Category Archives: Uncategorized

Reminder: Complete Main Street Retail Survey by May 31

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street, Uncategorized

Passing along this retail survey from The Parks Main Street. Complete by May 31.

—

Help guide the shops, restaurants, and services along the South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road corridor.  

Dear Neighbors,

The Parks Main Street (TPMS), a program of the Greater Washington Urban League, has been serving Riggs Park since 2019, working to strengthen our neighborhood commercial corridor—and your voice remains essential to shaping what comes next.

We appreciate the feedback shared by community members in the past—it continues to guide our efforts.

We invite you to take a short survey to let us know the types of businesses, restaurants, and services you would like to see in Riggs Park—particularly along South Dakota Avenue from Galloway Street NE (The Modern) to the intersection at Riggs Road NE (Riggs Crossing Senior Residences and Fort Totten Square), as well as other retail spaces along the corridor.

Take the survey (less than 3 minutes)

Survey closes: Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM

About The Parks Main Street

In addition to providing grants and technical assistance to small, local businesses—including $40,000 in grants awarded to seven local businesses so far in 2026—TPMS brings the community together through events and partnerships such as:

  • Fort Totten Summer Concert Series (June 5) — with DC Fray and Bozzuto
  • Riggs Park Art Walk (July 18) — with the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library and WALK Ward 5 Health Coalition 
  • Art All Night hosted by The Parks Main Street (September 12) — in coordination with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Department of Small and Local Business Development
  • Main Street Jazz Series (in progress) — with the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library

This work also includes partnering with UDC Community College on the Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market and maintaining an ongoing collaboration with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA).

Why Your Input Matters

Your feedback will help:

  • Guide the businesses we work to attract
  • Support local entrepreneurs
  • Shape a more vibrant, welcoming corridor

We want to understand what’s missing, what’s working, and what would encourage you to spend more time in the neighborhood.

Help Spread the Word

Please pass this along to neighbors, friends, and coworkers who live, work, or spend time in the area.

May 23: Plymouth Congregational & New Hope Baptist Church Food Pantry

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Plymouth Congregational and New Hope Baptist United Churches of Christ host a food pantry 10am-12noon on the fourth Saturday of each month at 5301 North Capitol Street NE. Register at the link.

As a reminder, there are several other food pantries in and around the neighborhood.

DC Bilingual Public Charter School Family Food Market (1st Friday monthly, October through June)
33 Riggs Road NE
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Produce & shelf stable items
For more information, email uejimofor@dcbilingual.org
Sponsored by Capital Area Food Bank

Impact DMV Church (1st Saturday monthly)
5335 1st Place NE
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Groceries

Faith United Church of Christ (3rd Wednesday monthly)
4900 10th Street NE
9:00 am (food usually runs out by 11:30 am)
Produce market and diaper bank

For more information, contact faithuccdc@gmail.com or 202-635-7777.

LaSalle-Backus Elementary School Family Food Market (Typically 3rd Thursday monthly, October through June)
501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Madison Street side of campus)
3:30 pm-5:30 pm (people start lining up as early as 2:30)
Produce & shelf stable items

Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (3rd Saturday monthly)
501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Nicholson Street side)
11:00 am
Fresh produce, canned goods, & fresh quarter chicken
Sponsored by Andre Lee (Lee Little League)/Feed My People Ministry

Complete Main Street Retail Survey by May 31

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street, Uncategorized

Passing along this retail survey from The Parks Main Street. Complete by May 31.

—

Help guide the shops, restaurants, and services along the South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road corridor.  

Dear Neighbors,

The Parks Main Street (TPMS), a program of the Greater Washington Urban League, has been serving Riggs Park since 2019, working to strengthen our neighborhood commercial corridor—and your voice remains essential to shaping what comes next.

We appreciate the feedback shared by community members in the past—it continues to guide our efforts.

We invite you to take a short survey to let us know the types of businesses, restaurants, and services you would like to see in Riggs Park—particularly along South Dakota Avenue from Galloway Street NE (The Modern) to the intersection at Riggs Road NE (Riggs Crossing Senior Residences and Fort Totten Square), as well as other retail spaces along the corridor.

