Friday, June 13, 2025

Still Life with Robin: Bunnies and Turkeys and Bears, Oh My!

 by Peggy Robin


Ever since I opened up the PHOTOS section of the Cleveland Park Listserv, I've been looking for list members' photos to fill up the pages of the various albums I've created.

My first stab at turning the Listserv in a photo-palooza was with the Spring Flowers album: I posted quite a few there, and started a very lively discussion link about the real ID of The White Flower (see discussion thread accessible from Message #224861)

Today, the photo album that's waiting for your best pix is called Wildlife In & Around Cleveland Park (and other places). This time there's no need for any detective work as was the case with flowers: not so hard to tell a bunny from a bear or a turkey from a chicken. Well, you may have some trouble telling an alpaca from a llama -- but if you encounter a cute, soft-furred animal at the Kids Farm at the National Zoo, you can bet it's an alpaca. (Click on photo #8 below, cf. llama.)

Because of the Listserv's limits on the display of photos in a single message (that's four, if you want to know, and the max size of all photos combined must be under 500kb, JPG format ONLY), I have picked out just four photos to display below. But keep scrolling down, and you can click on the photo links to see another eight.

Bunny in the garden by Barbara on Upton

Franklin the Brookland Bear [photo from Twitter 6 9 2023]

Big Toms in Westchester County, NY by Jerry Garfinkel
Frolicking baby alpacas at the Kids Farm, Photo by Smithsonian National Zoo

That's not all, folks! 
  1. Fox in the snow Photo by Sally H. NoVa 
  2. Opossum on the roof Photo by Elizabeth Loeb
  3. Snake on the trail in Rock Creek Park May 31, 2025. Photo by Peggy Robin
  4. Chicken feathers, extreme closeup, Ever After Farm, May 31 2025 Photo by Peggy Robin
  5. Stag Photo by Thomas H. Mann 
  6. Alpacas at Feeding Time, Ever After Farm, Warrenton, VA. Photo by Karen Adler
  7. Alpaca, closeup of a sweet face Photo by Karen Adler
  8. Llama and pig at Hidden Valley Farm Camp, This photo and more by Hidden Valley Camp
(OK. so not all are of wildlife -- there are some domesticated animals in the mix. Didn't want to create yet another album for the tame or semi-tame!

Feel free to upload your own photos. Here are the upload instructions:
  1. Go to the PHOTOS section of the CP Listserv. 
  2. Click on the album you would like to add your photos to - for example: Wildlife In & Around Cleveland Park (and Elsewhere)
  3. Look for the green +Add Photos button and click on it.
  4. You will see an option to "Drag image here" or "browse," allowing you to choose how you would like to locate your photos on your computer and add them to the album. 
  5. Pull up each photo you want to add to the album, and write a description in the "description" box. Helpful details for the description box include: your name, photo location, date taken, a caption, and any other info you want list members to have.
  6. Click Add. 

Happy [photo] hunting!
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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 11:59 PM 0 comments

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Get Out! Celebrate Juneteenth at the Anacostia Community Museum....While You Still Can

 by Peggy Robin


There are many good options for those who want to celebrate the Juneteenth federal holiday in the regions -- and Washingtonian Magazine has a good roundup of them - available here:

Of the nine great events included in the article, the one I want to pitch to you is happening at perhaps the least known of the Smithsonian's many museums -- and it's a hidden gem. But an endangered one (more on that at the end of this column).

It's the Juneteenth celebration at the Anacostia Community Museum. Here's what's happening for the holiday:

When     Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10 AM – 5 PM
Venue    Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE
Cost        Free



Join us as we honor Juneteenth with a day full of culture, community, and celebration! From engaging workshops to powerful performances, this event is a tribute to resilience, creativity, and heritage.

🌿 Morning Yoga & Urban Gardening (10 AM - 12 PM)  Start the day with a Morning Yoga by Grounded, followed by an Urban Gardening Workshop that explores the deep-rooted agricultural traditions of African American culture. Participants will:

✅ Discover the historical significance of canning and root cellars
✅ Learn how to plant now for a fall and winter harvest
✅ Get expert tips on container gardening and winter storage
✅ Explore multi-planting techniques for a bountiful harvest
✅ Take home a Root Vegetable Grow Bag and witness a fresh pickle-making demo

Both morning workshops will have limited giveaways! First come, first serve.

