The Final Countdown

Hello, D.C.! The modern journalist measures time in newsletters apparently: This will be the final Best of D.C. newsletter for 2023, which is my only indicator that we’re nearing the end of the year. But we’ve got some of the city’s best events and openings to close out 2023. And if you’re traveling out of D.C. in the next two weeks, don’t forget to account for Metro closures. —Camila Bailey

RAMMY Award-Winning Chef Brings a Celebration of Mexican Cuisine to Dupont

Chihuahua-born, El Paso-raised chef Christian Irabién has been working for seven years to open Amparo.

It began with a seed of an idea back in 2016, which materialized as a tostada-centric pop-up in 2017, followed by several appearances at different area food festivals.

When the pandemic hit, Irabién pivoted to open Muchas Gracias in upper Northwest, which helped him win a RAMMY Award for Rising Culinary Star of the Year in 2022.

Finally, Irabién found what he was looking for in a 2,400-square-foot space on 2002 P Street NW in Dupont Circle. The 50-seat railroad-style restaurant, which opened at the beginning of November, exudes cozy vibes with low ceilings and flashes of Mexican art throughout. Irabién wants it to feel like you’re in a friend’s home, and he succeeds.

Divided into small, medium, and large share-size entrees, the dinner menu weaves between rustic and refined. “You’re told you must decide if you’re super fine dining or super casual, but I don’t subscribe to that because I’m not just one thing,” Irabién tells City Paper’s Nevin Martell.

You can read Martell’s full review on our website.

News & Events

• You only have so many days left to wear your ugly holiday sweater. Here’s one more excuse: Motorkat, the new Takoma Park restaurant from the Zinnia team, hosts its Ugly Sweater Party on Saturday, Dec. 23, with oyster and drink specials all night.
• The new restaurant Bar Del Monte, from the people behind 2 Amys pizza, is in the works at 3054 Mount Pleasant Street NW. They plan to open “early next year.”
• Still have some holiday shopping to do? Bold Fork Books will be open until 9 p.m. tonight, Dec. 19, with discounts and free gift wrapping.
• Urban Dwell will also have extended hours this week, along with daily specials in store. Follow along on their Instagram to see what discount they’ll be offering for the day.
• Karaoke and cookies is a D.C. punk dream: Come to DC9 Wednesday, Dec. 20, with a plate of cookies for their Khaos Karaoke and Cookie Exchange.
• Another Van Leeuwen is coming to the DMV because five wasn’t enough: The latest will open in Union Station, timeline TBA. In other ice cream news, local favorites are embracing hot cocoa, hold the hot—so, chocolate milk?
• Celebrate Soup Season every Wednesday through Sunday this winter at Union Market. A pop-up soup shop from the folks at Hi–Lawn will be open all winter long.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW D.C.’S BEST?

Congratulations to City Paper reader Sarah F. for getting last week’s trivia question correct.

Last year, Columbia Heights’ small but mighty tree, Tiny Timber, faced some ridicule for its small height, and even some bullying—it was knocked down briefly. But the tree ultimately became a beloved addition to the neighborhood. They even put it on a T-shirt.

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Now, for this week’s trivia question:

There will soon be a new addition to NoMa’s Metropolitan Branch Trail. The brewery is already a D.C. favorite, and a 2023 Best of D.C. finalist.

What’s the name of the brewery?

Respond to this email with your guess and you could win some WCP swag!

Check back in two weeks to see if you won!

Sleigh on Sleigher

There’s an art to creating the perfect holiday playlist. It must be equal parts classic, cringey, and sing-along compatible. If you haven’t looked through City Paper’s Sleigher archives, we are obliged to recommend you take a peek at the song picks, reviews, and groan-inducing pubs from our contributors.

Highlights include: a Phoebe Bridgers cover you can cry to, the Dolly Parton/Jimmy Fallon mashup no one asked for, and the grooviest of holiday bops from the Linda Lindas.

What’s on your holiday playlist?

That’s it for this installment. Check out all of our Best of D.C. winners, runners-up, and finalists here. Best of D.C. 2024 begins Thursday, April 11!

This will be the final edition of the Best of D.C. newsletter for 2023. Before we see you in 2024, we want to hear what you think we did right, what might have been missing, and what you’re hoping to see in the new year!

Happy holidays from City Paper.

Tonight: Holiday Desserts Around the World at S. Dillon Ripley Center

Food historian and cookbook author Francine Segan has lectured on a true smorgasbord of topics: from the art of dining in Downton Abbey, to the 21st-century breakthroughs in Italian ravioli to the myth-laden secrets of libidinous foods like oysters and ginseng. When it comes to desserts, she can talk to you about the fruity (and brandy-infused) “Election Cakes” women during the late 1700s sold to male voters who needed grub to fuel their exclusive all-day civil affair. She is also an expert on chocolate—another aphrodisiac—and exactly which dessert wines compliment your confection of choice. In celebration of the holiday season, Segan will deliver a lecture on celebratory desserts across the globe, complete with recipe handouts and a dessert tasting to satisfy your cravings after an evening of toothsome descriptions and delectable history. On the menu are lessons from around the world, including the lesser known backstories behind American wintry staples like glossed candy canes or spiced gingerbread houses. The evening will also cover the sweet treats shared during Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Diwali, and Ramadan. Bonne note: As Rachael Ray said, “Francine feeds her readers well—stomach and soul,” so you just may want to come with an empty stomach, even if that means eating dessert first. Holiday Desserts Around the World: In-Person Program with Tasting starts at 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 14 at S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. smithsonianassociates.org. $45–$55. —Emma Francois 

