Childrens Soccer at Stead Park

Sat., Sep. 13 (10:30am): Children 10 years of age and younger have a friend in Dupont East real estate agent Lindsey Reishman who has been sponsoring a summer-long, FREE KIDS SOCCER program at Stead Park (enter from mid-1600 block of P Street and don’t let the playground reconstruction work stop you from walking on through to the soccer field beyond). After a successful program of simply fun, noncompetitive soccer that started in June, with an average of 20 children participating every Saturday, the program has been extended and will continue every Saturday morning through October 16. Two trained and experienced volunteers have signed on to coach the young soccer players. Bring only your child’s energy and gym shoes; mesh jerseys, mini-soccer balls and goals are provided. And, mark your calendars to be sure not to miss the end-of-season barbeque on Saturday, October 18. For more info, or to sign up, call Lindsey Olsen at 491-1275 or send email to Lolsen@lindsayreishman.com.

Free Tours of Convention Center Art Collection

Sat., Sep. 13 (12noon, 1:30 & 3pm): Join a small group for a free GUIDED TOUR of the $4 million art collection on permanent display inside the Convention Center (K St./Mt. Vernon Pl., bet. 7 & 9th Sts.).Featured are paintings, sculptures, photography, graphics and mixed -media works created by local, national and international artists. Included is the dramatic, 72-foot “Shaw Wall,” which displays artwork by local DC artists celebrating the historic Shaw neighborhood in which the convention center is located. There is no charge, but since space on each of the three tour groups is limited, pre-registration is encouraged, although walkups will be accepted if spaces are available. To reserve your preferred tour time, call 249-3200.

Christenberry Showing at Hemphill Fine Arts

Sat., Sep. 13 (6:30-8:30pm): Hemphill Fine Arts (1515 14th St.) will be hosting an OPENING RECEPTION for its a solo showing of new work by internationally acclaimed artist William Christenberry. Long fascinated by the south of his childhood, the artist is known for his explorations of the haunted history and rough beauty of rural Alabama with a unique and authentic vision. A discussion of the artist’s vision can be found in a review published last winter of an exhibition of his work at the American University’s Katzen Arts Center (see, At the Museums, The InTowner, March 2008, page 15.) The show will remain on view until October 25, and may be viewed during regular gallery hours, Tue.-Sat., 10am-5pm or by appointment.

Hip Hop Discussion Forum

Tue., Sep. 23 (6-8pm): The Columbia Heights Youth Center (1480 Girard St. ; tel., 234-3516) will be hosting a free MUSIC DISCUSSION FORUM featuring Hip Hop producer and DJ/producer/emcee Vitamin D and Hip Hop visionary/event producer Jonathan Moore as a part of Red Bull Big Tune on Tuesday, September 23 with students participating in the programs offered through the neighborhood-based Words Beats and Life (1525 Newton St.), the first initiative that evolved from the multi-medium hip-hop arts DC Urban Arts Academy. The public is invited to attend at no charge.

Lecture/Panel program at National Geographic Society

Tue., Sep. 16 (7:30pm): The National Geographic Society will be presenting in its Grosvenor Auditorium (1600 M St.) a special LECTURE/PANEL program, “Journey Through Hallowed Ground: Birthplace of the American Ideal.” Based on a book published by the Society, its author, Andrew Cockburn, and photographer Kenneth Garrett will share stories and firsthand accounts of historic events along the 175-mile region from Monticello to Gettysburg that was the book’s focus. Their presentation will be followed by a panel discussion that will include, among others, filmmaker Ron Maxwell, National Park Service’s Chief Historian Robert Sutton, Fauquier County’s Afro-American Historical Association Director Karen Hughes White, and Virginia Indian Heritage Program Director Karenne Wood. Tickets for non-members, $18 (children 12 and under, $9). For more info, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/nglive.

U Street Farmers Market Open Through Thanksgiving

Sat., Sep. 20 (9am-1pm): The very popular 14&U Farmers Market will be continuing its WEEKLY SATURDAY MORNINGS (to 1 pm) presence on the sidewalk in front of the Reeves Center building through November 22. This is a true producer-only farmers market, offering a variety of local, seasonal fruits, salads, greens and vegetables, cheeses, bread, free-range eggs, plants, flowers, desserts, gelato, sorbet, pastured meat, honey, ciders. WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition coupons are presently accepted and they will soon be accepting food stamps.

