Category Archives: Arts

Riggs Park Art Walk Returns September 12 To Kick off Art All Night

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Main Street, Riggs Park

By Edwin Washington, Executive Director of The Parks Main Street

Riggs Park Neighbors & Friends,

As many of you may remember, the outdoor portion of the Riggs Park Art Walk, originally scheduled for July 18, was canceled due to poor air quality. We’re excited to bring this community experience back and invite you to join us on Saturday, September 12.

Kick off the day with The Parks Main Street’s Guided Riggs Park Art Walk, led by Walk Ward 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Beginning outside the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, the tour will highlight public art, murals, sculptures, and artist-designed traffic control boxes that showcase the creativity, history, and spirit of the Riggs Park community.

Participants can pick up an Art Walk Passport at the start of the guided tour. Prefer to explore on your own? Self-guided participants may pick up a passport at the Art Place Pop-Up Market, open from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with passport distribution available until 3:00 p.m.

The Art Place Pop-Up Market will feature local makers, artisans, and vendors offering unique handcrafted goods, artwork, and creative products. Be sure to submit your completed Art Walk Passport by 4:00 p.m. for a chance to win a prize. Prize details and winner announcements will be shared at a later date.

After completing the Art Walk, spend the afternoon exploring the Art Place Pop-Up Market, supporting local makers and small businesses, and enjoying the creative energy of the neighborhood.

Then, return for Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents Art All Night, hosted by The Parks Main Street, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the UDC Community College Lamond-Riggs Campus Parking Lot. The evening celebration will feature live performances, visual artists, food vendors, interactive art experiences, and family-friendly activities.

Make September 12 a full day of art, culture, and community, from the Riggs Park Art Walk and Art Place Pop-Up Market to an unforgettable evening at Art All Night.

The Parks Main Street and Greater Washington Urban League look forward to seeing you there!

September 2026 Neighborhood Events: Food Pop-ups, Art All Night, & More

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Main Street, Riggs Park, UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus & Expansion (formerly Bertie Backus Campus)

Check out the lineup of select neighborhood events this September. Pop-up guests & a new run club at Tz’ikin Cafe; lots of events on September 12 (including Art Place Pop-Up Vendor Market, Riggs Michigan Park Reunion Cookout, and Art All Night by The Parks Main Street); and more.

Fall programming at Dance Loft at Explore! Fort Totten

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Sessions run August 24 – December 6

Pre-Ballet | Ages 3-5 | Mondays, 5pm

Baby & Me | Ages 1-3 | Saturdays, 10am

Pre-Ballet | Ages 3-5 | Saturdays, 11am

Bilingual Creative Movement | Ages 4-6 | Saturdays, 12pm

Registration links: Dance Loft Fort Totten Youth Classes

UDC Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market

Every Friday through November | 4:00pm-8:00pm | 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE

Select Neighborhood Events

September 4Art Place at Fort Totten Summer Concert Series: Ahzay and the Squad 

6:00pm-8:00pm

Maryland based Hip-Hop band fusing the sounds of Rap, Soul, R&B and more  

Location: South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE
September 5Cafe Con Salsa at Tz’ikin Cafe 
8:00am-10:00am

475 Ingraham Street NE  

Schedule of Events
8:00am: Beginner friendly Salsa Workshop
9:00am: Contemporary Salsa Choreography (Intermediate)
9:35am: Feature Performance by Tentacion Dance Company
9:45am: Social Gathering

Open to all ages and skill levels.   Tickets: $20 – RSVP. Your ticket comes with one complimentary drink from Tz’ikin.

September 11  Unveiling of New 9/11 Bertie Backus Memorial at UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus 

9:00am    

5171 South Dakota Avenue NE

Memorial plaque unveiling honoring Sarah Clark and Asia Cottom, teacher and student at the former Bertie Backus Middle School, who lost their lives aboard American Airlines Flight 77 on Sept. 11, 2001

Open to the community

September 12  Riggs Michigan Park Reunion Cookout 

10:00am-7:00pm

Fort Circle Park
 
Tz’ikin Cafe Sip & Paint 

11:00am-1:00pm

475 Ingraham Street NE
  
Art Place Pop-Up Vendor Market 

12:00pm-4:00pm 

5198 South Dakota Avenue NE

Interested vendors should complete the Art Place Market Vendor Interest Application.
 
