Get Out! SPOOKY SEASON starts this weekend at DC libraries

 by Peggy Robin

Some of DC's neighborhood libraries are giving you a two-week jump on Halloween activities with events this Friday, October 16th, Saturday, October 17th, and Monday, October 19th.

Family Movie Double Feature: Celebrate Halloween

Friday, October 16 at 10:30 AM

Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library

5 - 12 Years OldAdults

Capitol View Library Creative Art Contest

THEME: SPOOKY HOUSE(S)

Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17: All Day

Capitol View Neighborhood Library

13 - 19 Years Old (Teens)

Southwest Library Presents: Monster Movie Matiness

Saturday, October 17 at 12:00 PM

Southwest Neighborhood Library

5 - 12 Years Old

Spooktacular Crafts

Monday, October 19: 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library - Meeting Room 1 (4-60 Person Capacity)

Age group:   5 - 12 Years Old

Come in and make some spooky crafts!

See the whole Spooky Season calendar at https://www.dclibrary.org/spooky-season-library

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The "Get Out!" highlighted events of the week are posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All LIfe Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Smile for the Camera

 by Peggy Robin

 

Last year I said I was thinking of making it an annual tradition for the "Still Life with Robin" column to feature the nominees for the Nikon Funny Wildlife competition -- and now I'm making good on that promise.

 

You can see 22 of the 35 nominated photos shared in a photo gallery shared by The Guardian. Be sure to read the little write-up that goes with each photo, telling who, where, and how the photo was shot; that is your best assurance that you are not looking at a bunch of crazy images put together by AI after being fed a prompt such as "Create a still image of a cheetah that looks like it's doing a handstand" or "Show me a photo of a colorful little bird enjoying a spa-like bath in the petal of a flower blossom".

 

You can see 35 of the 42 short-listed finalists at https://newatlas.com/photography/comedy-wildlife-awards-2026-shortlist/

 

As a little preview of what you'll find, I'm sharing these three images (my favorites):

"Hair check before the family photo" (meerkats) by Subi Sridharan

 "Nature’s window" (damselfly) by Lee Frost

"Fashion fades. Feather coats are forever" by Tapani Linnamäki

From the CNN report: "The final winners, decided by a judging panel, will be announced at an awards night in London on December 8. Finalists’ works will then be exhibited until December 13."

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on most Saturdays.

Get Out! Cathedral Commons Fall Festival, Sat Oct 3 from 2-5pm

by Peggy Robin

Cathedral Commons welcomes families for an afternoon of fall fun, food, and festivities. Don’t miss a live performance by 123 Andrés at 2:30 p.m.! 🎶🍂

Saturday, October 3rd

2 PM - 5 PM

3701 Newark St NW Washington, DC

 

RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cathedral-commons-fall-festival-with-123-andres-tickets-1999531276875

 

Activities Include:

• Special Performance from 123 Andres at 2:30PM
• Pumpkin Decorating
• Arts & Crafts
• Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos
• Food Trucks
• Live Music
• And more!

Bring the kids and invite your friends. We can’t wait to see you there!

 

Cathedral Commons

3701 Newark St NW

https://www.cathedralcommons.com/

 

Traffic advisory from MPD 2D:

The following street will be closed to vehicle traffic on   Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:

       Newark Street from Wisconsin Avenue to Idaho Avenue, NW

The following street will be posted as Emergency No Parking on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:

       Newark Street from Wisconsin Avenue to Idaho Avenue, NW

  

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: When is a punny new business name not that funny?

by Peggy Robin

For those of us who still remember the long lines on Sunday mornings at Whatsa Bagel (popular in the 1990s and early 2000s), the news from the Popville blog is very welcome: 

“Over Doughs Bagels is going into old Captain Cookie Space. Handcraft Donuts taking over former Sakusaku. (3417 Connecticut Ave, NW)” 

Full story here: https://www.popville.com/2026/09/bagel-and-donuts-dc-cleveland-park/

I'm wondering, however, if store name-punning in this case is taking a wrong turn. "Over Doughs" is a homonym of "Overdose" -- not a fun thing for wordplay -- that's my first reaction. Am I being too stodgy? People do talk about overdosing on carbs, and I suppose they can do that without having it resound in a bad way with people who associate an overdose with a fatal or near-fatal ingestion of illegal drugs.