Newly Acquired Works in the City Hall Art Collection to be Unveiled

Tue., Sep. 23 (5-7pm:) The Wilson Building’s display of the City Hall Art Collection will once again be front and center as the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities once again celebrates not only the collection as a whole but the addition of 28 works by 17 artists new to the collection purchased through the Commission’s “DC Creates Public Art Program.” With these recent acquisitions, the collection now numbers 203 works by 117 artists from all eight wards, at least 25 of whom are DC natives. The public is invited to join guided tours of the collection which is displayed on the ground through fifth floors. As was reported in this newspaper two years ago, This collection is definitely worth viewing: “The works in the collection are exuberantly colorful, beautifully made, and if they all convey a common them, it is one of deeply felt emotions which convincingly display expressions of these artists’ ideas and visual concepts of these emotions. . . . [T]he abstractionist and the realist, the formalist and the expressionist — all and others are included and in ways that immediately remind one of Washington and its extraordinarily rich artistic milieu.” (See, “DC Artists’ Work Now on Permanent Display in the D.C.’s Wilson Building,” November 2006, page 1; complete article available in the Current & Back Issues Archive at www.intowner.com.) RSVPs are requested and may be done either by calling 724-5613 or ending an email to publicartevents@dc.gov. The only requirement for entering the Wilson Building is to show a photo ID, which is now standard practice at DC government buildings.

17th Street Rehab & Streetscape Final Community Meeting Will Precede Start

Wed., Sep. 24 (6-8pm): The city’s transportation department (DDOT) will be holding its final 17th Street Rehabilitation information and design presentation COMMNITY MEETING at Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St.) at which time residents will have an opportunity to express their views on the design and materials changes proposed in response to earlier community input — specifically focusing on the issues that have been most in contention: materials for the sidewalks, curbs, gutters; and tree boxes (existing trees will not be touched); street “furniture” (utility poles, benches, garbage cans, planters, etc.); street lights. Actual work on the project is slated to begin next spring with the onset of favorable weather. At that time DDOT put into play an on-going “Community Relations Team” (CRT) to keep residents and business owners informed about the project’s progress and help resolve problems along the way. This approach was reported to The InTowner as having been very helpful during the many months of the recently completed Dupont West P Street project. For more info, call DDOT’s project manager, Olu Olaore, at 671-4562 or send email to olusegum.olaore@dc.gov.

