogenic drug, in Smith and Romano’s dorm room. Romano was released and cleared of all charges at a hearing on Monday, Oct. 25th, in U.S. District Court after Smith told officers that Romano was not involved in any illegal activity, according to The Washington Post. Smith and Perrone are facing federal charges for conspiracy to manufacture and possession with intent to distribute DMT. They were then released into the custody of their parents until their next court date in DC on Jan. 24.

Also arrested on Oct. 26 for possession of and intent to distribute marijuana was Georgetown freshman Kelly Baltazar, whose roommate wrote about her knowledge of Smith’s plans to make DMT, according to the student newspaper, The Hoya.

What is drawing equal criticism is the manner in which the police handled the dorm evacuation.
Police evacuated Harbin Hall room-by-room that morning, after the fire alarm system failed to go off, frightening many students initially, but worrying them further that their residence lacks a working alarm system. However, according to Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson, the residence hall’s alarms underwent an inspection the previous week and passed fire safety standards, which was confirmed
by authorities.

The drug busts took students by surprise. “It’s completely shocking. I would have never have thought that something like this would happen at Georgetown,” student Andrew Strunk told The Hoya. But for many Harbin residents left outside their dorm, The Hoya added, school considerations during a stressful midterm season were at the top of the agenda. “I didn’t get to get my homework and I have a midterm on Monday,” said student and Harbin Hall resident Erica Lin.

Indeed, the Hoya’s lead editorial on Oct. 29, headlined “Damage Control,” lamented the bad press and bad rap for Georgetown and expressed worry that the “drug busts have the potential to harm the long-term reputation of the university.”

Dimethyltryptamine—DMT—is an endogenous hallucinogen, which can be inhaled, smoked or ingested, resulting in dream-like sensations as well as feelings of a near-death experience. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, punishment may involve up to 20 years in prison and fines of $1 million.

‘Adopt-A-Block’ catches on

Here’s the scoop from a worthwhile public effort: “Clean City’s Adopt-A-Block Program helps beautify our neighborhoods and allows citizens like you and your families to take an active role in cleaning and greening the District. As a part of the Clean City Initiative, Adopt- A-Block offers a hands-on project for people and organizations. The program allows participants to make a noticeable contribution to their communities. Citizens said that the government must do its part to keep the city clean, but recognized that government can’t do everything. Teamwork between government and citizens is key. Success begins with one citizen and one community deciding to make a difference.” Each group adopts a minimum of 2 square blocks of a residential or commercial area, agrees to conduct a quarterly, clean-up day and weekly litter pickup in the adopted area, and maintains this agreement for two years. Want more info? 202-724-8967 CleanCity@dc.gov, [www.CleanCity.dc.gov](http://www.CleanCity.dc.gov)

Golden Triangle releases new line of bike racks

Golden Triangle BID put in a new bike rack at 1901 Pennsylvania Ave NW, that is made out of recycled green parking meters. The unveiling occurred on Wednesday, October 27.

The bike rack is named “(Re) Cycle”, and the parking meter heads that comprise it were donated
by the D.C. Department of Transportation. Up to 10 bikes can fit on the work of art, which even those who don’t cycle can appreciate.

This is the third creative bike rack to be implemented by the Golden Triangle BID in its effort to promote alternative transportation. The last one, sanctioned in July, was made of oversized paperclips and meant to show business professionals how enjoyable a cyclist’s commute to work can be.

West End Cinema Reopens

After seven years, West End Cinema reopened Friday, October 29, featuring three small screening
rooms, each seating no more than 95 people. The theater will show low-profile, limited-distribution
independent foreign and documentary films.

Theaters like West End Cinema used to be plentiful in DC, but now only their weathered walls remain, resulting from the rise of larger movie theaters. The snack bar features more than just snacks — sandwiches, salads, hummus and pita platters. West End will also feature a full bar.

The cinema is located at 2301 M Street NW and was formerly the Inner Circle Theater. Co-founders Josh Levin and Jamie Shor hope the theater provides moviegoers with a unique experience they won’t find anywhere else.

Family celebration Harvest Festival

In celebration of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month this November, Smithsonian’s
National Museum of the American Indian is hosting a number of free programs. This Saturday (11//6) and Sunday (11/7), between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., the museum will kick off Heritage Month with the Family Celebration Harvest Festival. Held in the Potomac Atrium, the festival will feature food demonstrations, theatrical performances and crafts.

The festival aims to show participants how Native communities across America welcome the harvest season. This is part of the Smithsonian’s larger theme for the month: Promoting Healthy Families, Cultures and the Environment.

Hands-on activities include cornhusk weaving and masa and tamale making. Local Mayans will also perform a puppet rendition of their creation myth, the Popul Vuh. For more information on the Harvest Festival and other Heritage Month activities visit [www.americanindian.si.edu](http://www.americanindian.si.edu)

Georgetown Public Library shines anew

The Georgetown Public Library on R Street held an open house for the Citizens Association of Georgetown, Oct. 25, as library officials welcomed a large, curious crowd marveling at the library’s rebirth, and its increased space from 19,000 to 26,000 square feet. Jerry McCoy, historian at the main branch as well, talked about the April 2007 fire and displayed fire-damaged objects such as the weather vane and the clock (stopped at 12:38 p.m.) and added that he needed copies of The Georgetowner and Georgetown Current newspaper from 2006 and 2007 to complete his sets. With an iPad on hand, Richard Levy of the D.C. Library Foundation asked the audience to “advocate for all the other libraries of the District.” During the presentation, Marcia Carter, owner of the renowned used and rare bookstore, Booked Up (now closed), donated two books from the 18th century to the Peabody Room’s McCoy. Friends of the Georgetown Library also joined CAG and seeks members and volunteers to help with programs and other events at the library.

Support is strong, and history seems to be safe, pending another unfortunate mishap. But we will all keep our fingers crossed. This beautiful new building is one made to stay for many lifetimes. For more information, visit: [www.dclibrary.org/georgetown](http://www.dclibrary.org/georgetown)