🎶 Main Stage Performances (Starting at 12 PM)

The stage comes alive at 12pm, Hosted by BeMo Brown and vibes all day by Miss HER. The incredible lineup of artists and performers:

🎧 DJ Set – Miss HER
🎤 Spoken Word by Teen Poet Lemonade Dream
🎶 Pinky tha Rapper – High-energy lyrical storytelling
🎸 Joi Carter & Band – Soulful melodies and live music
🔥 Black Alley Band (Headliner) – A dynamic fusion of funk, rock, and go-go
🎨 Community Art & Cultural Activities
🖌️ Interactive Mural – Curated by local artist Brian Bailey
💃🏾 Double Dutch – A classic community favorite
🍽️ Local Food Trucks – Enjoy delicious bites throughout the day

Come together with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate freedom, culture, and community. This is a FREE event open to all!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sadly, 2025 may be the last year under the present administration that the Anacostia Community Museum can remain open. It is under threat being defunded. Here's an article that explains the threat: 

What Could Trump’s Proposed Smithsonian Cuts Mean for Two DC Museums? The White House's budget would pull all government funding from the Anacostia Community Museum and the planned National Museum of the American Latino.
Written by Kate Corliss 
Published on June 2, 2025

Go while you still can and show your support for this small jewel in the Smithsonian's crown!
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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.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 10:40 PM 0 comments

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Still Life with Robin: "Trivia" and Truth from Ken Jennings

 by Peggy Robin

Today, I take a break from my usual Saturday ramblings about quirky little local things -- what you might dismiss as trivia -- to give over this space to the most celebrated master of trivia, Jeopardy host and G.O.A.T.  Ken Jennings. What follows ia a link + partial reprint of his op-ed column in the New York Times, posted online Thursday, June 5, 2025, in which Ken talks about the Meaning of Trivia, the Nature of Truth, and This Political Moment in America.

And all this time we thought he was just a nerdy-smart quiz kid!

It starts like this:

NY Times Opinion: Guest Essay
Ken Jennings: Trivia and ‘Jeopardy!’ Could Save Our Republic
June 5, 2025

By Ken Jennings

When I first stepped behind the host lectern on the quiz show “Jeopardy!,” I was intimidated for two reasons. Most obviously, I had the hopeless task of filling the very large shoes of Alex Trebek, the legendary broadcaster and pitch-perfect host who’d been synonymous with the show since 1984.

But I was also keenly aware that the show was one of TV’s great institutions, almost a public trust. Since I was 10 years old, I’d watched Alex Trebek carve out a safe space for people to know things, where viewers get a steady diet of 61 accurate (and hopefully even interesting) facts every game. And I wondered: Even if “Jeopardy!” could survive the loss in 2020 of its peerless host, could it survive the conspiracy theories and fake news of our post-fact era?

Facts may seem faintly old-timey in the 21st century, remnants of the rote learning style that went out of fashion in classrooms (and that the internet search made obsolete) decades ago. But societies are built on facts, as we can see more clearly when institutions built on knowledge teeter. Inaccurate facts make for less informed decisions. Less informed decisions make for bad policy. Garbage in, garbage out.

I’ve always hated the fact that “trivia,” really our only word in English for general-knowledge facts and games, is the same word we use to mean “things of no importance.” So unfair! Etymologically, the word is linked to the trivium of medieval universities, the three fundamental courses of grammar, rhetoric and logic. And much of today’s so-called trivia still deals with subjects that are fundamentally academic. [Continue reading the full opinion piece at this link]
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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 9:50 PM 0 comments

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Get Out! It's CLEVELAND PARK DAY ON SUNDAY, JUNE 8 from 12-5 PM

 by Peggy Robin

Cleveland Park Day returns Sunday June 8th, 2025 to bring some joy and connection with the Cleveland Park community this summer. With many of the fun traditions you remember from last year, including live music from some great bands.

Here's the music schedule:

SmithJackson Band 
Tennessee Frisky 
School of Rock House Band

And a surprise guest, Dominique Hall (Miss America DC) will be performing her violin solo around 1:30/2pm in the music tent outside of CVS/3321 Bistro. 

We'll also have performances from local groups, a curry cook-off of local restaurants, and of course, the pet fashion show!

Let’s come together during these uncertain times and celebrate what makes our community unique. 💛

Cassandra Hetherington
Cleveland Park  Main Street Director

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This weekend, June 7 & 8, is the most event-packed of all the weeks in DC's month-long celebration of World Pride 2025. Too many events to list here! Fortunately, there's a comprehensive website with all the information you need in one place: https://worldpridedc.org/  Click on the Events tab for attendance info and tips on getting the most out of each event. The main event, the Pride Parade, is on Saturday, June 7, starting at 2pm at 14th & T and ends at 9th and Pennsylvania Ave.