N Street Village Making a Difference; People Reclaiming Their Lives

By Megan Miller* [Note: Photographs accompanying this news story in the print edition can be viewed in the full PDF copy in the Current & Back Issues Archive.] Just above Thomas Circle, at the intersection of N Street and Vermont Avenue, a small, distinct village stands out from the surrounding urban landscape. It’s a village where women go to rebuild their lives. N Street Village has served the homeless and low-income women of the Washington area for 35 years. About 800 clients pass through its doors annually. The nonprofit facility offers a wide range of programs — everything from meals and a night’s shelter to health care, education and career assistance, and therapy and counseling sessions. On July 24, a group of clients welcomed friends and neighbors from the community to the unveiling of an artwork they produced in one of the programs. The featured art was a mural the women designed and created over several months and more than 100 hours as an extension of an art therapy program directed by staff member Lina Assad. Many N Street Village clients struggle with addiction, mental illness or emotional problems from abuse, and Assad believes art therapy can help them to express themselves more openly. “It reaches a lot of the women who have traumatic histories and who have trouble verbalizing,” she told The InTowner. More than 30 women contributed to the mural project, and the artwork shows evidence of both their collaboration and their individual journeys. The painting’s background depicts the N Street Village facility transitioning across three phases of a day — morning, afternoon, and night. Overtop of the background, the women attached rows of small individual panels representing the windows of the Village’s. Each “window” displays one woman’s vision of what the Village has meant to her. Mary Brumback, who arrived in May, came to fight alcoholism and other health problems. She originally proposed the idea of the mural. “With most [homeless shelters], it’s just a place that people sleep. That’s not what people need. People need a place where they can go and research and learn and get back on their feet,” Brumback said. “They’re going out of their way here to help us.” Jkirah Revendez, 29, grew up with a mother who was on drugs, and also suffered repeated sexual abuse. “I’ve been suicidal, homicidal, and this was all before 23,” she said. She pointed out her painting, featuring a dove of peace. “Now everything I went through is in the past. I’m starting school in the fall.” One case manager who attended the unveiling ceremony said that creative projects like the mural can help women realize their own strength and value as individuals. “It gives them a lot of hope. It shows them their talents — that they do have something to offer,” she said. The executive director of N Street Village, Dr. Mary Funke, echoed the same sentiments: “This project is emblematic of our efforts, which are to empower our clients to define their own lives.” Tracey Westry, 42, began attending programs in early 2008. Before that, she spent three years living in a car in the parking lot of a Maryland Exxon station, where she also worked the day shift. “The manager let me park my car there, and I’d wash up in the bathroom,” Westry said. “I spent Christmas in there, spent Thanksgiving in there. In the winter he’d let me move the car into the carwash at night to keep it warmer.” Westry is determined to put her life back on track. Her window painting depicts a bright, glittering object standing out starkly against a charcoal-colored background. “It’s a chess piece,” she explained. “It symbolizes that we need to think carefully about our next moves.” She gestured toward the painting. “I want to go forward. I don’t want to go back.” *Megan Miller is currently working toward her Masters in Journalism degree at the University of Maryland’s Phillip Merrill College of Journalism. A graduate from Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University, she was enrolled in its College of Humanities and Social Sciences with majors in Social and Cultural History and English.