Take the survey (less than 3 minutes)

Survey closes: Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM

About The Parks Main Street

In addition to providing grants and technical assistance to small, local businesses—including $40,000 in grants awarded to seven local businesses so far in 2026—TPMS brings the community together through events and partnerships such as:

  • Fort Totten Summer Concert Series (June 5) — with DC Fray and Bozzuto
  • Riggs Park Art Walk (July 18) — with the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library and WALK Ward 5 Health Coalition 
  • Art All Night hosted by The Parks Main Street (September 12) — in coordination with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Department of Small and Local Business Development
  • Main Street Jazz Series (in progress) — with the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library

This work also includes partnering with UDC Community College on the Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market and maintaining an ongoing collaboration with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA).

Why Your Input Matters

Your feedback will help:

  • Guide the businesses we work to attract
  • Support local entrepreneurs
  • Shape a more vibrant, welcoming corridor

We want to understand what’s missing, what’s working, and what would encourage you to spend more time in the neighborhood.

Help Spread the Word

Please pass this along to neighbors, friends, and coworkers who live, work, or spend time in the area.

May 2026 Events at Explore!

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

Check out the events calendar for May 2026 events at Explore!

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

* Tz’ikin Coffee Pop-Up

Hours: Monday – Friday 7am – 2pm, Sunday 9am – 2pm

* Dance Loft Youth Classes & Summer Dance Camp (Register at the link).

  • Pre-Ballet
  • Baby & Me
  • Bilingual Creative Movement

Explore! Activities: Mixed Materials Studio | May 5, 4pm-6pm

Explore! Activities: Cardboard Building Lab | May 7, 4pm-6pm

Candle Making Workshop | May 7, 6pm

Explore! Activities: Clay Open Studio | May 12, 4pm-6pm

Explore! Activities: Paper & Texture | May 14, 4pm-6pm

Explore! Activities: Paint Studio | May 19, 4pm-6pm

Explore! Activities: Tile Design | May 21, 4pm-6pm

Explore! Activities: Clay & Form | May 26, 4pm-6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Open Art Studio | May 28, 4pm-6pm

UDC Free Workforce Development & Lifelong Learning Open Houses for Summer 2026 Enrollment

Posted by nextstoprp in Education, Uncategorized

UDC offers free workforce development and lifelong learning courses for DC residents. There are a couple more Open House dates for the upcoming summer 2026 session.

Open House Location

University of the District of Columbia

3100 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE

Open House Dates

April 30, 10am-2pm

May 5, 1pm-4pm

Required Documents

State ID

Proof of high school diploma/GED

Proof of DC residency

See UDC WDLL Summer 2026 Course Schedule

April 28-30: DC Office of Campaign Finance Candidate Debates

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Candidates who participate in DC’s public campaign finance program must participate in a public debate hosted by DC’s Office of Campaign Finance.

2026 OCF Debate Schedule

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

  • 6:00 PM – At-Large Council Special Election Debates
  • 7:30 PM – At Large Council Primary Election Debates 

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

  • 6:00 PM – Attorney General Debate

Thursday, April 30, 2026

  • 6:00 PM – Mayoral Debate

Watch at youtube.com/@dcdebates671.

April 25: Plymouth Congregational & New Hope Baptist Church Food Pantry

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Plymouth Congregational and New Hope Baptist United Churches of Christ host a food pantry 10am-12noon on the fourth Saturday of each month at 5301 North Capitol Street NE.

As a reminder, there are several other food pantries in and around the neighborhood.

DC Bilingual Public Charter School Family Food Market (1st Friday monthly, October through June)
33 Riggs Road NE
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Produce & shelf stable items
For more information, email uejimofor@dcbilingual.org
Sponsored by Capital Area Food Bank

Impact DMV Church (1st Saturday monthly)
5335 1st Place NE
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Groceries

Faith United Church of Christ (3rd Wednesday monthly)
4900 10th Street NE
9:00 am (food usually runs out by 11:30 am)
Produce market and diaper bank

For more information, contact faithuccdc@gmail.com or 202-635-7777.