Friday and Saturday: The Spirit of Kwanzaa

Back in 2020, City Paper covered what D.C. dance students lost when COVID canceled the holiday performances that, in a typical year, they spend months preparing for. These shows matter because they give young dancers a rare opportunity to perform for audiences wider than their friends and family. One of these shows is The Spirit of Kwanzaa, put on since 1995 by the Dance Institute of Washington, an elite and Black-led dance school in Columbia Heights. The production is a cultural experience that’s rooted in Kwanzaa and the agricultural ceremonies of Africa that the holiday draws from. Through this lens, DIW designed a show that conveys both the struggles and artistry of the Black diaspora. “The Spirit of Kwanzaa is always such an amazing event for DIW,” says Kahina Haynes, the school’s executive director. “It’s a perfect opportunity to bring the community together while celebrating everything enduring and beautiful about Black culture and creativity.” The cast consists of local dancers with support from guest choreographers Earl Mosley and Katherine Smith. The Spirit of Kwanzaa runs at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 16 at Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium, 2455 6th St. NW. danceinstituteofwashington.org. $30. —Mary Scott Manning

Friday: The King’s Singers at the National Cathedral

Grammy-winning British choral sextet the King’s Singers return to the National Cathedral for their 2023 holiday tour. Mere months after releasing Wonderland, their third album of this year, the Singers will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Disney and the 400th anniversary of the death of 16th-century composer William Byrd. The concert will feature music that pays tribute to both. The Singers have had several rotations since their 1968 founding in Cambridge, England, but they’ve maintained the same pitch formation since their debut: two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones, and a bass. Today, the Singers consist of Patrick Dunachie, Edward Button, Julian Gregory, Christopher Bruerton, Nick Ashby, and Jonathan Howard. Speaking with City Paper, Dunachie and Ashby explain that their combination of pitches deepens the sonority, and creates a richness and familiarity to their a cappella music. The holiday tour focuses primarily on Christmas music, but features a selection of works from Byrd and a generous sprinkling of Disney. “For us, Christmas takes us back to childhood, and I think for kids the season is a truly magical time of year,” Ashby says. “Disney pulls in many of those same feelings.” The concert will also incorporate songs from Finding Harmony, a 2020 release that aimed to demonstrate how music can bring humanity together. “The theme pulls in a similar message of togetherness and community, and shows what love can achieve this time of year,” Ashby says. The King’s Singers perform at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. cathedral.org. $25–$95. —Camila Bailey

Saturday: Dance Club With Kilopatrah Jones at the Owl Room

A body of water ripples in a pinkish looping GIF. “No need to fear the glitches in the quicksand,” says the Instagram flier for the latest installment of Dance Club, the semiregular party thrown by D.C’s Joyce Lim, Tommy C, and Baronhawk Poitier. It’s a typically stylish way of saying “let go, we got you,” by the three DJs, all of them deeply embedded in the city’s globally known dance-music scene. The goal of Dance Club is to “create a haven for the underground LGBTQ and BIPOC+ community,” Lim says. “Everyone is welcome.” What to expect: impeccably chosen house, techno, and club tracks, this time with guest Kilopatrah Jones, a high-energy New Yorker who is the latest out-of-towner to be featured as a headliner. “Our spaces are meant to be playful, so our dance floors are fun,” says Lim, who is also co-founder of D.C.’s 1432R label. (There’s a New Year’s Eve event on the books, too, headlined by locals including Dee Clark.) Dance Club begins at 9 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the Owl Room, 2007 14th St. NW. danceclub.link. $13.60. —Joe Warminsky

Wednesday: A John Waters Christmas at the Birchmere

O come all ye faithless, jailbirds, and rusty trumpets: Filmmaker John Waters is ready to spread some holiday cheer (and a few rounds of antibiotics should clear that up again). The “Pope of Trash” is beloved for his transgressive Baltimore-set films—including Pink Flamingos, Hairspray (and its subsequent Broadway success), Cry-Baby, and Serial Mom—focused on outsiders and featuring his cast of “Dreamlanders” such as Divine and Mink Stole. At age 77, the pencil-mustachioed provocateur remains as busy as ever. He wrote his first novel, Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance, last year and is currently adapting the screenplay. It will be his first directorial effort since 2004’s A Dirty Shame. (Aubrey Plaza’s name has been circling as the most likely actor to take the lead role.) Earlier this year, Waters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosted John Waters: The Pope of Trash, a comprehensive exhibition of his cinematic contributions, while the Baltimore Museum of Art gave a sneak peek of his museum bequest with the exhibition Coming Attractions: The John Waters Collection. Maybe the “Baron of Bad Taste” is finally in good fashion? All accolades aside, when it’s the holiday season, Waters puts the “X” back into X-Mas with his annual show. Even though Waters distorts family memories and beloved traditions to riff on a variety of topics more naughty than nice, the ribald and raunchy humor is all in good spirit and demonstrates his deep love for the holidays. Each season, Waters revises and updates his not-so-silent script—this year’s revue is titled “Blow It Up!”—and is followed by a lively Q&A session with the audience. A John Waters Christmas: Blow It Up! starts at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. birchmere.com. Sold out. —Colleen Kennedy

For many D.C. residents looking to become a plumber or social worker, or those looking to open a business, a parking ticket means more than just a headache. If left unpaid, it can be the one obstacle standing in the way of obtaining the necessary licensure to work.

Under the District’s current “Clean Hands” mandate, residents are prohibited from obtaining certain licenses, permits, grants, and contracts if they owe the city more than $100. Up until Dec. 27, 2022, this also applied to those looking to obtain or renew a driver’s license. But earlier this year a federal judge ordered the District to stop enforcing the mandate against people seeking driver’s licenses. Council legislation that went into effect in October officially ended the enforcement.