SELECTED STREET CRIMES

Reported for August, 2008

Belmont, 2000 blk.: man accosted from behind by another who grabbed him by the neck, demanded his money & when told he had none was pushed to the ground, causing minor injury [2am, Sat., 8/30] Bryant, 400 blk.: man accosted by another from behind who placed a gun o his head, demanded man’s cell phone & when he started to reply was struck & robbed [9:15pm, Sat., 8/16] Champlain, 2300 blk.: woman accosted by man who punched her in the face, pushed her to the ground & robbed her [2am, Tue., 8/26] Dupont Cir.: man walking through the Circle accosted by another (possibly armed) who demanded his money but said “No” & kept on walking but did have wallet stolen when man reached into his back pocket [8:30pm, Tue., 8/5] Dupont Cir.: woman robbed by man who approached from behind & demanded her property [2am, Sat., 8/9] Georgia, 2200 blk.: man grabbed from behind by another who placed him in a headlock while a second man began punching him about his face & body, following which they robbed him [12mid, Sun., 8/31 Gresham, 600 blk.: man accosted by 2 others, one from behind & one from the front, punched in the back of his head & in his face & then robbed [2:15pm, Tue., 8/19] Holmead, 3500 blk.: man robbed at knifepoint by 2 others [7:45pm, Tue., 8/26] Irving, 1300 blk.: man struck on the head by 1 of 4 men who then surrounded him, was then punched in the stomach by another & then robbed of his cell phone [10:30pm, Tue., 7/29] Irving, 1300 blk.: man robbed at gunpoint by others who had blocked his way [10pm, Wed., 8/20] Kalorama, 1800 blk.: man walking home accosted by 2 others who punched him on the jaw causing him to fall down, whereupon he was ribbed of wallet [4am, Sat., 8/30] Lamont & Mt. Pleasant: man who had just left a restaurant on the corner accosted by 3 men, one of whom placed a knife to his neck, and was then robbed of $6 [7pm, Fri., 8/29] Lamont, 1200 blk.: man accosted by 3 others, 2 of whom struck him in the face causing him to fall to the ground unconscious & when awoke found that he had been robbed [2:15pm, Thu., 8/28] Marion, 1600 blk.: woman accosted by man who pushed her to the ground & robbed her of her wallet while brandishing a semi-automatic gun [1:30am, Fri., 8/29] Meridian, 1600 blk.: man sitting in his car talking on cell phone robbed by 2 others who appeared at driver’s side door & asked, “What’s up,” then went around to passenger side to enter the car [11:30pm, Sat., 8/23] Monroe, 1300 blk.: car-jacking – while stopped to let passenger out of car, another car pulled alongsidefrom which the driver asked for the time & then got out & forced the occupants of the other car out of that vehicle [12:45am, Tue., 8/26] Mozart, 2600 blk.: man accosted, punched & robbed by 5 others [3:34am, Sat., 8/23] N, 1300 blk.: man accosted from behind by another who robbed him of his neck chain [2am, Sun., 8/24] New Hamp., 1300 blk.:2 persons robbed by 2 men at gunpoint after having turned around upon hearing one of them say from behind them, “Excuse me sir” [1am, Sat., 8/23] New Jersey, 1600 blk.: person accosted by another demanding person’s property & when refused was struck in the face & then robbed of wallet, IDs & I-phone [3am, Sat, 8/30] New Jersey, 1700 blk.: man getting cash from an ATM approached from behind by another who snatched it from him (case closed with apprehension & arrest) [12mid, Fri., 8/15] 0, 1200 blk.: man accosted from behind by 2 others who knocked him down, punched & kicked him about his face & then robbed him of wallet [6:45pm, Sat., 8/23] Ogden, 1500 blk.: 2 persons robbed at gunpoint by 2 others of $85 cash & 2 cell phones [10pm, Fri., 8/8] P, 2000 blk.: man who, having been asked by driver of car that pulled alongside if he needed a ride, got in and, expecting to engage in a sexual encounter, began to remove his pants, whereupon the driver produced a gun, told him to completely remove his pants & underwear & then robbed him [5am, Sat., 8/9] Park, 700 blk.: man returning home from work on his Moped approached from behind by 2 others who grabbed him by the shirt, placed a gun to his head & robbed him of the Moped & rode off on it [8:45pm, Thu, 8/28] Park, 1700 blk.: woman approached from behind by man who grabbed her purse & when she struggled he slammed her to the ground [11:45pm, Thu., 8/28] Q, 500 blk.: man robbed of wallet containing $115 by 2 men who got out of SUV that had pulled alongside & first punched & kicked him [8am, Sun., 8/17] Rhode Is., 100 blk.: 2 persons robbed by 2 others, one of whom produced a rifle after having demanded that if they didn’t “get into your pockets I’m gonna shoot you” {12:30am, Sat., 8/23] Spring, 1000 blk.: 2 persons accosted by 2 others from behind who first struck them both around their heads & then robbed them [3:45am, Sat., 8/23] T, 200 blk.: woman robbed at gunpoint by man of purse [9:45pm, Mon., 8/18] T, 300 blk.: woman accosted by man who came from behind who began choking her & demanding, “Give me what you have, give me your purse or I will stab you” [5:30pm, Sat., 8/23] T, 300 blk.: woman accosted by man who attempted to snatch cell phone from her hand & when she struggled to hold on to the phone it fell in bushes as she was being knocked down, causing