L OCAL LIVING
District
19 DC
d.c. council agenda
This is the meeting schedule for the D.C. Council and its committees for the coming week. All meetings are in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, unless otherwise noted. Today Government Operations and the Environment committee meeting, 2 p.m., Room 120. The agenda had not been set at press time. Friday
Human Services public oversight hearing, 11 a.m., Room 412. Agenda: The Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation 2010 Summer Program review and strategic direction update. Committee of the Whole public hearing, 2:45 p.m. Agenda: “Closing of Public Streets, Dedication of Land for Street Purposes, and Elimination of Highway Plan Encumbrances, in Abutting Squares 3655, 3656,
and 3657, S.O. 09-10589, Act of 2010,” Bill 18-0990. Tuesday Aging and Community Affairs public hearing, 11 a.m., Room 412. Agenda: “Long-Term Care Ombudsman Amendment Act of 2010,” Bill 18-1003.
For updates, call the 24-hour information line at 202-724-8554 or visit www.dccouncil.washington.
dc.us.
DR. GRIDLOCK
No reason to hoard SmarTrip cards
Dear Dr. Gridlock: I heard on the news that it
won’t be long before SmarTrip cards are phased out because the manufacturer is going to stop making them. Why couldn’t one of the companies that make credit cards take over?
Embassy Series aims to build bridges concerts from 18
“They were only inviting people who weren’t going,” he said. “And I thought, ‘We’ve got to open this to the public.’ ” The series’ first year had six concerts. Now, it averages about 24. “It was difficult at the beginning with the more exotic embassies,” Barry said. “Diplomacy is a touchy subject. We had to present our idea in such a way that they trusted us. Now, our success is based on trust.” Barry is instrumental in every step of the process. Through a partnership with each embassy, he selects musicians that are up-and-coming or popular within the culture; if they do not live in the area, he brings them to Washington and provides accommodations. “These artists are very well paid, which is vital for having truly high quality,” Barry said. “When we treat artists well, we build bridges. They go back to their country and are apostles for us. As an artist, I absolutely insist upon that.” Artists are paid from ticket sales and funds raised by Friends of the Embassy Series, a collection of individuals and corporate sponsors who have
joined the program over the years, as well as many in-kind contributions. “What’s different about the Embassy Series is you don’t just go to the parking lot after,” he said. “You dine, you exchange views; it is an international affair.” Ian Portnoy, board chairman of the Embassy Series, said Barry’s idea is truly unusual. “It combines a number of elements, only bits of which are otherwise available to the public,” Portnoy said. “It is a means by which people of different cultures can come together and try to understand each other’s customs, each other’s food; it is more than just a concert.” This season’s series began Oct. 1 with a concert at the Iraqi Cultural Center in Dupont Circle. The event, too large for the embassy or the ambassador’s residence, was the first public event held at the center since it opened in June. The performers, a folk ensemble called Safaafir, specialize in maqam, a traditional classical style of Iraqi music. “Safaafir” roughly translates to “copper smithing,” relating to the percussive hammering of the rhythms. The audience of 175 guests,
which included the Iraqi Ambassador Samir Sumaida’ie, clapped and swayed to Middle Eastern music. “For those of you who think
Iraq is just explosions and bombs, this is an opportunity to see a more permanent side of our country,” Sumaida’ie said in his address before the show. “We are a rich and vibrant culture underneath the smoke.” With particularly divisive countries such as Iraq, the series seems to provide a common ground. “These are interesting and
important countries and ambassadors,” Portnoy said, “and America’s relationship with these countries is evolving. The series is following that trend.” Tickets to series events cost $40 to $125 and include a performance, open bar and a buffet reception that echoes the artist’s culture. The reception Oct. 1 was prepared by the Iraqi Embassy chef and featured traditional Iraqi dishes. “This is a historic opening
night,” said Barry, looking out into the audience. “This is what it’s about.”
buergerm@washpost.com
For information, visit www.
embassyseries.org.
BARBARA BEAR Alexandria
DG: The transit authority has a two-year supply of the plastic cards on hand. Another traveler asked me whether I thought it was time to stock up on the $5 cards before they disappear. I don’t see any benefit to it. Metro staff members are working on the next step, and we have plenty of time. The electronic Farecard system was bound to evolve as technology changes, and there’s no reason for a run on the vending machines. The writer’s suggestion about the credit cards sounds similar to an idea that some Metro leaders, including board Chairman Peter Benjamin, have been discussing. They foresee a day when chips in credit cards will be able to handle all sorts of transportation transactions, as well as the purchase of merchandise. This would mean that the card you use to pay for gas could also be the card you use to pay for a parking meter, a train or bus ride and a drive-through toll plaza. It would be an everything card that exchanges information with nearby receiving devices. How far we are from that consumer paradise is unclear. In the meantime, many Metro riders would be happy if Metro would just let them add the
ROBERT THOMSON
value of discount passes to their SmarTrip cards.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ONLINE
6
Robert Thomson is The Washington Post’s Dr.
Gridlock. He is online Mondays at noon to take all of your transit questions. For up-to-the-minute traffic reports from The Post’s transportation team, go to
www.washingtonpost.com/ drgridlock.
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PRINT
Dr. Gridlock appears Thursdays in Local Living and Sundays in the Metro section. Send e-mails for publication to:
drgridlock@washpost.com or write to: Dr. Gridlock, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 Please include your name, community and telephone numbers.
briefs from 18
Police offer training for neighborhood watch D.C. police have scheduled a neighborhood watch training day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Maurice T. Turner Jr. Police Academy, 4665 Blue Plains Dr. SW. Free invisible ink pens will be distributed for labeling personal property. To attend or for information, call
202-727-8809 or e-mail
yvonne.smith@
dc.gov.
Agency to host free financial planning day The D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking has scheduled a Financial Planning Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus in Bell Multicultural High School, 3101 16th St. NW. There will be 50-minute
educational workshops. In addition, certified financial planners will offer free, one-on-one counseling on such topics as general financial planning; specialized retirement, estate and
insurance planning; income tax; employee benefits and job loss or change. Planners will not pass out business cards or sell services. For information, call
877-861-7826 or go to
www.financial
planningdays.org/dc.
D.C. committee to discuss health-care reform
The D.C. Health Reform Implementation Committee has scheduled a public meeting about federal health-care reform from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in Room
A-5 of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. The committee will provide updates and answer questions. To attend, contact Lucy Drafton-Lowery at 202-442-7775 or
lucy.drafton-lowery@dc.gov.
Volunteers sought to screen international scholarships
The American Councils for International Education are seeking volunteers to help screen scholarship applications for students from the nations of the
former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Poland, Serbia and other countries. Students will spend one year living with a family here and attend a U.S. high school. The evaluations will be at ACIE
office, 1828 L St. NW, from November to March. Training will be provided. For information, e-mail
mtimmens@americancouncils.org or call 202-833-7522. — Compiled by Terence McArdle and Akeya Dickson
THE WASHINGTON POST • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010
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