by Marlene Berlin On Wednesday morning, I set off early on a hike through Rock Creek Park. I wanted to beat the heat and the sun, but ran into some rain instead. Soon after I started, around 6:45 a.m., I started to feel a light misty rain. It soon turned into drops. I could have […]
A new addition to Linnean Park is an Eagle Scout service project and an ideal ‘shinrin-yoku’ spot
by John Burwell Scout Troop 100 has once again contributed an amenity for the enjoyment of visitors in Linnean Park, thanks to a recent Eagle Scout service project. On May 3, Life Scout and Sidwell Friends junior Ian Condon led almost 20 scouts from his troop in assembling and installing a heavy-duty metal park bench, […]
June in the Neighborhood: A toy swap, children’s concert, yoga in the park, Create by the Creek, and more
Spend a fun day at Forest Hills Park. Thanks to Van Ness Main Street’s Good Clean Fun initiative, June 6 is a day of service, community and music, with an all-ages cleanup, a community toy swap, and a performance by Grammy-nominated children’s music artist Mamá Elena. Create a work of art at Peirce Mill. Artists have been inspired by […]
You’re invited: A party Saturday celebrates the end of the Soapstone sewer project
Starting in March 2022, the signs above greeted people at the Soapstone Valley trailhead on Albemarle Street. DC Water closed the park for a sewer rehabilitation and stream restoration project that it initially expected to last one and a half years. Four years later, the project is complete, and DC Water is throwing a party […]
Resources for the 2026 primary: Ward 3 voter information aggregator and tenant leaders’ questions for the mayoral candidates
If you are registered to vote in the District as a Democrat, the number of candidates on the June 16 primary election ballot might seem daunting. And ranked-choice voting might require a little more homework should you wish to rank more than one candidate, particularly in the mayoral, delegate and at-large council member races. But […]
The 2026 District Fringe festival at Van Ness-UDC includes programs for up-and-coming playwrights and young audiences
After its successful inaugural festival in July 2025, District Fringe is returning to Van Ness this summer with new plays and initiatives. District Fringe recently announced the festival dates (July 10 through 26, Wednesdays to Sundays) and the performance lineup (see the news release below). The performance schedule and online box office should arrive at […]
Neighborhood in the News: UDC’s graduation, home seller profits, and a statue’s mistaken identity
Mayor Muriel Bowser was the keynote speaker Saturday the University of the District of Columbia’s 49th commencement ceremony. She also spoke at the Howard University commencement that day, and WUSA9’s report compared the two: At UDC — the city’s only public university — Bowser struck a markedly warmer and more reflective tone, emphasizing her long‑standing […]
The spring bird migration brings out the birdwatchers in Rock Creek Park
by Marlene Berlin Hikes through Rock Creek Park in recent weeks have featured several encounters with fellow hikers sporting field glasses and all sorts of fancy cameras and accessories. They are birdwatchers on the lookout for migratory birds, especially warblers. Many are recording their sightings and photos here. “Spring migration turns Rock Creek Park into […]
A Forest Hills intersection’s new design is part of a larger stormwater control project
by Marlene Berlin DDOT has made some changes to a Forest Hills intersection where three streets meet, and stop signs were often treated as suggestions. A new curb extension on Davenport Street NW east of Linnean Avenue makes westbound drivers turn slightly to continue up Davenport. The built-in curve doesn’t stop drivers from blowing through […]
Families get to enjoy a tidier Forest Hills Park, thanks to volunteers
The first Forest Hills Park cleanup of 2026 took place last weekend. One volunteer reported picking up more than 50 cigarette butts (though smoking is illegal in DC parks). Another took care of an even more disgusting problem. More from the neighbors keeping up with the park’s upkeep: Van Ness Main Street’s Good Clean Fun […]