her to fall on to the iron steps leading into the house in front of which the struggle occurred [10:30pm, Sat., 8/30] T, 500 blk.: woman robbed at gunpoint by man who came from behind [1:30pm, Sun., 8/24] U, unit blk.: man accosted by another, punched in the face & robbed of his scooter [8pm, Sat., 8/23] U, 900 blk.: woman’s purse snatched from her shoulder by man who came running from behind [3:30am, Tue., 8/26] U, 1300 blk.: woman’s purse snatched by 2 men driving by in car, causing her minor injuries [9:45am, Sat., 8/9] U, 1700 blk.: 2 persons robbed by 3 others who pulled up in a car, got out, surrounded them, stated something about “Obama” & then proceeded to punch them about their heads & bodies [2am, Sun., 8/31] V, 100 blk.: workmen finishing a job accosted by 2 men who robbed them at gunpoint of keys & cash [2:15pm, Wed., 8/20] Vermont, 1100 blk.: person accosted by 2 others, pushed to the ground & robbed of cash & watch [4:30am, Sat., 8/9] W, 500 blk.: woman walking through parking lot grabbed by man who dragged her behind adjacent building & robbed her, in the process of which he ripped her clothing as he was working at getting hold of her property [12mid, Sat., 8/30] 1st, 2300 blk.: woman not only robbed of purse at knifepoint but cut as a result of the man waving the knife in front of her [4:15pm, Mon., 8/25] 3rd, 1600 blk.: man robbed at gunpoint by 2 others, one of whom demanded, “Give me your money or I will kill you” [11:30am, Mon., 8/11] 5th & U: woman accosted my man who grabbed her by the neck, hit her on the face & robbed her of handbag [6:30pm, Sun., 8/24] 6th & T: woman robbed at knifepoint by man who accosted her from behind, gabbed her by the neck & demanded that she “don’t say anything” which she disobeyed by screaming [9:15pm, Tue., 8/26] 9th, 2400 blk.: 3 persons robbed at gunpoint of cash & cell phones [6:45am, Sun., 8/10] 11th & Kenyon: person accosted by another who was on a bike, struck in the face & robbed [5am, Sun., 8/24] 11th, 3000 blk.: man accosted from behind by 9 or 10 others who punched, kicked & knocked him to the ground & then robbed him [9:45pm, Sat., 8/23] 13th & Harvard: 2 persons walking to their car accosted from behind by man with hand inside his shirt as if he had a gun & who demanded that the woman hand over her purse [1:30am, Fri., 8/29] 13th, 2900 blk. (alley): 2 persons accosted by 2 others, one of whom pulled a gun & stated, “Someone’s going to die if U don’t get a purse,”3:45am, Wed., 8/6] 14th & N: man standing at corner approached by another who asked for his cell phone & when refused, reached into man’s pocket & took it from him [3:45pm, Sat., 8/23] 14th & Oak: man in wheelchair accosted by another from behind who first asked for a dollar & then began striking him, causing him to be knocked out of his wheelchair [2:45pm, Thu., 8/7] 14th, 2000 blk.: 3 persons waiting for bus robbed by another at gunpoint of their wallets & IDs, including one of a passport [4:45am, Sat., 8/30] 14th, 2800 blk.: woman approached by man on bicycle who grabbed necklace from her while making “kissing noises” [8:15pm, Mon., 8/18] 15th & R: man crossing the intersection walked between 3 others of necessity since they had been blocking the sidewalk, whereupon one of them punched the man repeatedly, followed by the other 2 striking him in the face & then robbing him [9:30pm, Fri., 8/29] 16th & Irving: person standing at bus stop approached by 3 others, one of whom snatched person’s property [3:30pm, Fri., 8/29 16th & Oak: man walking to work accosted robbed by 4 others, one who was on a bike, who punched him in the face & his body [7:45am, Fri., 8/22] 16th, 2600 blk.: woman accosted from behind by man demanding her purse & threatening to shoot her [2:30am, Sun., 8/17] 17th & Lamont: woman’s handbag snatched from her by 2 men as she was walking up to the front door of her apartment building [5:15pm, Fri., 8/22] 17th, 1500 blk.: man who was holding his wallet in his hand had it snatched from him by another who approached, removed its contents & was then chased to 15th & Mass. but got away [2am, Tue, 8/26] 16th, 3200 blk.: woman getting out of car approached from behind by man who snatched her purse containing cell phone, check card and $45 cash [2am, Sat., 8/30] 16th, 3600 blk.: woman approached by ban from behind who asked if she “had a light,” and when she answered, “No,” he grabbed for her purse, whereupon a struggle ensued [2am, Sun., 8/31] 18th, 2400 blk.: person accosted by another, punched & robbed of cash [4am, Sat., 8/9] 20th & O: man robbed by another who came from behind & who placed some kind of sharp object against his back [11:30, Sun., 8/24] 24th, 1800 blk.: woman & companion robbed at gunpoint by 2 men [9:30am, Sat, 8/9] PSA 208 (actual location not available from MPD prior to press time): 3 persons accosted from behind by 2 others who assaulted them while attempting to rob them [3am, Sun., 8/24] PSA 302 (actual location not available from MPD prior to press time): man accosted by 3 others, struck in the face & robbed [8:45pm, Thu., 8/21] PSA 308 (actual location not available from MPD prior to press time): man accosted by 3 others who first struck him in his face then went through his pockets but obtained nothing [9pm, Wed., 8/13]