Tzedek DC has been a key advocate for residents facing city fines and fees. On Dec. 13, the organization released a summary of a forthcoming report on the need to further reform the Clean Hands mandate. The group is also supporting legislation from At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie that would remove the provision in the Clean Hands law that prevents D.C. residents from obtaining licenses for occupational and small business. The bill would also raise the Clean Hands threshold limit from $100 to $2,500.

According to a press release from Tzedek DC, nearly one in five D.C. workers will need an occupational license that falls under Clean Hands. “It affects more than 125 occupations, representing over 48,000 workers,” the statement says. 

Beyond impacting residents seeking out these jobs, Tzedek DC’s statement notes that the D.C. Council’s Office of Racial Equity has previously concluded that “Black residents [are] disproportionately impacted by fines but with fewer opportunities to build wealth that may help them pay debts resulting from fines and fees.”

A 2021 report from Tzedek DC and the Venable law firm spotlights the impact of the mandate on five residents, and analyzes the city’s fines, fees, and ticketing systems. The report demonstrates how Clean Hands disproportionately affects lower income residents, reduces employment, exacerbates racial inequalities, and exposes nonviolent individuals to criminal punishment.

“Data shows that D.C. has the largest Black-white unemployment gap in the United States. The Clean Hands Law plays a significant role in perpetuating and widening racial and economic disparities in the District,” Ariel Levinson-Waldman, founding president and director-counsel of Tzedek DC, says in the press release. 

The report notes that, as the D.C. government moves forward with plans to triple the number of automated traffic enforcement cameras, the number of fines and fees issued will likely only increase. The traffic cameras risk exacerbating “disparate impact of Clean Hands on workers with low incomes,” the report says.

Under the District’s current traffic fines system, if a violation is left unpaid for more than 30 calendar days, the fine doubles, often leading even a modest fine to become unmanageable for residents who cannot immediately afford to pay the ticket. 

“This is an issue of racial equity and good government,” McDuffie says in the press release. “I am committed to ensuring our public policy helps reduce, not widen, the unacceptable DC racial gaps in wealth and employment.”

Tzedek DC’s full 2023 report is now available here.

With the comfort of shopping from your couch and the speed of priority shipping, going to a brick and mortar needs to have some additional element to entice shoppers. Family retail company CAMP has found their allure. 

Originally based in New York City, the self-described “family experience company,” more succinctly named CAMP, is bringing “a unique combination of retail, media, and entertainment to the area.”  CAMP’s newest branch is now open in Tysons Corner Center in a 10,730 square-foot permanent retail location. 

CAMP calls itself “part toy store, part party venue, part immersive theater space,” with a craft bar (for crafting not drinking), toys kids can use right in store, and plenty of games and customizable merchandise to take home. Adults will also find a few items they can purchase for themselves.

Behind CAMP’s signature Magic Door, a la a bookcase with a secret doorway to a magical land, where visitors will find the store’s immersive family experience. For the next five months, this Magic Door will take patrons to visit la familia Madrigal in the world of Disney’s Encanto. CAMP’s “Casita” is “complete with secret passages, interactive magic, live music” and plenty of surprises, according to the press release. 

As Jenica Myszkowski, CAMP’s co-CEO, notes, the store opens just ahead of the holidays, making it a prime “holiday gifting destination.” But it also presents a great option for families looking to entertain kids over the winter break. But hurry, tickets are moving fast. 

Visitors can purchase tickets ahead of time for their hour-long tour through the Madrigals’ Casita, that you’ll find flowing with candlelight, cumbia music, and magic. The Casita will leave D.C. in the spring, but don’t fret, a new interactive experience will take its place.

Encanto x CAMP opens Dec. 8 and runs through April 2024. camp.com. $30–$44.

Wrap it Up

Cindy Lou Who may have gotten the real meaning of the holiday season, but convincing ourselves to do away with gifts and sing Fah Who Foraze instead is another story—someone get Taylor Momsen on the phone. In the spirit of gifting season, this installment of our Best of D.C. newsletter will focus on those little tokens of love and appreciation. You’ll find some tips on where to shop, some items WCP’s own editors may be giving, and even some gift ideas that don’t require wrapping paper.

City Paper Gift Picks

• According to WCP’s Emily Martin, Eastern Market’s Relume is the best store for tchotchkes and unique gifts. Martin writes: “The eccentric storefront off the market’s main drag also carries its signature vintage candles, funky earrings, hair clips, vintage clothing, wrapped books for blind grabs, various arts and crafts, and other items that’ll make great gifts for anybody, or truly, yourself. If you’re looking to create something of your own, the shop opened up a section called the Makery, with stop-in hours for crafting and upcycling, as well as planned events for projects like embroidery and pressed flower frames.
• For the art appreciators in your life, consider a piece from Silver Spring’s Rick LaRue, Nevin Martell’s pick for Best Use of Driftwood. His studio takes over most of his backyard, and evokes a coastal sculpture gallery. According to Martell, “Presented individually or in thematic groupings, the pieces are rich with personality and alive with graceful twists, grim gnarls, eyelike knots, and embedded rocks.”
• If you want to give an experience, nothing screams “amore” like an evening—or afternoon!—of amaro tasting. Sarah Marloff spotlights Ivy City’s Don Ciccio & Figli for their delightful offering of housemade herbal liqueurs. “Although the original Don Ciccio began his family distillery more than 100 years ago in Italy, his grandson Francesco Amodeo brought the business to D.C. in the fall of 2012,” Marloff explains. Go for a tasting, stay for a cocktail at the distillery’s Bar Sirenis, and bring a bottle home for yourself and your loved ones.