However, when the sound of the word "overdose" is the first thing you hear in your mind when you see the sign on a new place of business, do you make that benign association? Or do you think, "God, that's awful!"?

Just asking....

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! Sat, Sept 19 Is Woodley Park Day AND Chevy Chase Day

by Peggy Robin

You can do TWO neighborhood days in ONE day if you start at Chevy Chase, DC when the festivities start at 1 PM and then head south on Connecticut Avenue till you reach Woodley Park -- and make sure you get there with enough time to enjoy all the fun before the day ends at 5 PM. 

Here's the schedule for each:

Chevy Chase DC Day

September 19, 2026  1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Chevy Commons, 5601 Connecticut Ave., NW

Come and enjoy one of  Chevy Chase’s favorite neighborhood traditions! 

Events Schedule:

Cardio Dance with Ashley (Ashley Newman-Owens) - BB Court - 1:00 - 1:15

Tai Chi demonstration (Edward Pratt - CC Instructor) - In the Gym - 1:15 - 1:30

Ballet Elite performance (Lynne Welters) -  BB Court - 1:30 - 2:00

My Gym Bethesda Chevy Chase - exercise for kids (Mandy Lemar) - 2:00 – 2:15 pm - BB Court

Speakers in front of the library: From 2:30 - 3:15

Mayor Bowser 

Chairman Phil Mendelson 

CM Lewis George 

CM Frumin 

Introduction of At-Large Council Members:

Anita Bonds and Elissa Silverman

Infinity Martial Arts demonstration (Uriah Breunig) – BB Court - 3:10 - 3:30

The vaccine clinic will be in the CC Lobby area from 1 - 4 pm

New event! National Capital Astronomers (Guy Brandenburg). Local astronomers will safely show you the surface of the sun, using a commercial Hydrogen-alpha scope and a hand-made “Solar Funnel” on a hand-made telescope.  Join them on the grassy area on the Connecticut Avenue side of the library, from 1 – 4 p.m.

New Event! Rocking Painting. 1 - 4 pm.  The Unveiling of the Rock “bookworm” and Naming Contest Winner at 3:30.

More info: https://cccadc.org/ 

Woodley Park Day

Saturday, September 19  •  1 PM - 5 PM

2650 Woodley Road NW - The Lawn @ Arie Wardman Park

Come enjoy a great day with neighbors and friends at Woodley Park Day. Free Kid-Friendly Activities, Music, Food, and lots of Fun!

1:30 - 4:30 PM: Face painting, caricature artist, bracelet making and other crafts, balloon twisting and more - will be hosted in front of Aerie at Wardman Park.

1:30 - 4:30 PM: Michael Thomas Quintet

2 - 4 PM: Free Shave Ice!!

Plus tables featuring non-profit organizations and food from local restaurants

More info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woodley-park-day-tickets-1998117021800 

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The "Get Out!" Event(s) of the Week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Gene Weingarten's "Requiem for a Tree"

 by Peggy Robin

Some days I think about writing a column on a subject, and then I read someone else's column on the same subject and think to myself, this person's already said everything I was planning to say, and more. That's how I feel about the loss of the grand willow oak of Dupont Circle that came down in the big storm of September 3-4, 2026. It's been much in the news, and Gene Weingarten made it the subject of his Substack column The Gene Pool yesterday; you can read the whole thing here:  https://geneweingarten.substack.com/p/requiem-for-a-tree

He tells his own story of when he first saw the tree as a 19-year-old student journalist from NYU, here in DC to cover the large anti-war protests that took place over three days in May, in 1971. He leads up to his first sight of it like this:

Day One had been joyful. The Beach Boys performed.

Day Two was fitful — the camping permits for the park were revoked and people were asked to disperse and go home. Most did. Some — the angriest — did not.

Day Three was filled with fury. That was May 3, when I met the tree.

The remarkable thing about this particular tree is that so many people have strong memories of it or can tell a story that captures something about it or they can express a feeling of kinship for it or appreciate the many summers they sat under its cooling shade in Dupont Circle Park. 