LaSalle-Backus Elementary School Family Food Market (Typically 3rd Thursday monthly, October through June)
501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Madison Street side of campus)
3:30 pm-5:30 pm (people start lining up as early as 2:30)
Produce & shelf stable items

Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (3rd Saturday monthly)
501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Nicholson Street side)
11:00 am
Fresh produce, canned goods, & fresh quarter chicken
Sponsored by Andre Lee (Lee Little League)/Feed My People Ministry

Tonight April 20: ANC 5A03 Community Meeting on 801 Buchanan Street NE Project

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

[Ed. Note: Neighbors near or interested in the 801 Buchanan Street NE project should join the distribution list for ANC Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03). That is the best way to get regular updates about this project. I am not following this project closely.]

From ANC Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio:

Now that the Conway Education Center is complete, the next project will be the demolition of the old Kennedy School building and the construction of the townhomes.  The developer has asked to meet with us to give us an update and share a proposed change to the plan. I have scheduled a meeting for Monday at 7:00 pm.

Please encourage all of those within 200 feet to attend the meeting.

ANC 5A Office (ANC 5A) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: SMD 5A03
Time: Apr 20, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/85603064323?pwd=tOzlccIWelj3k4VbNTeOpvW7Ifg0Rb.1

Meeting ID: 856 0306 4323
Passcode: 422001

An open house for the Conway Child Development Center will be held on April 25, 2026, 12pm-3pm, at 801 Buchanan Street NE.

LRCA Scholarship Opportunity – Apply by May 15, 2026

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Scholarship Award.

Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Apply here: https://lrcadc.org/lrca-scholarship-application

LRCA will award Academic Excellence Scholarships of up to $2,000 to eligible graduating high school seniors and eligible college or trade school students who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and a commitment to community impact.

Map of LRCA boundaries.

UDC CAUSES Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market Vendors; Community-Based Opportunities

Posted by nextstoprp in Backus Urban Food Hub, Uncategorized

UDC College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environment Science (CAUSES) kicked off the farmers market season at the Lamond-Riggs campus on April 3. It will take place very Friday 4pm-8pm at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. The market is part of the college’s urban food hub concept at the campus.

About 16 vendors have signed up for the season so far. Interested vendors may apply at the link: UDC 2026 Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market Vendor Interest Application.

VENDORPRODUCT  
Sweet and Salty BakeryParaguayan prepared foods and/or drinks  
CaliDawn Soaps Salves and Sundries  Handmade bath and body products  
Traders Origin  Bolivian handmade jewelry, accessories, toys, chocolate bars and cacao products  
Los Quesos  Prepared foods and/or drinks  
Pleitez Produce Farm  Fresh produce
Rinconcito Maya – Guate-Mex Street Food    Guatemalan-Mexican prepared foods and/or drinks  
MASTIHA Taverna  Greek prepared foods and/or drinks  
Sam’s Favorite Things  Prepared foods and/or drinks  
Leading Across Difference  Prepared foods and/or drinks, Fresh produce, Handmade wreaths, Wellness Journals
Fritters and Roast  Nigerian-inspired prepared foods and/or drinks  
EightFold Farms DC  Infused Honey, Dehydrated and Powdered Mushrooms  
Misky Wasy  Peruvian prepared foods and/or drinks, Handmade jewelry, accessories, or toys  
The Sweetest Surrender   Prepared foods and/or drinks  
ICHAKU  Authentic artisan bucket hats, Baseball hats, Purses, Handbags, Shoulder bags, Backpacks  
Go Big Adventures Earth-WorkerNutritional supplements  

Community-Based Opportunities with UDC CAUSES

See Upcoming Community-based CAUSES Opportunities (Spring 2026).