News & Events

• Hanukkah starts Dec. 7 and the DMV is rife with Best of D.C. winners, runners-ups, and finalists offering special menus for the holiday. Get your latkes, babkas, and dreidel (pops)!
• Expectations are high for Best Streatery finalist Lulu’s Winegarden. But their holiday garden certainly satisfies. Throughout December, they’re serving up cozy drinks and festive bites under the string lights. 
• Tragedy struck for plant lovers in the District when Little Leaf closed this fall. But their sister shop Salt & Sundry is holding a holiday pop up in the space. The 1401 S St. NW. shop is open through December.
• The DC Public Library’s Georgetown branch holds a used books sale Dec. 9 and 10, hosted by the Georgetown Library Friends. Peruse books for gifting or for yourself! If they’re used, your tableside stack of unread books can’t judge.
• Tucked beneath its sister spot and Best Afghan Restaurant Lapis, La Pop has opened reservations for its Miracle on Chicken Street, Afghan-Christmas Popup. The lounge will be slinging street style chicken to compliment its Afghan-inspired holiday drinks. 
• Little District Books is popping up with a selection of kids books among other goodies for Pride Day at Imagination Stage in Bethesda on Saturday, Dec. 9. Imagination Stage will be screening A Year With Frog and Toad and LDB has a discount code for tickets!

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW D.C.’S BEST?

Congratulations to WCP readers Ann H., Amy H., and Carrie C. for getting last week’s question correct!

Mitch Ryals has the full story on what prompted Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal to ban the former first lady of D.C., Cora Masters Barry, from every branch of his business.

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Now, for this week’s trivia question:

The national Christmas tree had a near death experience last week, but was quickly resurrected. Another D.C. tannenbaum made pitiful headlines last year, drawing some snickers when it too took a tumble. But, much like the national tree, its spirit prevailed.

What neighborhood did this tree call home?

a. Mount Pleasant
b. Columbia Heights
c. NoMa
d. Arlington
e. Georgetown

Respond to this email with your guess and you too could win some WCP swag!

Congratulations to City Paper reader Sarah F. for getting the trivia question correct.

Give It Up

With holiday shopping in full swing, we’d be remiss not to mention our 2023 giving guide, produced in partnership with Spur Local. As the end of the year approaches, we want to recognize the local organizations making a real difference in our greater D.C. community.

The dozens of local nonprofits in this year’s giving guide focus on everything from the local environment to LGBTQIA resources, youth education to housing justice.

But these are just a handful of the local organizations working each day to make D.C. a more equitable, healthier, and better place for all residents. As you think about what gift will show your loved ones you care, consider making a donation in their name to show the District that you care. It takes time and community to strengthen the place we work and live, and these organizations are making it happen—especially with your support.

That’s all for this installment. Be sure to check out all of our Best of D.C. winners, runners-up, and finalists here. Plus, the new year is coming quicker than you think—keep an eye out for details on 2024 Best of D.C. voting in the next edition!

Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg will take over as the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s next executive director starting Feb. 19, 2024, according to an announcement from STC’s Board of Directors Chair Anita Antenucci. Ende Lichtenberg replaces Chris Jennings, who ended a 19-year tenure with STC in July to head the Manhattan Theatre Club. Susie Medak, a 32-year veteran of the Bay Area’s Berkeley Repertory, has acted as interim executive director since Jennings’ departure. 

Ende Lichtenberg joins STC’s artistic director Simon Godwin to lead the theater’s efforts to grow its artistic influence across the country and internationally, according to a press release from the theater. A fixture in local arts, Ende Lichtenberg previously served as Studio Theatre’s executive director after joining the D.C. company as managing director in 2018. She led financial management, fundraising, marketing, and staff management, and oversaw Studio’s $20 million capital campaign and renovation. 

During her time at the 14th Street NW theater, Ende Lichtenberg helped lead Studio through the worst of the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a nationwide reckoning with equal pay and a fight for greater equality onstage and backstage. Today, STC is one of the few U.S. theaters that has regained its pre-pandemic level of subscription-based audience members, but the art form and stages across the country continue to evolve.

“I look forward to working with [Ende Lichtenberg] on the myriad challenges and opportunities the American theatre will present in the coming years,” Godwin says in the press release. 

Antenucci adds: “Rebecca brings a wealth of experience to her new role at STC …. [she] stood out for her strong theatre acumen and the quality of her work with D.C. theatres that Washingtonians greatly admire.”

Prior to her time at Studio, Ende Lichtenberg served as a managing director at D.C.’s Theater J, the country’s largest Jewish theater company. She’s also worked at the local arts nonprofit Sitar Arts Center in Adams Morgan.

“I feel so fortunate to have been able to build a career in theatre leadership while staying in the D.C. community, which is one of the most vibrant in the country,” Ende Lichtenberg says in the press release. “In a short time, Simon has shown himself to be a world-class artist and a visionary artistic leader. I look forward to partnering with him and working with the passionate staff and dedicated Board to redefine what it means to be a classic theatre company.”

Turkey Countdown

You’re in the home stretch, D.C. Only two days stand between you and a holiday. Let the promise of pie keep you going. If that’s not enough, then hopefully some of the upcoming restaurant features and festive events will do the job. Thanksgiving may be on Thursday, but many of the District’s holiday markets are already open, and ice skating rinks are popping up across the DMV. ‘Tis the season! —Camila

Tien Comes to Bryant St.

Award-winning chef Kevin Tien’s D.C. career has spanned finer dining concepts, fast casual spots, and too many pop-ups to mention. As Nevin Martell notes in his latest for City Paper, in every culinary venture—and beyond— Tien honors both his Vietnamese roots and Louisiana upbringing. His latest project is Doki Doki BBQ is a collaboration with co-chef Judy Beltrano.