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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.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 10:26 PM 0 comments

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Still Life with Robin: What's Sauce for the Greek Is Sauce for the Brit

 by Peggy Robin

 
If you watched the new Gordon Ramsay show Secret Service (first aired May 22, 2025 on Fox), you'll know that the celebrity chef-British restaurateur-kitchen tyrant-cum-food-critic TV star recently hosted an episode in which he took on The Parthenon, a beloved neighborhood fixture of Greek cuisine in Chevy Chase, found it seriously wanting (synonym: disgusting) -- and ordered a complete makeover.

The Ramsay-approved version is now open for business, and at least one list member has dined there ... and was not terribly impressed (see Message  #225698).
 
Washingtontonian Magazine has now done its own version of a "secret service" undercover look ....turning the tables to check up on three Gordon Ramsay owned-and-operated restaurants in DC.
 
Here's the executive summary:
 
Hell's Kitchen: DC Dept of Health inspection in April 2025 uncovered 11 violations
Street Pizza: DC Dept of Health inspection in February 2025 found 2 violations, including improper food storage
Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips: DC Dept of Health inspection in September 2024 found 1 violation, improperly stored wiping cloths
 
Note: All violations were corrected within the allotted time.
 
But don't go by my little scorecard; read the whole article.
 
Want to check things out for yourself IRL?

Make reservations here:
Fish & Chips: "Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips is a fast-casual restaurant, so we don't accept bookings or reservations."
 
Not grossed out by the thought of rats in restaurants? Stay home, dine in, and watch Ratatouille!
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Still Life with Robin in posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 3:14 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Get Out! Stand Up for fREADom to Read - May 31 at 5pm at MLK Library

by Peggy Robin 

FREADOM Town Hall Rally

Saturday, May 31
5:00pm - 7:00pm


Authors, Educators, Parents, and Artists including Kwame Alexander, Ibram X. Kendi, Jason Reynolds, will gather to stand-up for creative expression, access to all books, and the freedom to learn.

HEY. C’MON. COME OUT. WHEREVER YOU ARE. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS MEETING… Authors, Educators, Parents, and Artists including Kwame Alexander, Ibram X. Kendi, Amanda Jones, Meg Medina, Jason Reynolds, and more will gather at a Town Hall Rally to stand up for creative expression, access to all books, and the freedom to learn. 

There has never been a more important time to peacefully organize, mobilize, and continue to fight against actions and policies that will have a real and lasting harm on students, libraries, schools, and our democracy. As Robert Frost wrote, Freedom lies in being bold. Let us be bold and lift our voices…Together. 

This event is part of the Zinn Education Project's Teach Truth Day of Action  and will also be streamed live on DC Public Library's YouTube Channel.

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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.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 10:29 PM 0 comments

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Still Life with Robin: Look to the Heavens

 by Peggy Robin


Whatever is going wrong in your life, in the city, in the country, or in the world, we will always have the beauty and the wonder of the night sky to behold.

If you were up in the wee hours of the morning, you may have witnessed a lovely astonomical event, Moon Meets the Morning Star." 

🌙✨ May 24 – Moon Meets the 'Morning Star'
On this special morning, the crescent Moon will align beautifully with Venus, often called the Morning Star. This celestial pairing will be visible just before sunrise—don't miss the chance to witness this tranquil and rare sight in the early dawn sky.
🦊🌌 A perfect moment for early risers, skywatchers, and nature lovers


Missed it? Then mark your calendars for the Full Strawberry Moon on June 11.

Strawberry Moon 2025: When and How to See June's Sweetest Full Moon
Get ready for a celestial treat as the Full Strawberry Moon lights up the night sky on June 11, 2025. Learn why it's called the Strawberry Moon, the best viewing times, and what makes this lunar event so special. Mark your calendars—on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Full Strawberry Moon will reach peak illumination..

June 21 is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year (in hours of sunlight). For a good primer on the summer solstice, go to: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-june-solstice/

August 12 gives you TWO good reasons to skywatch:

1. It's the time to lie out in a meadow and make wishes on the falling stars in the Perseid Meteor Shower. "The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. The shower is active from mid-July until late August and will peak on the night of Aug. 12, before dawn on Aug. 13, 2025.  Viewers should start observing around 11 p.m. local time when the rates of shooting stars increase and can watch the sky until dawn. Unfortunately, the peak occurs just three days after a full moon, so moonlight may wash out fainter meteors.: Source: https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html

2. You can see Jupiter and Venus together, without a telescope:  "...[T]he pair will...share the same right ascension – called a conjunction.They will be a little too widely separated to fit comfortably within the field of view of a telescope, but will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars." Source: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250812_15_100

September 7: Total Lunar Eclipse of the Full Corn Moon 
On the night of Sept. 7-8, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will be visible from Earth. Asia and western Australia will be in the prime positions, offering views of the entire total lunar eclipse. Glimpses of some phases will also be possible from Europe, Africa, eastern Australia and New Zealand.

