District Fray Magazine
Culture House Presents “Tiny Pricks” + “Pleasure’s Promise”
It’s time to bring a little bit of culture back into your life. Culture House, a D.C. staple for art enthusiasts, has reopened after many months with two safe and socially distanced exhibits: “Tiny Pricks” and “Pleasure’s Promise.” ...
Writing Samples
Here are links to my published journalistic writing, ranging from investigative articles to life and style pieces. Journalism is an increasingly important medium, and I am passionate about contributing to it.
District Fray Magazine
Looking Back at Culture House's “Death and Donuts” Exhibit
Just down the road from The Wharf and Navy Yard stands a bold fixture devoted to art: Culture House. The building, a repurposed historic church, is covered in vibrant paintings both inside and out. The space houses rotating exhibits, concerts and events. In March, Culture House’s first sculpture exhibition, “Death and Donuts,” was cut short…
District Fray Magazine
D.C. Artists Promote Universal Mask Wearing
At the beginning of 2020, no one would have guessed the world would be battling a pandemic. Without a vaccine or a clear cure to Covid-19, we are left with few tools in our arsenal for defense. One of the most effective tools we have to protect ourselves or others from the virus are masks…
District Fray Magazine
New Pup-Friendly Locales in the DMV
What’s better than spending your quarantine hanging out with your dog at home? Easy: hanging out with your dog at the bar. One of the silver linings of 2020 is new dog bars opening in the DMV dedicated to bringing you and your pooch out on the town. Brewski’s Barkhaus, located in Alexandria, claims to…
District Fray Magazine
Treat Yourself to a Glamping Adventure
For the better part of the year, Washingtonians have been sitting in front of their laptops with sweats on. We all need a vacation to destress and unwind from the chaos that is 2020, but the pandemic brings any plans of getting out to a halt. Luckily, you don’t have to stray far from the…
District Fray Magazine
Bingo + Beer Come Together at Barrel & Bushel
Bingo is D.C.’s favorite new bar game, and for good reason. The team at Tysons Corner Center have teamed up with multiple local businesses, including Barrel & Bushel and DC Fray, to bring socially distanced fun to your calendar. This month features weekly bingo nights on the The Plaza, featuring local beers on tap to…
District Fray Magazine
Oktoberfest Comes to the Boro
In honor of Oktoberfest, The Boro is bringing Deutschland to Virginia this weekend. Revel in craft beer and enjoy the company of your friends and family at The Boro’s Oktoberfest celebrations on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10. The Boro has even teamed up with URBNmarket to bring great local vendors to the festivities,…
District Fray Magazine
Fall for Rosslyn Cinema
Outdoor movies have always been a fun and unique way to enjoy a night out, but with current safety precautions in place, they have become the hot ticket to get outside of your home. Rosslyn Cinema, hosted by Rosslyn BID, has hosted summer outdoor screenings for multiple years before the pandemic hit. Now, with most…
District Fray Magazine
Clark Construction Talks Company Engagement During Pandemic
We are all continuously adapting to the ever-changing landscape that 2020 has provides us. Businesses in particular have had to adjust how they approach their everyday tasks. Something as seemingly simple as employee engagement is now a Zoom-sponsored struggle. Clark Construction‘s corporate services manager, Johanna Hsu, has grappled with the task of keeping the team…
District Fray Magazine
Please Bring Chips Stays Ahead of the Pandemic, One Virtual Drink at a Time
Chad Drummond, founder of Please Bring Chips, is staying relatively positive despite everything this year has thrown at him and his team. The events world is at a standstill until Covid-19 is under control, so Please Bring Chips had to find a new way to connect with Washingtonians and continue serving up great drinks. Now,…
District Fray Magazine
Ballston Quarter Brings Back Bingo, From a Distance
Ballston Quarter and DC Fray and teaming up to bring you the best of socially distant activities in D.C. Starting September 16, you can get out of the house for a night of CDC-approved bingo. This free event series offers insight into what events in the District will look as we continue to battle Covid-19…
District Fray Magazine
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Boozy Ice Cream
Yes, you read that headline right. Your two favorite vices, ice cream and alcohol, have been combined to make the best boozy cocktails in D.C. The mastermind behind this delicious concoction is none other than Victoria Lai, owner and self-described “icecreampreneur” of Ice Cream Jubilee. “Most of my best ideas come from taking two things…
District Fray Magazine