Art All Night by The Parks Main Street | Various times & locations  

Happy Violet DC | 11:00am-4:00pm | 305 Riggs Road NE  

Unitees | 1:00pm-7:00pm | 5776 2nd Street NE

UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus | 5:00pm-10:00pm | 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE

September 13  Matelna Bakes Cinnamon Rolls Pop-Up at Tz’ikin Cafe 

9:00am-1:00pm  

475 Ingraham Street NE

September 20  Sugar Bomb Cakery Pop-Up at Tz’ikin Cafe

9:00am-12:00pm  

475 Ingraham Street NE

September 25  Art Place at Fort Totten Summer Concert Series: Justin Trawick 

6:00pm-8:00pm

Blend of folk, Americana, and indie influences  

Location: South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE

September 26  Glo’s Goodies | 9:00am-2:00pm 

Pilates | 2:00pm-3:30pm  

Location: Tz’ikin Cafe, 475 Ingraham Street NE  

September 27  Hijos del Maiz Pop-Up at Tz’ikin Cafe
Hijos del Maíz pops up serving handcrafted tacos, quesadillas, and more!
9:00am-2:00pm  

Casa Sol Matcha Pop-Up at Tz’ikin Café
9:00am-2:00pm 

Tz’ikin Cafe Run Club
9:00am-2:00pm  

Location: Tz’ikin Cafe, 475 Ingraham Street NE
 

September 13: Art All Night 2025 – Riggs Park & Manor Park

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Main Street

Art All Night 2025 Hosted by The Parks Main Street

Saturday, September 13, 2025, 5:00pm-10:00 pm

Visit small businesses, shop, dine, see local art, and experience live performances by artists from Riggs Park, Manor Park, and surrounding communities in Wards 4 and 5.

WELCOME CENTER – Riggs Park

  • Lamond-Riggs Lillian J. Huff Library – Interactive Art Venue

5401 South Dakota Avenue Ne WDC 20011 – Riggs Park

Art | Games | Music | Vendor Marketplace

5:00 pm-9:00 pm Face Painting – Carmilla Angel 

5:00pm-9:00 pm Interactive Art Workshop with Painting Stations – Sierra Koker (Alta Koer) 

5:00 pm-9:00 pm Knitting & Crocheting – The Stitchuation 

7:15 pm Musical Performance by Just Rock Youth Music Experience

Flash Fire Performance – Jordan Seitz / FahrenSeitz Entertainment

WELCOME CENTER – Riggs Park

  • The Modern at Art Place – Music Performance Venue

Corner of South Dakota Ave & Galloway St NE WDC 20011

Art | Music | Dance |Vendor Marketplace

5:00 pm-10:00 pm Vendor Marketplace

5:30 & 7:30 pm DJ Set by Damu the Fudgemunk (Multi-Instrumentalist | Producer  

6:15 pm Hand Dancing – Beginning to Dance 

6:45 pm Musical Performance by Elena La Fulana (Latin Grammy Nominee) 

8:30 pm Musical Performance by The Jess Lake Trio 

Flash Fire Performance – Jordan Seitz / FahrenSeitz Entertainment

  • Unitees Screenprint & Embroidery – Riggs Park

5776 2nd Street NE WDC 20011

NOTE: Friday September 12, 2025, 11:15 am

(Social Justice School Art Class)

Interactive Tie-Dye & T-Shirt Screen Printing Workshop

WELCOME CENTER – Manor Park

  • The VIP Room – Film / Fashion / Comedy Venue

6201 3rd Street NW WDC 20011

Film | Fashion | Comedy |Community Mural | Vendor Marketplace

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Vendor Marketplace

5:00 pm-10:00 pm Interactive Community Mural by ANC4B

5:15 pm-6:30 pm Film Festival – DC Media Academy 

6:00 pm-9:00 pm LIVE Painting by Tarika Campbell

6:30 pm DJ Set

7:00 pm-7:30 pm Fashion Show at Lovely Lady Boutique

7:30 pm DJ Set

8:30 pm-10:00 pm Comedy Show – 4Corners Entertainment (10 Comedias)

Flash Fire Performance – Jordan Seitz / FahrenSeitz Entertainment

Performers and times subject to change.

Check back for 2025 performance line up updates through September 13.

For information email artallnight@theparksmainstreet.org

July 24: Main Street Jazz with Shirleta Settles at Lamond-Riggs Library

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Main Street

The Main Street Jazz Series continues on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM with a special performance by Shirleta Settles & Friends.

Hosted by The Parks Main Street and presented by the Greater Washington Urban League.

Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE

July 19: Riggs Park Art Crawl Map

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Main Street

Join The Parks Main Street for the annual Riggs Park Art Crawl, Saturday July 19, 2025, 10am-3pm.

Free, family-friendly festivities throughout the day.