This event will not be observable from the Americas.

Lunar eclipses happen when Earth is between the sun and a full moon. During the event, the moon moves through Earth's umbra, the dark center of its shadow.


Can't jump on a plane to Perth in September to get the best view of the full lunar eclipse? You don't have to miss it -- you can watch it live-streaming on the Time & Date YouTube channel.



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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 12:23 PM 1 comments

Friday, May 23, 2025

Get Out! And Get 300+ Views of DC at the Exposed DC Photography Collection at the MLK Library, Sat, 5/24, 10:am-5:30pm

by Peggy Robin

Photos in the Exposed DC Photography Collection taken by Ben Crosbie, Marcos Huerta, 
Carol Jean Stalun, Joseph Gruber, and Richard Barnhill

Join us for an all-day celebration on the day we launch the Exposed DC Photography Collection at the DC Public Library! This celebration of local photography will showcase more than 300 stunning images throughout the day on the MLK Library 5th floor and its incredible rooftop garden.


Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 10am - 5:30pm
Reception from 5:30pm - 9pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 5th floor & Rooftop Garden 
901 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

10am – Celebration begins. Join us on the 5th floor for ongoing and special activities through the day. 
All day – Projections and displays of the Exposed DC Photography Collection, including:
An ongoing site-specific projection installation by D.C. multimedia artist Robin Bell, with special live remix performances at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. transforming archival images into a dynamic visual experience.
All day – Make your own Artist File. Photographers and other artists are invited to bring items to create an Artist File at the DC Public Library. This is a way to preserve your history and help future researchers learn about our region’s art scene. You can donate exhibition postcards, artist CVs, brochures and catalogs, correspondence, and other ephemera.
11 a.m. – Workshop – Care of Digital Files. Join The People’s Archive staff for an overview of how to care for your digital files. Learn simple strategies for organizing, storing, and extending the life of your digital files. Meet on the 5th floor. (1 hour)
1 p.m. – Guided tour of Memory Lab. Join The People’s Archive staff for a tour of the Memory Lab at The Labs. Learn about resources available for personal archiving of documents, home movies, and photographs. Meet on the 5th floor. (30 minutes)
2 p.m. – Robin Bell – Live Remix. Watch a dynamic presentation of the Exposed DC Photography Collection and other cultural images. (30 minutes)
3 p.m. – Guided tour of People’s Archive. Join The People’s Archive staff for a special tour of The People’s Archive. View treasures from the collection and learn more about services and resources available in the DC Public Library’s local history department. Meet on the 5th floor. (45 minutes)
5:30 – 9 p.m. – Evening Reception. Join us on the 5th floor and the rooftop garden to celebrate two decades of photography featured in the Exposed DC Photography Collection.

Free but registration required (donation suggested), as capacity of the space is limited. 
  • 6 p.m. Robin Bell performs a live remix of Exposed DC images (30 minutes)
  • 7 p.m. Champagne toast (15 minutes)
  • 7:15 p.m. Robin Bell performs his final live remix of the evening.
  • Music by DJ Sequoia and v:shal
  • Registered attendees receive one drink ticket with more available for donation on site. Non-alcoholic beverages and limited snacks included. 
The collection is also available at https://digdc.dclibrary.org 

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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, it was delayed until Friday 
Posted by Peggy Robin at 2:08 PM 2 comments

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Still Life with Robin: One more for the Murphy's Law & Corollaries Compendium

 by Peggy Robin


A few days ago -- on the coldest day in May* -- I had my spring A/C checkup (twice yearly, part of my annual HVAC service contract). I had to drop the thermostat down to 64°F to get the AC to kick on. Fortunately, the system checked out OK and so the tech guy only had to run it for 20 minutes or so.

The exact opposite thing happened last fall. The AC tech guy came out on the hottest day in October and had to turn on the heat. 

It seems to me this has been the situation, fall and spring, for at least the last five years. I'm prepared to declare there's a Murphy's Law Corollary at work here: "The day you schedule your fall heating check will turn out to be the hottest day of the month while the day you schedule your spring AC check will turn out to be the coldest day of the month." 