Blending his Vietnamese heritage, her Filipino ancestry, and American influences, the concept is situated in Edgewood’s Bryant Street Market food hall.

There are five sandwich options on the menu, but, according to Martell, a must-order is the McDoki Ribb, their take on the McRib. A sesame seed-studded Martin’s roll clutches a bracket of boneless ribs glistening with five spice-amped char siu barbecue sauce, turmeric pickles, and raw onions; it’s an homage to the OG that stands tall on its own.

The sandwich resonates deeply for both chefs due to the role McDonald’s played in their upbringings. Beltrano’s father was in the Navy, so the family moved around a lot. No matter where they ended up, the Golden Arches were always there, a rare constant, always a go-to when they had a little extra money. Tien’s family had a tradition of picking up bags of cheeseburgers on Wednesday nights when McDonald’s sold them on special for 39 cents each, a bargain meal that helped them feel they were embracing Americanism. To this day, the two chefs enjoy hitting the drive-through after a long shift; it’s one of the few places that’s still open and they’re both diehard McNugget fans, especially when they’re dunked in the new mambo sauce developed by Mahal’s Jerome Grant.

You can read Martell’s full story on Doki Doki BBQ on our website.

News & Events

• There are more than enough celebrated local restaurants to convince you to skip the basting this Thanksgiving. WCP editors suggest checking out the special takeout menus at Chang Chang, Gravitas, and chef Claudio Pirollo’s Et Voila!
• CityCenterDC celebrates its 10th anniversary this year at its annual tree lighting on Saturday, Nov. 25. Come to see the 75-foot-tree lit, and the space transformed into a “winter wonderland,” as the press release states, stay for live performances and family activities. Can’t make the event? CityCenterDC has a special anniversary ornament for sale, with all proceeds going to Children’s National Hospital. 
• It’s cold and rainy all day, but if you can bear to brave the elements, Rice Market on 14th Street NW is debuting a new events space with free bowls of laksa from Homiah Foods paired with makku—a Korean beverage of unfiltered rice beer. It’s a small space so there’s a short window: 6 to 6:30 p.m. but the combo will warm you up before you step into the cold again.  
• Skip the lines and the stress this Black Friday: El Techo is hosting a Black Friday brunch with DJ Lemz spinning from 1 to 5 p.m. 
• Speaking of Black Friday, plenty of local shops are participating, as well as offering discounts on Small Business Saturday. WCP editors Goods & Services pick Relume Co. has discounted products all weekend. The shop is also part of Capitol Hill’s Better Together gift Gift Card Exchange this weekend. A purchase at one of the participating businesses will get you a $5 gift card to another local spot. 
• New spot to shop local: Cap & Stem hosted its grand opening this weekend. Located on Sherman Avenue NW, the brick and mortar shop focuses on wellness for plants and people, “specializing in fine gardenalia and self care offerings,” the press release says. Shoppers will find both obscure and local goods, and Cap & Stem offers psilocybin gifts with the purchase of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange’s regional seeds. Gifts are all sourced through local partner Bloomingdale Wellness.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW D.C.’S BEST?

Congratulations to WCP reader Jamie S. for knowing the District’s falafel offerings.

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Now, for this week’s trivia question:

Good Hope Road SE officially became Marion Barry Avenue SE this weekend. But during the unveiling ceremony and celebration, a small protest popped up near one local business—and Best of D.C. winner. 

What was the business? Bonus points if you can tell us what caused the protest!

Send in the correct answer and you could get a shoutout and a WCP tote bag. Good luck!

Congratulations to WCP readers Ann H., Amy H., and Carrie C. for getting last week’s question correct!

First of its Kind Bolivian Bar Closes Next Month

Casa Kantuta announced plans to close its 18th Street NW location on Dec. 1, almost a year after the Bolivian pop-up bar set up a permanent shop in the Adams Morgan basement. The finalist for Best New Bar was known for serving up cocktails that use the Bolivian liquor singani. The Casa Kantuta team has been a strong supporter of the city’s Latine community, especially those in the service industry, and hosted a month-long Hispanic Heritage Month celebration this year.

Al Thompson, ahead of his own pop-up at the bar on Oct. 19, told City Paper that, “No one else is showcasing bartenders of Latin heritage the way [Casa Kantuta] is.”

Casa Kantuta’s beverage director, Lou Bernard, says a new project will be announced soon, writing in an email to City Paper, “still Kantuta comes back again.”

That’s all for this installment. Be sure to check out all of our Best of D.C. winners, runners-up, and finalists here. We’ll see you in two weeks for the next edition!