Lace Up: A Boxing Guide for Beginners
Though the art of boxing may seem intimidating at the outset, with some hard work and a good instructor it can be less challenging than it appears. More and more boxing clubs and gyms are popping up around the District, making getting started easier than ever. Whether you’re interested in boxing for fun, finding a…
District Fray Magazine
Local Wine Trail
In case you needed an excuse to drink more wine, join us on District Fray’s social distancing-approved wine trail. We’ve rounded up five wineries in the DMV that will appeal to all sorts of wine appreciators. Each review of the selected wineries serves to give readers an overview of why we think you should go…
District Fray Magazine
Summer Restaurant Week Returns With To-Go Options
Due to the wide spread of Covid-19, the future of many D.C. restaurants have become uncertain. August is already a slow month regularly, and when you combine that with a pandemic, it seems to spell doom for many restaurateurs. The annual Summer Restaurant Week, put on by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), is…
District Fray Magazine
Washington Chorus Artistic Director Eugene Rogers Talks New Season
The Washington Chorus (TWC) welcomed Dr. Eugene Rogers as their fifth artistic director last month. The Grammy Award-winner is beginning his tenure in a tumultuous time, but he is taking the challenges presented in stride and thinking outside the box to continue TWC’s history of excellence. Rogers took the time to speak with District Fray…
District Fray Magazine
Sunny Miller Talks Community, Connection + Sweat
Sunny Miller is a woman on a nonstop journey to the top. Six years ago, Miller moved from New York City to D.C., transitioning from the hospitality business to fitness. And like many of us this year, Miller found herself unable to go to work due to the pandemic. But, instead of waiting for things…
District Fray Magazine
ANXO Cidery + Heurich House Museum Collaborate on Prohibition-Era Cider
On the centennial anniversary of the start of Prohibition in the U.S., the Heurich House Museum and ANXO Cidery released a collaborative cider celebrating Christian Heurich’s accidental creation of the Liberty Apple Champagne. Heurich House, also called the Brewmaster’s Castle, is known for its lagers and beer garden. Their history with cider is not well-known,…
District Fray Magazine
D.C. Craft Brewers Sankofa + Soul Mega on Community, Beer + Business
The American craft beer industry is full of great small brewers all over the U.S. For someone outside of the beer world, it may seem impossible to stand out from the crowd when there are so many brewers vying for the attention of the consumer. But those entrenched in the world of craft beer know…
District Fray Magazine
Eaton House Prepares to Welcome Back Their Community
Eaton House, a cultural centerpiece in D.C., is ready to welcome back Washingtonians. These past few months apart have been defined by the pandemic and protests for societal reform, and Eaton House was there for every part. Between organizing food distribution for the community and using their platform to educate the District on ways to…
District Fray Magazine
Washington Project for the Arts Takes Annual Benefit Auction Online
The Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) has supported artists for 45 years through advocacy, dialogue and collaborating on artist-driven work. The nonprofit organization has been able to fund their projects and programs with donations from community members, and is committed to continue championing artists even in these tough times. In response to the pandemic,…
District Fray Magazine
Songbyrd Gives Artist Makeover to Barriers
Songbyrd is beautifying Adams Morgan one barrier at a time. Since restaurants and retail stores have begun reopening, efforts have been made to allow for expanded outdoor spaces. In Adams Morgan, this resulted in the “Streatery,” or the main drag of 18th Street NW temporarily blocked vehicular traffic to allow a safe pedestrian and outdoor…
District Fray Magazine
Sportrock Director Talks Community + Reopening
Many of who have been sedentary for way too long due to necessary restrictions on places hosting large crowds are itching to get back to the physical activities we love as gyms and fitness facilities reopen, but safety precautions must still be complied with. To get a feel for how local gyms are approaching their…
District Fray Magazine
Augi Water Founders Talk Fashion, Hydration + Inclusion
At only 20 years old, Augustine Amoakohene and Daniel Green are single-handedly running the high-quality, eco-friendly alkaline water company Augi Water based in Alexandria. Though these entrepreneurs may be young, they are ready to take the world by storm and change the way we all drink water. District Fray spoke with Amoakohene and Green, who…
District Fray Magazine
Green Spaces: A Breath of Fresh Air in D.C.