Call it Robin's Law of Inverse HVAC System Checks

Not quite as memorable and concise as the many other observations in the Murphy's Law canon, but still admissible on the merits, I'd say.

Now for trivia buffs who may be interested, here's the history of the original Murphy's Law (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong):

Interested in the corollaries and variations? You may spend more time perusing these lists than the number of chuckles elicited (another possible Murphy's Law corollary?), but be my guest:


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* That would be Friday, May 9, when it was 51°F in the wee hours of the morning and 61°F when the AC tech showed up around 10am
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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 1:34 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Get Out 2 Ways! Sat, May 17: Stay in the Neighborhood for the Rosedale Field Day or Go to the River for the Anacostia River Festival

 by Peggy Robin


Want an event close to home? Want the kiddies to have some fun and exericse? Then it's the Rosedale Field Day for you!

Field Day for kids at the Rosedale Conservancy
May 17 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Bring the kids for an afternoon of fun at Field Day!

We are so excited to host a Field Day again (the last one was pre-pandemic). Sack races, relays, bubbles, tug-o-war, limbo, hula hoops and lots of fun. If it’s warm, water will probably be involved.

Suitable for ages 5-13. Parents of younger ones need to stay on site.




This event is free but has a limited number of participants and pre-registration is required, use this form.

Led by Raoul Johnson of Ultimate Fun & Games. Not sure what to expect? Click here for pictures of the previous field day»

No pets please.

Questions? events@rosedaleconservancy.org [events @ rosedaleconservancy dot org]

Rosedale Conservancy
35th & Newark Streets NW
Washington DC 20016

~~~~~~~~~
Saturday: The Anacostia River Festival at Anacostia Park

The National Park Service and Building Bridges Community Organization invite you to join us for the 11th Annual Anacostia River Festival!

Saturday, May 17, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

FREE!

Celebrate community, culture and connection with us at Anacostia Park! Enjoy live music, interactive activities and a marketplace. Bring your family and friends for a day filled with fun and discovery!

Don’t miss out on this wonderful celebration! Be sure to visit bridgepark.org/arf for more info!



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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.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 2:01 PM 0 comments

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Still Life with Robin: Federal employees, here's your chance to defend your work, your rights....and sound government for us ALL

 by Peggy Robin

Today's column is addressed to current and former federal employees. If you're reading this and you are not one of them, by all means pass along this information to friends and family who fit the category. Also, this column is not by me -- it's not even from a Cleveland Park Listserv member; it's by Linda McIntyre, a member of the Chevy Chase Community Listserv, and it is reproduced here with the author's permission (well, more like her enthusiastic encouragement. She writes: "Yes, please do [send out this message]! I'm trying to share this as widely as possible...."

Do you work in the Federal government, or know people who do (or did)? Are you worried about what's happening to the historically stable, nonpartisan career civil service?  Here's an opportunity to take constructive action by taking a few minutes to comment on a proposed rule that would significantly change the nature of that institution.
 
From a good governance newsletter I subscribe to:
 

Why should you do this?

  • The proposed rule seeks to reinstate Schedule F, the administration’s never implemented plan to institutionalize political control and loyalty tests for the career bureaucracy by turning 50,000 or more career civil servants into political appointees.

  • Federal comments really do matter. By law, they must be read by the administration, and substantive comments require a response. Failure to do so can see the rule tossed out by courts.

  • It’s easy: Enter a comment here. No log in. Just click on the “submit a public comment” button. You can enter text, or upload a document.

  • The volume of opposing comments matters, so writing something short and sweet is great. You don’t need to read the rule in depth or be an expert. The proposed rule is bad and protecting nonpartisan civil servants is good. See more details below or take a look at the comments people have already posted.

  • More detailed and informed comments are even better. One thing that is different from the first time Schedule F was introduced is that we now have a track record showing how the much more politicized mismanagement of the federal government is having negative effects, and handing over more power would be a disaster. I am especially appealing to people with deep knowledge of policies and management to explain how Schedule F would hurt their domain of expertise. Please, please, please weigh in to provide actual information about how providing protections for career officials will protect against political abuses. If a bunch of people with real and credible experience comment, it becomes harder for the administration and judges to ignore us.

 
The deadline is May 23rd.

Source: Dan Moynihan's Substack article June 20, 2024: 
The Public Opposes Trump's Plans to Politicize Public Services 
And John Oliver provides a Project 2025 explainer for you to share
 

Linda McIntyre
Linda.McIntyre@gmail.com [Linda.McIntyre @ gmail dot com]
Devonshire Place NW
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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.
Posted by Peggy Robin at 6:37 PM 0 comments
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