Friday: Mipso at the 9:30 Club

A four-member string-centric band hailing from North Carolina already points to Americana. And for any other band, a debut album that lands itself on Billboard’s Bluegrass Top 10 might have solidified their home in the genre. But for Mipso’s debut release, “Dark Holler Pop just felt like the most exciting way to present those songs at the time,” says frontperson Joseph Terrell. Listeners agreed. The album propelled Mipso into early success. Since 2013, they have put out a new album every two years, each one containing additional streaming hits such as “Louise” and “People Change.” In August, Mipso released their sixth album,  Book of Fools, which is also their boldest break away from the genre that started it all. “I think we’re writing our best songs right now, and it’s completely different,” says Terrell. With all four members penning songs, creating the cohesive 10-track collection took some simmering. “We started out with 50 songs,” Terrell explains, “Fools is maybe not the absolute best of those, but it’s the songs that felt the most together […] We’re four distinct personalities, so it becomes about preserving those identities in this one album.” (For further evidence of Mipso’s ability to converge otherwise divergent ideas, a recent show included covers of Dido, Phish, and Bruce Springsteen.) Pulling from the larger collection of songs, Fools is a selection of the tracks that are “transformed by the others’ presence,” Terrell continues. Mipso’s ability to seamlessly pivot styles in Fools was, in part, due to the band’s approach. “At the beginning, we confused intensity with quality,” Terrell says of the band’s early days. In Fools, Mipso took their time to figure out what they wanted to say through the very process of creating the album. “It was a process of revelation,” says Terrell. Mipso’s Carolina roots come through in Book of Fools, but what is just as clear is their profound desire to follow the creative process wherever it takes them. The band return to the 9:30 Club this Friday, one of the first venues they played outside of North Carolina, and which Terrell calls, “one of the best clubs in the country.” Mipso play at 10 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. 930club.com. $25. —Camila Bailey

Friday and Saturday: LaTasha Barnes’ The Jazz Continuum at the Kennedy Center

Social dance is dance that happens in social contexts, for social purposes. Think of the balls in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: ballrooms and gloves, music and a band. The characters’ dramas unfurled through the dances, partly because the choreography brought people close enough to touch and talk. Participation, not observation, is the point. Social dance happens in every culture, and the elements reflect the people, fashions, and times that the particular dance form was created. LaTasha Barnes is a choreographer, Kennedy Center “Office Hours” resident, and a scholar of Black American social dance through the ages. Her latest work, The Jazz Continuum, is a “stage experience” that guides audiences through the history of social dance in Black communities, such as jazz, Lindy Hop, hip-hop, and house. Each show is tailored to the region where it’s performed, so Barnes’ upcoming experiences will focus on D.C.’s popular social dances, past and present. LaTasha Barnes’ The Jazz Continuum performs at 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 and 18 at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, 2700 F St. NW. kennedycenter.org. $29. —Mary Scott Manning

Saturday: Punk Rock Flea Market at St. Stephen’s

“Punk” tends to be something of an equivocal term, and even defining it can sometimes prove challenging. Everybody knows the cliches—combat boots, mohawks, middle fingers, and profanity-strewn homemade shirts—but the views, beliefs, and political currents underlying punk are a little more nuanced: grassroots efforts, community-based movements with an antiestablishment edge, and, quite often, a sneaking whiff of satire. These are just four aspects (among many, many others) that might help define “punk”, and this Saturday, the DC Punk Rock Flea Market is looking to hit every mark. On Nov. 18, just days before Thanksgiving, the Punk Rock Flea Market will be partnering with We Are Family, a senior outreach group, and Positive Force DC, a self-described “hardcore activist collective,” to organize a food drive for D.C.’s low-income seniors. The food drive will be located at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church alongside the annual flea market. Attendees are asked to bring a donation of whole-grain cereal, pasta, rice, peanut butter, or canned vegetables, fruit, beans, or tuna. It might seem a little removed from Joey Ramone or Sid Vicious, but the truth is there’s nothing more punk rock than helping get rid of community food insecurity. Mohawks and leather jackets are not required but are encouraged. Punk Rock Flea Market runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton St. NW. instagram.com/dc_punkrockflea. Free. —Julian Ford

Saturday: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with the Anvil Orchestra at AFI Silver

With its brilliantly designed nightmare sets and bleak view of humanity, this 103-year old silent masterwork of German Expressionism is as startling today as it was more than a century ago. The plot of the 1920 film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari unfolds through the eyes of naive Francis (Friedrich Feher). In flashback, he tells us of mad Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss), who traveled to county fairs with Cesare (Conrad Veidt), a somnambulist whom the doctor has brainwashed into doing his evil bidding. It all sounds like a typical gothic mystery (albeit one that has frequently been interpreted in the context of future German tyrants), but what makes this so unforgettable—besides the heavily mascaraed villainy of Krauss and Veidt—are the fantastical sets: Windows made up of skewed angles, roadways all abruptly curved and disorienting, and most of all those wildly distorted architectural forms that seem like the embodiment of moral decay. Watching Caligari is like watching the birth of the 20th century, of the modern world and its myriad evils. Its influence can be seen in horror movies of course, from the low-budget 1962 classic Carnival of Souls to David Gordon Green’s 2018 Halloween reboot, but you can also see its imprint in the surreal sets of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. For decades, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was only available in muddy prints, played on grainy UHF broadcasts  (a designation for radio frequencies) whose lo-fi gauze was an apt filter through which to experience its hallucinatory vision. But in this 4K restoration, the terror is that much clearer. See it with live musical accompaniment by the Anvil Orchestra, a duo consisting of Terry Donahue and Mission of Burma co-founder Roger Clark Miller. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with the Anvil Orchestra plays at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 at AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. silver.afi.com. $20. — Pat Padua

Ongoing: Kee Woo Rhee at Gallery B

You can’t fault landscape photographer Kee Woo Rhee for being a homebody; her Gallery B exhibit, Conversing with Nature, features images not only from her home country, South Korea, and her adopted country, the United States, but also from Patagonia, New Zealand, Iceland, Scotland, and Canada. The Silver Spring-based photographer has a soft spot for the American West; a sweeping, five-image vista of autumn trees in Colorado is a symphony of yellow, red, orange, and brown; a photograph of hoodoos at Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park is notable for its dusting of snow, which could easily pass for powdered sugar; and in an image of canyon walls from Colorado suggest marbleized beef sheltering a thin strip of blue river. An image from Utah’s Zion National Park, adds a splash of whimsy, with its unreal, candy-colored depiction of a winding road. A few images are more humble, such as an ambiguous, black-and-white portrayal of spindly aquatic plants, or a small A-frame building set against an impenetrably snowy Icelandic background. But when she chooses to go big, the results are striking. In an image from Iceland, she captures brilliant green aurorae, seen both in the sky and in a lake reflection below, while another image from Iceland fruitfully pairs a receding wall of striated volcanic cliffs with the smooth, glistening surface of the water. One deceptively complex work comes from Scotland’s Isle of Harris; the waterscape channels Mark Rothko, pairing no fewer than six distinct shades of blue in the distance with a large swatch of beach-sand white in the foreground. Conversing with Nature runs through Dec. 4 at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. bethesda.org. Free. —Louis Jacobson

