Good sweaty afternoon, neighbors! Like the old axiom says, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” At least we are not having to choose how much we keep our air conditioning on. Our hearts are with the people all across the West Coast, who are having a tough time in their latest heat wave and round of forest fires.
The Capitol fence came down this weekend and *everyone* poured out onto the Capitol lawn and frolicked in the untouched-for-six-months fields along the East and West fronts. I was there until the last panels around the East front were removed and took photos and video, which I shared on Twitter (and Instagram) and you can see below. Make sure you click through:
While most of us are happy or at least pleased that the Capitol is no longer enclosed in an antiquated security system that was a post-riot prophylactic, some of our neighbors– especially those who work in the Capitol complex– were less than pleased. Below, a post from a neighbor, shared anonymously via our Instagram and Twitter. Click through to read the whole thing:
Capitol Hill Baptist Church settled their lawsuit against the District. They wanted the Bowser administration to waive attendance requirements under COVID since they were gathering outdoors and following social distancing protocols, but the District stayed firm on their 100 people or 50% attendance, whichever one is smaller. The church had a pre-COVID attendance of 1000 parishioners. CHBC resumed indoor services on May 2. Kentucky Today
The District is fully open and welcoming all their employees back. For more information and a list of available services in-person, read the official statement from the Executive Office of the Mayor.
The National Park Service announced that the Washington Monument reopens tomorrow, per Scott MacFarlane on Twitter. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. the previous day for the next day’s visit. Tickets for tomorrow were snapped up in about 2 minutes this morning.
Crazy Aunt Helen’s is a “maximalist” dream, with décor from the one and only Miss Pixie Windsor, of the eponymous DC shop. The menu looks pretty great too. Eater DC
And per Eat DC, Crazy Aunt Helen’s will be opening tomorrow, Wednesday, July 14. Another July opening via Eat DC? The Boiling Crab at 4th and H NE, opening Monday, July 19.
And Eater also made it to Bodegón, the new Spanish tapas place on 8th, where Medium Rare used to be. I have been once, during soft opening, and found their portions very generous and the food and service were great. Will write more when I try their paella, which looks incredible.
One more in the disturbing trend of very young girls tasing and carjacking people: Three teens were apprehended and one remains at large after trying to carjack someone near Nationals Park. Be careful out there. WTOP
A sweet obituary for Jean Taylor Baxter, whom many older Hill residents may remember as the wife of St. Mark’s rector Bill Baxter. Jean was 96 and she sounded like a wonderful woman. Portland Press Herald
The confusion over I-695 and 295 is about to get maybe less confusing? New signage is coming, as well as a tiny spur, I-195, which will be the new name of the Third Street Exit complex. CDL Life
Are we ready for the Capital Turnaround? Because it’s ready for us and the venue looks incredible. Washington City Paper
Speaking of which, make sure you see your next live act soon. The Set List can help. The Hill is Home
There is a new three-way stop sign at 7th and C NE, the result of much hard work by ANC 6C and commissioner Jay Adelstein. A reader tagged us on Twitter, sharing the happy news:
Finally, do you want to celebrate the open Capitol grounds with us and @eat_dc? Join us for a picnic on Saturday, July 17, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the southeast lawn– the one that faces the Library of Congress. Don’t feel obligated to stay the whole time, though if you show up early, there will be pizza by We, The Pizza, reprising their generosity from back in March. There will also be goodies by beloved carb-slinger Capitol Jill. Let’s just hope the weather cooperates!
The post Hill Buzz appeared first on The Hill is Home.