Living and working in a bustling city can create a sense of disconnect with the natural world, especially when you’re stuck inside working on your computer all day. Luckily, that feeling of longing for the sun, grass and sky as you stare out onto the world from your window can be solved. The District is…
District Fray Magazine
Cutting Off Your Locks: A Guide to DIY Haircuts
Chances are, you haven’t been to the hair salon since everything got shut down in March. If you have made it to the barber’s chair, you’re braver than I am and this guide is not for you. This is a guide for anyone and everyone who is ready to take a pair of scissors and…
District Fray Magazine
Strathmore Unveils 2020 and 2021 Projects
Strathmore has been teaching and presenting accessible and affordable visual and performing arts to DMV residents since 1981. Whether you’ve caught a show at their state of the art Music Center, joined their Live from the Living Room virtual concerts, taken a class or toured the Mansion, chances are you’ve interacted with this area mainstay…
District Fray Magazine
Washington Performing Arts Announces Online 2021 Season
Washington Performing Arts (WPA) has engaged with Washingtonians for over half a century at venues in the city ranging from classic concert halls to public parks. Now, the organization prepares to take on their most intimate venue yet: your home. In light of the obstacles Covid-19 presents to performing arts organizations, the WPA team knew…
District Fray Magazine
Olympic Athlete Alycia Washington on Staying Active During the Quarantine
Though the 2020 Olympics have been pushed back to next year, Olympic athletes are still training and gearing up to play again when able. Team contact sports, in particular, are hit by the regulations in place to prevent the spread of disease as they cannot be played as usual without getting close to other players…
District Fray Magazine
In Other Words: City Kids Program Director Monique Dailey
Talk to D.C. native Monique Dailey for an hour, and you’ll find that she has endless stories to tell. She’s led a life chock-full of experiences, from volunteering with the Peace Corps to living in the Philippines. Now, she provides opportunities for D.C. youth to explore the outdoors through nonprofit City Kids Wilderness Project. She…
District Fray Magazine
Local Sommeliers Band Together During Crisis
On May 19, the United Sommeliers Foundation announced its launch after its founding on April 8. The charitable organization was created in response to the financial crisis faced by sommeliers around the country during the current pandemic. “We exist because sommeliers are often the first to be laid off and the last to be hired…
District Fray Magazine
Outdoor Etiquette: How to Safely Stay Active
By now, we’ve all learned that Covid-19 has hindered some of our favorite ways to play, including the closure of gyms, postponement of professional sports seasons and cancellation of club sports games. Active Washingtonians are itching to get back to their fitness routines, and as restrictions begin to loosen, there seems to be a light…
District Fray Magazine
Occasions Caterers’ Mobile Markets Provide Sustenance to the City
Although D.C. is slowly opening back up, many residents are still cautious when it comes to entering crowded areas, such as storefronts, due to the pandemic. Those who do brave busy supermarkets are often met with long lines and low-stocked shelves. Businesses in the area have noticed, and some are stepping up to help Washingtonians…
District Fray Magazine
National Geographic Offers Online Resources for Anyone and Everyone
The National Geographic Society has brought armchair explorers to the furthest reaches of the globe since its formation in 1888. Whether you read the magazine, enjoy the TV specials or frequent the museum here in D.C., there is no doubt you have learned something from National Geographic. As we all continue to hunker down in…