Ongoing: We are forever folding into the night at HEMPHILL

Artist Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi investigates invasion and equilibrium, weaving harmony through tension, nature in celestial experiences, and dreams into reality in her newest exhibition on display at HEMPHILL Artworks. Ilchi’s paintings merge seemingly contrasting spaces as a commentary on sociopolitical landscapes, drawing inspiration from her own Iranian American heritage. Each artwork is formed from poured paint that Ilchi crafts into scenes of solace found in vastness. The acrylic and watercolor give bold blues, greens, and reds that uncover earth and heaven. Some works intertwine Tazhib patterns, or Islamic illuminated gold, as frames or small archways bridging land and atmosphere. Other works show elements falling to earth, some appearing as saucers or meteors, shattering the separation between distant environments. Trees give way to the moon in the sky, hinting at an unexplored frontier with unknown galaxies beyond the familiar chaos of our individual worlds. Ilchi’s We are forever folding into the night combines Persian art with Western abstraction in a way that preserves the conflict inherent in interference. Ilchi, finding home in D.C. after immigrating from her birth home of Tehran, Iran, understands blending cultures to find clashes and belonging. Like West and East, with unease comes comfort, with fear comes courage, and with shade comes light. We are forever folding into the night runs through Dec. 22 at HEMPHILL Artworks, 434 K St. NW. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Viewable in person and online at hemphillartworks.com. Free. —Anupma Sahay

Deirdre Joy stands next to her burning stove inside her Mount Pleasant home as four people huddle in the narrow kitchen. “I can’t help but feel like my breathing is a little strained,” Joy says. 

Katie Meyer, a clean energy campaign representative with the local chapter of the Sierra Club, takes notes as she keeps a constant eye on the climbing number on her handheld gas monitor.

“In four minutes, you can turn the stove off,” Meyer says. Joy is relieved, but resolute, “Knowledge is power,” she says.

City Paper joined Joy, Meyer, and Joelle Novey, director at the environmental faith organization Interfaith Power & Light, for a new initiative that aims to illustrate the impact methane-burning gas stoves have on the climate and on public health.

Through a series of volunteer-led air tests, organizers are measuring indoor levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution in 500 gas-powered kitchens throughout the D.C. area. The initiative started more than a year ago with the Washington Interfaith Network and other grassroots environmental and religious groups that together form part of Beyond Gas DC, a coalition whose mission is to transition the District to energy-efficient systems.

With the in-home tests, the coalition members hope to demonstrate the otherwise invisible contributions to climate change. As the planet’s environmental crisis worsens, the effects have become more severe. But for some, the specifics of what is contributing to the problem remain elusive. Beyond Gas hopes to raise awareness for the health threat posed by gas stoves and educate residents on how to mitigate health risks of this pollution. 

The program comes amid a larger, national debate on the benefits of electrification as a way to meet climate goals, improve public health, and lower energy bills. According to data compiled from the Urban Institute, residential energy use makes up approximately 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions nationally, and building energy consumption accounts for 74 percent of all emissions in D.C. A shift to more energy efficient buildings makes up a key part of the District’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2050. 

Using a portable gas monitor designed to test nitrogen dioxide, Meyer and Novey measured the NO₂ levels in Joy’s kitchen air at three points: after she had the stove turned on for 15 minutes, again 15 minutes later, and a final time 15 minutes after Joy turned off the stove. The detector read 85 parts per billion at the first measurement, 123 at the second, and 93 at the final reading. The federal Environmental Protection Agency air quality guide for nitrogen dioxide says that anything above 101 parts per billion is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

According to the EPA’s assessment, exposure to nitrogen dioxide ranging from 30 minutes to 24 hours has been linked to adverse respiratory effects in all groups, “including airway inflammation in healthy people and increased respiratory symptoms in people with asthma.” Sensitive groups, including children, older adults and people with lung disease (including asthma) are more susceptible to symptoms associated with the gas, the EPA finds.  

Kitchen ventilation, ceiling height, home structure, and stove type all factor into the amount of nitrogen dioxide that can build up, and Novey notes that the readings only measure one of several pollutants coming from the stove through leaks and incomplete combustion. She says the main goal of the kitchen tests is to start a discussion and raise awareness about potentially harmful gas appliances.

“It’s ‘citizen science,’” she says. “We’re hoping direct engagement with the public through measuring the harms of methane [gas] will lead people to speak up in favor of the Healthy Homes Act,” which aims to equitably distribute federal funding to low- and middle-income households for residential energy efficiency and electrification programs.  

The bill is awaiting approval from the full D.C. Council. But in the meantime, starting in October, low-income households in Deanwood and River Terrace in Northeast D.C. are able to apply to join a pilot program from the city’s Sustainable Energy Utility that would cover 100 percent of the cost to replace old gas or outdated systems with energy-efficient electric equipment such as induction stoves and heat pumps. The program comes through the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund passed earlier this year.