Now that it's fallen, people have spontaneously come forward and decorated the tall stump with their thank-you notes and jotted-down reminiscences. People of all ages -- whether long-time locals or tourists from afar, including those who are seeing it for the first time as giant stump -- have been moved to write something and leave it behind as a token of respect or love.

Gene Weingarten's column has some photos of these notes. I hope he won't mind that I've copied a few here (he shouldn't mind, as long as I'm urging you to subscribe to his Substack column!). 

Have a memory or a thought you'd like to add? There's time, as long as the stump is still standing....

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! So much to do this weekend! Art All Night, Friday & Saturday | Adams-Morgan Day on Sunday!

 by Peggy Robin

Normally the "Get Out!" column features just one event to highlight each week. But this coming weekend We've got Art All Night happening all over town, spread out over two nights: Friday, Sept 11 and Saturday Sept 12, and then on Sunday, Sept 13th, it's Adams Morgan Day!

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 

DC Art All Night will occur from 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM the following morning on two nights. The festival takes place in all 8 wards with different activations on each night, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, literary arts, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and private spaces, including local businesses and restaurants.

Clickable List of Participating Neighborhoods: https://www.dcartallnight.org/neighborhoods-1 

Schedule of All Art All Night Events: https://events.dcartallnight.org/

Download the App and Have All the Info on Your Phone: https://www.dcartallnight.org/aan-app 

SUNDAY

The Adams Morgan Day festival is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM along 18th Street NW.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Street closures from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
Location: 18th Street NW (from Columbia Road to Kalorama Road, NW), Washington, DC
Admission: Free
Schedule of performances & activities: https://www.admoday.com/event-schedule-2023/ 

What to Expect

Music & Art: Local bands, artists, and family-friendly cultural performances.
Activities: Neighborhood booths, food vendors, and a kids' sports zone hosted by Volo City (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM).
Traffic & Parking: 18th Street NW will be closed to vehicles starting at 8:00 AM with strict towing enforcement for parked cars. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or use public transit.

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The "Get Out!" column is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Are the Sploot Days Over for 2026?

by Peggy Robin

The past few days have been weather-wild, haven't they? Not sure whether that storm was a DERECHO or not, but whatever it was, it was one for the record books.

In the aftermath, it's so humid you feel like you're walking through a wall of water instead of air.

But Capital Weather (formerly known as Capital Weather Gang), is predicting that we're now on our way to cooler, calmer weather (well, at least for the Labor Day Weekend!), and that the summer of long 90-degree spells is behind us...we think!

This is good for us, of course....and good for the squirrels, who have no air conditioning in their treetop homes. The main way they attempt to cool off is to assume the SPLOOT. What is a "sploot?" you may ask. Well, here's a good one:

And now a close-up of the squirrel's glazed-eye expression:

P.S. I follow the photographer/artist Artologica aka Michele Banks on Blue Sky, @artologica.net. Here's her self-description: 

Michele Banks Artist inspired by science Friend to squirrels https://www.etsy.com/shop/artologica/

She has one of her artworks in the Glen Echo Art Exhibit that is on now and through the Labor Day Weekend at Glen Echo Park. Here's her BlueSky post about it:

Artologica aka Michele Banks @artologica.net :

This gel electrophoresis watercolor will be in the Glen Echo Labor Day art show glenechopark.org/LDAS from September 5-7

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! DC May Not Be a State (Yet!) But We've Got a Real State Fair!

 by Peggy Robin

It may not go on for nine days, like the Montgomery County Fair, or five, like the Arlington County Fair, but at least we have ONE day...and it's a good'un!

Here are the deets:

DC STATE FAIR

Celebrating the District’s agricultural, culinary, and artistic talents.

Join us for the 17th annual DC State Fair - a free, daylong celebration of all things homegrown in the District, from urban agriculture and culinary creativity to local art and music. Enjoy live performances, local vendors, educational workshops, and 50+ contest winners - plus live competitions for best outfit, pie eating, flower arranging, chili, and mac & cheese!

📅 Sunday, September 6, 2026 |🕙 11 AM – 6 PM | Rain or shine  | Free admission

📍 Anthem Row, downtown Washington, DC (800 K St NW)

The 2026 DC State Fair is presented in partnership with the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID).