District Fray Magazine
Wheeling Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 90th Anniversary With Virtual Concert, Fundraiser
The small town of Wheeling, West Virginia is celebrating a huge birthday this month, as the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra turns 90. For nine decades, the orchestra has inspired patrons with engaging and innovative performances. Though the final in-person concert celebrating this feat was canceled due to current circumstances, Wheeling Symphony plans on commemorating the anniversary…
District Fray Magazine
Love and Carrots Continues to Teach Love of Agriculture
When Meredith Sheperd founded Love and Carrots in 2011, she hoped to spread a passion for growing fresh food through education and garden installations in the D.C. area. From working with businesses and restaurants to schools and individuals, Love and Carrots has made a name for itself in the District as an innovative business. Now,…
District Fray Magazine
Game-Changing Laws Shake Up the Drink Industry
The beverage world is changing, for better or worse. This is clear from the swift introduction of legislation permitting the delivery and takeaway of cocktails from bars in D.C., Maryland and Virginia with the sale of food items. Wineries, craft breweries and cideries in the DMV can now ship their alcohol across state lines. Businesses…
District Fray Magazine
Eric Lee Reflects on Life and Photography in Quarantine
In the new state of our world, everyone is being forced to reconcile their work life with their personal life as the two spaces converge. Add the workload of earning a graduate degree in photojournalism to this balancing act, and you get Eric Lee. Lee is a D.C.-based freelance photographer set to graduate with an…
District Fray Magazine
Margaritas and Makeshift Bars: Virtual Happy Hour With Cantina Bambina
Once upon a time, District residents could make their way down to The Wharf for a margarita or two at crowd favorite Cantina Bambina. Sunny spring and summer days begged for a drink at their open-air bar overlooking the water. But, with the state of the world today, it seems these trips have to be…
District Fray Magazine
Make an Impact with Giving Tuesday Now
If you’re reading the headline of this article and are now concerned that you’ve really lost track of time during this quarantine, don’t worry. Giving Tuesday is occurring twice this year: May 5 and December 1. Giving Tuesday has always aimed to transform communities through the generosity of people, and with everything going on in…
District Fray Magazine
Grounded, D.C.’s Newest Online Plant Store, Promotes Positivity
In case you missed it, this year marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. To commemorate, many people share photos of nature and discuss the importance of environmental protection laws on social media. While that’s all well and good, two D.C. women took their March 22 celebration to another level by launching online plant store…
District Fray Magazine
The Mighty Movement Brings Hope to Local Businesses
MightyMeals has always promoted eating healthy and supported local businesses, so its recent creation of the Mighty Movement should come as no surprise. While a majority of society continues to suffer due to the ongoing pandemic, MightyMeals is doubling its delivery days to meet the demand of healthy meals for the homebound. The juxtaposition of…
District Fray Magazine
Sabrina Medora Delivers Truth With Real Restaurant Stories
In 2016, Sabrina Medora went out on a limb and quit her job to start writing about food, and the gamble paid off. While her colorful writing style and love of all things food pushed her name to the top of foodies’ must-read lists in D.C. and beyond, Medora’s devotion to chronicling life as a…
District Fray Magazine
Urban Gardens Feeding Families and Growing Communities in D.C.