Beyond Gas DC hopes to complete 500 kitchen tests before publishing a report on their findings in the spring of 2024. So far, the coalition has completed more than 375 kitchen tests, including Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin’s stove. Those interested can sign up to have their kitchen tested here.

“It’s been so meaningful to engage directly with people about something they might not have understood about their homes,” Novey says, “It really helps us drive home why it’s important that we achieve [electrification].”

This story has been updated to include the correct link to sign up for Beyond Gas DC’s air quality tests.

Miss American Pie

Happy November, D.C. We’ve got food picks aplenty for all of the month’s holidays. Plus, with several Best of D.C. favorites announcing closures in recent weeks, we’re making sure to spotlight some new openings, and several mainstays, cementing their spot in the D.C. roster.

Classic, but with a twist

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, as evidenced by the confused décor you’re likely to find in your neighborhood CVS. Restaurants across the DMV have pumpkin and apple pies for Thanksgiving pre-order, but some bakers are putting a unique spin on classic flavors. Hannah Wolfman-Arent, owner and baker at Velvel Breads, spoke to City Paper about what’s on her Petworth shop’s menu.

Velvel Breads is offering pumpkin and salted chocolate pies, plus an apple galette, all of which Wolfman-Arent says she has made in the past. This year, however, “I wanted my pies to have a ‘Velvel spin,’” she explains, so she’s incorporating some of the same Ashkenazi Jewish elements she uses in her year-round monthly menus.

Velvel Breads regularly offers rugelach, a flaky cookie with a cream cheese-butter dough. This same dough will be the crust for their pumpkin pie and apple galette, Wolfman-Arent says. “And for the chocolate pie, I’ll be making a rye butter crust to incorporate a whole grain flour that compliments chocolate nicely and is common in Jewish breads.” A gluten free pumpkin pie will feature a gingersnap crust.

A portion of the proceeds from each Velvel pie will go to the He Sapa Land Recovery Fund, a land trust fund that works to return Native land to Native people. Wolfman-Arent says her own family benefited from the 1862 Home­stead Act promising free, stolen acres to those who built a home and tilled the land, settling in South Dakota between 1900 and 1915. “Grappling with the reality that our family benefited from land that was violently stolen from Lakota people,” Wolfman-Arent says, her cousin, Rebecca Clarren, started the He Sapa Land Recovery Fund as a form of reparation. More on the Homestead Act is in Clarren’s book, The Cost of Free Land.

To order one of Velvel’s pies, visit their online page. They offer pick-up dates on Nov. 21 and 22, and pies will stay good through Thursday. Wolfman-Arent says her family will have all three on their table this year.

News & Events

• If you’ve been dying to snag a table at Best of D.C. finalist Maydan, now might be the time. The restaurant is celebrating the launch of its new cookbook today with access to a special reservation slot for anyone who buys a copy, now through Nov. 13. The reservation applies to any of the restaurant’s sister eateries, including the just-opened cocktail bar Medina.
• Best Bar finalist The Green Zone will begin donating proceeds from its Arak Ramallah to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
• Beloved Northwest plant shop and Best of D.C. finalist Little Leaf has officially shut its doors. Sister shop Salt and Sundry—winner of Best Home Goods Store—will remain open.
• Home of one of the best drag shows in D.C. according to WCP readers, Crazy Aunt Helen’s closed suddenly at the end of October.
• For Washingtonians looking for a replacement drag spot, Best Drag Show finalist Perry’s has been getting a lot of recognition as it rolls out a new breakfast menu, making it to the Washington Post‘s Tom Sietsema’s list of best restaurants in D.C.
• Single in D.C.? You might need a new go-to date activity. The top pick from WCP readers, Swingers, is closing its Navy Yard location. Thankfully, it is peak outdoor date season, and the National Arboretum was a close second for District daters.
• Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday bringing good eats and creative menus to the area this month. Diwali takes place this Sunday, Nov. 12, and several Best of D.C. winners are featuring specials at all price points, including Rasa, Rasika, and Bombay Street Food.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW D.C.’S BEST?

Congratulations to WCP reader Henry F. for getting the answer to last week’s question. Red Derby followed its 1989 (Taylor’s Version) release party last month with a killer Halloween party. Their calendar of events is frequently packed, so check back for more festivities.

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Now, for this week’s trivia question:

The District’s falafel options are getting slimmer. One more awardee in the Best Falafel category announced they would close last month. Only three of the five 2023 winners are still open. Where can you still get falafel in D.C.?

a. Falafel Inc
b. Amsterdam Falafelshop
c. taïm mediterranean kitchen
d. Olive Lounge & Grill
e. Shouk

Congratulations to WCP reader Jamie S. for knowing the District’s falafel offerings!

A New Pop-up Pops Up

Where one caffeination station closes, another opens: Little Hat Coffee is now open in Streets Market on 14th Street where Spot of Tea was previously located. Austin Morgan spotlighted the pop-up for City Paper this summer, when the coffee shop was at Bryant Street Market.

Morgan writes:
While new to the pop-up game, teammates Hwan Choi and Frankie Contreras have no shortage of industry experience. Choi recently spent four years at Northeast staple Maketto, while Contreras brings both barista and consulting experience with well-known establishments such as Yellow and The Wydown. While they don’t roast their own beans (at least not yet), Little Hat works closely with A Toda Madre Roasters, based in Maryland, to supply their coffee[…]

Choi and Contreras take a fun and lighthearted approach to the pop-up scene while effortlessly cranking out items beyond your typical cup of coffee. Imagine a burnt orange espresso tonic over ice or a creative matcha-based drink.  

Check out all of our Best of D.C. winners, runners-up, and finalists here. We’ll see you in two weeks for the seventh edition!