Art walk starting at 11:30 am at South Dakota Avenue & Kennedy Street NE.

Download 2025 Riggs Park Art Crawl Map & Schedule of Activities

Artists stationed at their traffic control box locations talking about their design and painting live at 11:00 am.

  • Riggs Road & Chillum Place NE

Sydney Buffalow

“Riggs Park”

  • South Dakota Avenue & Ingraham Street NE

Tarika Campbell

“Peace & Pyrite”

  • South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE

Britnee Scott

“A Piece Of The City”

And be sure to check out the children’s festival also on July 19, 1pm-3pm at The Modern (400 Galloway Street NE).

September 28: Art All Night Hosted by The Parks Main Street; Volunteer opportunities

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Main Street

From The Parks Main Street

The Parks Main Street (TPMS) is excited to host Art All Night 2024 presented by Mayor Muriel Bowser, Saturday, September 28, 5pm-10pm!

Once again, TPMS brings to the communities of Riggs Park and Manor Park this festival to end the summer with a bang!

This year the main performance stage is at The Modern at Art Place Plaza at the corner of South Dakota Ave NE & Galloway Street NE near the red rooster. Many of you attended the “Fridays at Fort Totten” music series there. Same Location!

For your free tickets, and to see current event locations, lineup, and activities, register on Eventbrite. Performances and times subject to change.

Interested in volunteering on the planning committee or for the day of the festival? Send an email to info@theparksmainstreet.org.

Interested in volunteering tomorrow morning? 

Help to put up yard signs to spread the word about Art All Night hosted by TPMS.

Come out between 10:00 am-12 noon tomorrow, September 7, to:

The Parks Main Street Office
210B Riggs Road NE, 2nd Floor right
Washington, DC 20011 
Call 202.423.1014

For your free tickets to Art All Night 2024, register on Eventbrite.

July 20: Ward 4 & 5 Day at National Building Museum

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Ward 4, Ward 5
Image from Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker’s office

Ward Days are back at the National Building Museum!

On July 20, 2023, Ward 4 & Ward 5 residents can enjoy free admission to the museum (401 F Street NW). Museum opens at 10:00 am. Story time at 11:00 am & 1:00 pm. Bring proof of residency with zip code.

From the website:

As part of the Washington, D.C. community, the National Building Museum invites residents of each D.C. Ward to visit the Summer Block Party installation, Look Here, with free admission to all exhibitions during your specific Ward Day. 

When is the Look Here Ward Day for my neighborhood? 

  • July 20: Wards 1, 4, 5, and 6 
  • August 3: Wards 3 and 8 
  • August 17: Wards 2 and 7 

I’m ready to visit the Museum, what do I need to know? 

  • The Museum opens at 10 am on each Ward day. 
  • Your Ward Day eligibility is determined by your zip code, please bring an ID or piece of mail with zipcode. 
  • All visitors must check in at the Museum’s Visitor Center to receive their complimentary admission wristband in order to visit all of the exhibitions. 
  • All children must be accompanied by an adult in the museum at all times. No more than 10 children per adult, please. 

July 28: Jazz in the Park at Riggs-LaSalle Rec

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Recreation

Jazz in the Park with vocalist Shirleta Settles
July 28, 2022
6:30 pm-9:30 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (outdoors)
501 Riggs Road NE

Bring chairs, blankets, family, and friends!

Refreshments provided the Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center.

DPR Activates Local DC Parks And Connects Residents To Art, Music, And Culture Right In Their Own Back Yards.

Join the DC Department of Parks & Recreation for a series of pop-up music and art installations at scenic green spaces all over the District.

These events are free, open to the public, and a great way to take advantage of DC’s tremendous park system, which was recently ranked #1 in the United States.

The series features locally known artists, musicians, and civic demonstrations in a celebration of DC culture. All you have to do is get there, sit back, and enjoy your local parks and a free show.

Shirleta Settles is a wonderful jazz vocalist, who previously lived in Riggs Park for many many years. It is always a treat to see her perform and should be a fun time. In case of rain, event will be moved indoors at the rec.

Reminder: Call for Artists – The Parks Main Street Art All Night, Apply by August 6

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Main Street

From The Parks Main Street

Art All Night celebrates the visual and performing arts, showcasing the diverse talents of our creative community. This year’s event will take place on Friday, September 24, 2021, 7:00 pm-10:00 pm.

Public and private spaces throughout Riggs Park and Manor Park will transform into pop-up galleries and performance stages for an evening of art in all its forms.