There are a few opportunities for residents to get more involved with CAUSES. A couple of highlights:

AgPod Volunteering

  • Every Friday from 2-5pm
    o Harvest produce from vertical farm container
  • Location: Lamond-Riggs Food Hub
    o 5171 South Dakota Ave NE
  • Contact: Andy Blunk, andrew.blunk@udc.edu

Participate on the CAUSES Ward Advisory Council

  • The advisory council for Ward 4 and Ward 5 has space for additional members (2 for Ward 4 and 3 for Ward 5).
  • The goals of the Ward Advisory Councils are to facilitate communication and collaboration with Ward-specific stakeholders, gain understanding of community needs, and provide guidance on CAUSES program offerings.
  • For more information, read the UDC CAUSES Ward Advisory Council Framework.
  • Contact: Ariel Verbrugge, ariel.verbrugge@udc.edu

April 2026 Events at Explore!

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

Check out Explore!’s April 2026 activities lineup.

Eventbrite: Explore! Fort Totten Events. RSVP encouraged.

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Dance Loft Youth Classes at Explore! (Register at the link).

  • Pre-Ballet
  • Baby & Me
  • Bilingual Creative Movement

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Cardboard Building Lab | April 7, 4pm-6pm

Candle Making Workshop | April 9, 6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay Open Studio | April 14, 4pm-6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Paper & Texture | April 16, 4pm-6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Paint Studio | April 21, 4pm-6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Tile Design | April 23, 4pm-6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay & Form | April 28, 4pm-6pm

Bingo Day | April 29, 2pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Open Art Studio | April 30, 4pm-6pm

The best way to learn about Explore! events is to follow them on eventbrite and visit the Art Place Events Page.

Fourth Saturdays: Plymouth Congregational Church Food Pantry

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Plymouth Congregational and New Hope Baptist United Churches of Christ host a food pantry 10am-12noon on the fourth Saturday of each month at 5301 North Capitol Street NE.

As a reminder, there are several other food pantries in and around the neighborhood.

DC Bilingual Public Charter School Family Food Market (1st Friday monthly, October through June)
33 Riggs Road NE
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Produce & shelf stable items
For more information, email uejimofor@dcbilingual.org
Sponsored by Capital Area Food Bank

Impact DMV Church (1st Saturday monthly)
5335 1st Place NE
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Groceries

Faith United Church of Christ (3rd Wednesday monthly)
4900 10th Street NE
9:00 am (food usually runs out by 11:30 am)
Produce market and diaper bank

For more information, contact faithuccdc@gmail.com or 202-635-7777.

LaSalle-Backus Elementary School Family Food Market (Typically 3rd Thursday monthly, October through June)
501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Madison Street side of campus)
3:30 pm-5:30 pm (people start lining up as early as 2:30)
Produce & shelf stable items

Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (3rd Saturday monthly)
501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Nicholson Street side)
11:00 am
Fresh produce, canned goods, & fresh quarter chicken
Sponsored by Andre Lee (Lee Little League)/Feed My People Ministry

Draft DC 2050 Future Land Use Map

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

DC’s Office of Planning released a Draft Future Land Use Map (FLUM) for DC’s next Comprehensive Plan that OP is calling DC 2050. The FLUM is designed to provide a view of where different land uses are recommended or planned. The FLUM is important because it can be used to support changes to land use. (Recall that McDonald’s used their requested change to the FLUM to support its quest to upzone their parcel for the sole purpose of putting in a drive-thru as a matter of right. OP signed off on that).

OP is using an approach called Place Types that they say will help make it easier to understand how a property can be used.

Attend OP’s Phase 2 spring workshop on March 21 at Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at 11am to give input on the Draft FLUM.

Draft FLUM Changes

OP states the changes in the Draft FLUM are designed to do three things:

  1. Increase opportunities for more housing along high-frequency bus routes and metro stations, to direct more housing to neighborhoods that haven’t had a lot of development;
  2. Distribute housing opportunities across DC’s wards, to ensure fair and balanced housing development across the District; and
  3. Allow more types of housing and amenities, to meet the diverse needs of DC’s current and future residents.