The DC State Fair is a free showcase of the District’s agricultural and creative talents and a celebration of all things homegrown. Inspired by time-honored state fair traditions - growing and gardening, contests, and delicious foods - the DC State Fair honors the things that make the District of Columbia unique.

Don’t forget to plan ahead and pack a reusable water bottle, reusable cutlery, and a shopping bag. The DC State Fair makes a concerted effort to reduce waste, and you can be part of the solution. From encouraging vendors to use compostable food service ware, to training and overseeing volunteers to staff on-site “zero waste stations,” the DC State Fair is working toward being a zero-waste event.

Performers

Headliner: SOROCHE

Elijah Jamal Balbed featuring members of The JoGo Project

Pocket Threes

Location: Anthem Row, 800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

AGENDA

11:05 AM - 11:35 AM  Pocket Threes

11:40 AM - 12:10 PM - Jump DC

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM Agriculture and Art Contest Winners Announced

12:50 PM - 01:10 PM Best Outfit Contest

01:15 PM - 01:45 PM National Hand Dance Association

01:50 PM - 02:10 PM Flower Arranging Contest

02:15 PM - 02:45 PM TBD

02:50 PM - 03:20 PM Culinary Contest Winners Announced

03:25 PM - 03:55 PM Pie Eating (Kids contest and Adults contest)

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM Talent Show performance

04:35 PM - 05:05 PM Elijah Jamal Balbed featuring members of The JoGo Project

The JoGo Project is a 2x WAMMIE Award-Winning band from Washington, DC led by Saxophonist and Multi-Instrumentalist Elijah Jamal Balbed. While a student at Howard University, Elijah received a life-changing call to perform with the Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown. For the next year, Elijah performed in Chuck’s band until the Godfather’s passing in 2012. In 2014, Elijah participated in the Strathmore Artist-in-Residence program where he debuted JoGo - a band created to bring his Jazz and Go-Go worlds together, and to help continue the legacy that Chuck left behind. Since the band’s inception 12 years ago, JoGo Project has won two WAMMIE Awards and has also been nominated for two others. In 2018, members of JoGo served on a cultural diplomacy tour in Russia. In 2019, the band released their debut holiday track featuring the legendary Sugar Bear from Experience Unlimited. Elijah and the band have been featured in two prominent books about Go-Go.

05:10 PM - 06:00 PM SOROCHE

SOROCHE incorporates traditional Colombian percussion like the tambora (the heartbeat of cumbia) along with poetic lyrics and multi-instrumental melodies, proudly wearing their cultural roots on their sleeves. SOROCHE seeks to represent the immigrant experience by transmogrifying modern and traditional sounds into a danceable alchemy that crosses cultural borders and dancefloors.

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local, usually on Thursdays, but this week, on a Wednesday.

Still Life with Robin: Thank you, Dolly, for all the books you gave us

by Peggy Robin

Adding my voice to the near-universal chorus of praise for the great lady we lost. I'm talking of course about the one and only Dolly Parton. And since the Still Life with Robin column is always supposed to be DC-related in some way or another, I have no trouble identifying what Dolly did for us here in our own little corner of Dolly's world.

I'll let our Director of the DC Public Library system Richard Reyes-Gavilan explain:

"Through the Books from Birth program she founded, Dolly Parton championed literacy across the United States and inspired families to embrace the joy of reading. For more than ten years, more than a hundred thousand of the District’s youngest residents have benefitted from this extraordinary program, which delivers one book per month to children from birth until age five. We are profoundly indebted to her—not only for her timeless music and cultural influence, but for her unwavering belief that every child deserves access to books and the opportunities they create. Meeting her remains one of the absolute thrills of my professional life. We will always love Dolly Parton."

[Posted on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social/post/3mtwkfnnbep2d]

To which I can only add, Hear, hear!

[Posted on BlueSky:  https://51st.news/dolly-parton-imagination-library-dc-kids-books/ 

Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress]

Dolly's legacy lives on -- Sign your child up for Books from Birth and get FREE books!

https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/books-birth

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local, usually on Saturdays but occasionally on a Sunday.