Visual and performing artists in Riggs Park, Manor Park, Lamond, North Michigan Park, Michigan Park, and Fort Totten are especially encouraged to apply! All artists are welcome. Apply by August 6, 2021.

Please click the link below to provide your information and to apply. 

2021 Art All Night @ The Parks Main Street

Coming Back from the House Of Eternal Return

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

By David Kosub (Contributor)

On a recent swing through New Mexico to see some friends, we stopped in to visit the House of Eternal Return. This is Meow Wolf’s interactive, immersive art experience that started it all in Santa Fe.  What better way to get our heads wrapped around what’s coming to Riggs Park as part of Block B of the Cafritz Foundation’s Art Place at Fort Totten development, than to experience their first installation up close and personal. We had a blast. Here’s a sampling of what you may experience too…and don’t forget your 3-D glasses…

Meow Wolf, Santa Fe, NM

You start, as you would any time you come home, by getting the mail, but this is no ordinary mailbox…there are clues!

David Kosub at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return

….upon entering the house, you see a scene, probably one pretty familiar to us all…

…while exploring the house, looking for more insights on what this family is up to, you find yourself being sucked into a portal…in the bathroom when nature calls nonetheless …

…going through the portal, you naturally find dinosaur bones, but not just any normal bones, these make music when you tap them. Yabba Dabba Doo!

…coming out the other side, you’re under water….

….traveling further, you begin to enter a magical forest world

…complete with a treehouse to play in.

…You stumble upon a bus…a tad askew, that probably has seen better days….

….and then, of course, you dance like you’ve never danced before to some deep electronic beats in the strobe light room ….

… portaling back from whence you came, you reanimate inside a cake, because, why not…

…other worlds exist to explore here with Meow Wolf, but you will need to go and experience it yourself. Before you leave though, don’t forget to stop and smell the roses

New Riggs Park Neighborhood Mural

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Main Street, Neighborhood Development

Artist Jay Hudson brings us another neighborhood mural – this one a “We are Riggs Park” statement on the side of Riggs Wine & Liquor. Funding for the mural was provided by The Parks Main Street, District Department of Small and Local Business Development, and Riggs Wine & Liquor owner John Yoo. Next up is restoration of the sign.

“We are Riggs Park” mural by Jay Hudson. Photo credit: Jay Hudson

Jay is well-known around the neighborhood. He installed a mural on the other side of the liquor store during the inaugural 2018 Riggs Park Art Crawl.

Mural at Riggs Wine & Liquor by Jay Hudson. Photo credit: Jay Hudson

He brought us this cool mural on the side of Hellbender Brewing Company’s building (though unfortunately that mural is no longer with us).

Mural at Hellbender by Jay Hudson. Photo credit: Jay Hudson

And he is the creator of the large mural inside of Culture Coffee Too.

Mural at Coffee Culture Too by Jay Hudson

October 24: Meow Wolf Community Conversation

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Sharing from Meow Wolf. Note – due to space limitation, RSVP is highly encouraged:

Join Meow Wolf D.C. for two informal gatherings at the Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library! We want to hear from Fort Totten residents,
community members, artists, students, and YOU about the challenges and
opportunities the local arts community faces. You’ll also learn more about the ins and outs of Meow Wolf, hear about our upcoming DC project, and have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input.

We’re scheduled to open Meow Wolf D.C. in 2022 and we’re just getting started. Community Conversations will take place throughout the D.C. metro area throughout the coming years with more dates to be announced.

DATE
Thursday, October 24

TIME
There will be 2 sessions on October 24. Information presented will be the same
Pick one to attend:
4:00pm – 5:30pm
6:00pm – 7:30pm

LOCATION
Lamond-Riggs Library
5401 South Dakota Ave NE
Washington, DC 20011

RSVP is not required, but helps us with planning.
Kindly RSVP to DC@meowwolf.com
Light refreshments will be provided.

Events June 28 & 29, 2019

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts, Recreation, Transportation

A few events to highlight this weekend

June 28, 2019

  • Fridays at Fort Totten Concert Series featuring music by Allthebestkids and Carnivore BBQ food truck. 6:00 pm, corner of South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE. Bring a lawn chair for seating

June 29, 2019

  • DDOT Rock Creek East I Livability Pop-up: Share your views on how to make the transportation network safer and more accessible. Study area is defined by Rock Creek and the Maryland border to the West, Eastern Avenue to the North, New Hampshire Avenue NE and the Red Line Metrorail tracks to the East, and Military Road NW, Missouri Avenue NW, and Riggs Road NE to the South. 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Safeway, 6500 Piney Branch Road NW