OP also provided an explanation of the considerations that went into the Deaft FLUM:

The current Future Land Use Map has an estimated capacity of 445,000 total households. In order to keep housing prices from rising relative to inflation, OP estimates that we will need at least 460,000 households by 2050. The DC 2050 Future Land Use Map proposes adding capacity to meet this new target by identifying new land use changes near transit, in areas that have grown less over the past twenty years, and with additional analysis in areas with the highest risk of displacement.

See OP explainer on Draft FLUM.

OP on X

One thing to keep in mind is that Riggs Park has an approved Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue Area Development Plan (sometimes referred to as a small area plan) for the commercial corridor. I previously asked OP reps how they intend to incorporate approved plans, which are consensus documents, into the new Comprehensive Plan. They said that for plans approved before a certain year, the plans would be incorporated into the Comp Plan through the FLUM. I do not remember the year OP stated, but it would cover our neighborhood plan, which was approved in 2009.

I do not remember what OP said about small area plans in progress or plans approved after a certain year. It would probably be helpful for OP to put all of this in the explanation.

Check out OP’s DC 2050 website. It has lots of resources to help residents understand how OP is approaching the Comp Plan rewrite.

If you would like to give feedback on the Draft Flum, attend tomorrow’s workshop or stay tuned for OP’s survey.

Invitation – March 28: Dementia Stories DC

Posted by nextstoprp in Health, Uncategorized

[Ed. Note: Passing along information about an interesting project for residents interested in participating]

Arts workshop + portrait session on March 28, 2026, at Michigan Park Christian Church. Registration here. More information: DementiaStoriesDC.com.  Questions: 202-352-8869.

More details:

Dementia Stories DC is an initiative by The Dap Project that celebrates the lives of D.C. residents living with dementia and Alzheimer’s while raising awareness about the care, connection, and support families need.

The three-part initiative includes:

  • Arts-based workshops that provide people living with memory loss and their caregivers a meaningful opportunity to connect and learn supportive practices. Workshops will be facilitated by dementia care experts from the George Washington University Institute for Brain Health & Dementia.
  • Portrait sessions with professional photographers to capture and preserve meaningful moments.
  • Oral histories with residents living with dementia and their caregivers, honoring their expansive lives and allowing them to shape their own narratives.

The initiative will culminate in a June public exhibit (Alzheimer’s Awareness Month) featuring portraits, photography from the workshops, and oral histories.

To participate, register for an upcoming workshop and portrait session on Eventbrite. Have questions? Email us at DementiaStoriesDC@gmail.com.

March 2026 Events at Explore!

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

Check out Explore!’s March 2026 activities lineup.

Eventbrite: Explore! Fort Totten Events. RSVP encouraged.

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Dance Loft Youth Classes at Explore! (Register at the link).

  • Pre-Ballet
  • Baby & Me
  • Bilingual Creative Movement

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Mixed Materials Studio | March 5, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Cardboard Building Lab | March 10, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay Open Studio | March 12, 4pm-7pm

Candle Making Workshop | March 12, 6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Paper & Texture | March 17, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Paint Studio | March 19, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Tile Design | March 24, 4pm-7pm

Bingo Day | March 25, 2pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay & Form | March 26, 4pm-7pm

The best way to learn about Explore! events is to follow them on eventbrite and visit the Art Place Events Page.

February 2026 Events at Explore!

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

Check out Explore!’s February 2026 activities lineup.

Eventbrite: Explore! Fort Totten Events. RSVP encouraged.

Location: 395 Ingraham Street NE

Dance Loft Youth Classes: Mondays at Explore! (Winter Session January 12 – March 16, register at the link).

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay & Texture | February 5, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Cardboard Creation | February 10, 4pm-7pm

Valentine’s Card Origami Workshop | February 12, 4pm

Candle Making Workshop | February 12, 6pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Paper & Pattern | February 17, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Clay Open Studio | February 19, 4pm-7pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Tile & Mosaic Play | February 24, 4pm-7pm

Bingo Day | February 25, 2pm

Kid’s Maker Space Activities: Mixed Materials Studio | February 26, 4pm-7pm

The best way to learn about Explore! events is to follow them on eventbrite and visit the Explore Museum website and Art Place Events Page.