As the air warms and greenery sprouts from trees again, the time for lush gardens is now. Seeds from melons, corn, squash, tomatoes and any other produce are sowed in the hopes of bountiful summer and fall harvests. This scene may sound like it belongs on farmlands in rural America or in the backyard of…
District Fray Magazine
Refreshed and Relaxed: The Future of CBD and Cannabis in Your Cup
The beverage industry is always looking to shake things up, and as a growing number of states gets more familiar with cannabis and CBD culture, those behind drink counters have begun tinkering. With an increased interest in low-ABV and alcohol-free cocktails in recent years, locals are always looking for new ways to get their drink…
District Fray Magazine
A Champion in Chaos: DC Central Kitchen's Food Relief Efforts
As the D.C. restaurant industry reels from the ongoing havoc Covid-19 is wreaking, the greater community is coming together in spirit to show their support. From donating to various GoFundMes to purchasing gift cards to use once this is all said and done, we are seeing how much D.C. residents care for their fellow Washingtonians…
District Fray Magazine
Arena Stage Plans on Roaring Back
While we are all coping with the social ramifications of Covid-19, many industries are struggling to maintain stability. The performing arts is one of those deeply affected by social distancing rules, as without an audience, the show can’t go on. Arena Stage, an integral staple of the local performing arts scene, is calling upon patrons…
District Fray Magazine
Niccolo Seligmann Talks Strathmore's AIR Program, Activism and More
Niccolo Seligmann is a man of many instruments. Over 20 and counting, in fact. The Johns Hopkins’ Peabody Institute alumnus specializes in early music, medieval music and noise music, just to name a few of his genres. While he is clearly a very accomplished 26-year-old, Seligmann needed more direction in his life. When his mentor…
District Fray Magazine
Self-Care, Social Media and Meditation: Embracing Staying at Home
By now, we know the precautions to slow the spread of Covid-19 have taken a toll on social lives, work habits, daily routines and mental health – and the virus remains an unsolved threat. As the world adjusts to its current state of affairs, the phrase “new normal” is getting thrown around quite a bit. But what is the “new normal” and how do you adapt to it?...
Ms Magazine
This attack on the media comes as less of a surprise than its timing...
Ms Magazine
If you’re having trouble explaining the wage gap using just charts, graphs and scholarly articles, a new video with a toe-tapping tempo might be able to help...
Ms Magazine
The NAACP this summer released a statement advising people of color against traveling to Missouri in light of recent events in the state and a new “Jim Crow Law” passed by Governor Greitens...
Ms Magazine
Obtaining a safe abortion in Missouri just became a lot more difficult...
Ms Magazine
Jordan’s parliament voted Tuesday to terminate a provision in their penal code which let rapists avoid jail time if they married their victims...
Ms Magazine
In Afghanistan, women and girls are referred to by the name of the eldest male in their nuclear family. A new social media campaign confronts and pushes back on that tradition...
Ms Magazine
In an industry rife with issues of equally portraying all genders and races, Amazon’s new children’s show “Dino Dana” is a beacon...
Ms Magazine
The 50,000-capacity Bravalla Festival grounds will be the largest venue to refuse men entry...
Ms Magazine
SJ Sindu was born in Sri Lanka and raised in Massachusetts, much like the narrator of her debut novel Marriage of a Thousand Lies. The book’s relase comes on the heels of her success at the 2016 Turnbuckle Chapbook Contest...
Ms Magazine
Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park have decided to leave “Hawaii Five-O” after starring on the hit show for seven seasons due to pay inequality—spotlighting the persistent disparities women and people of color face in media...
Ms Magazine
There is a 37 percent difference between the median earnings of male and female White House staffers—a gap larger even than the despairing national average...
Ms Magazine
Although a delayed vote on the Senate healthcare bill is a small victory for its opponents, activists haven’t let up on their fight for quality, affordable healthcare for all...
Ms Magazine
In North Carolina, a law in place since 1979 defines rape as consensual sex. Unfortunately, only nine states say otherwise...
Ms Magazine
Missouri lawmakers are currently debating legislation that permits discrimination against women based on their reproductive health decisions, impose unnecessary regulations on abortion providers and strengthen bans on abortion...
Ms Magazine
17-year-old Nabra Hassanen was chased, beaten and murdered outside of her mosque. Police don’t consider her death a hate crime—but activists are fighting Islamophobia in its wake...
Ms Magazine
The women chosen for this year’s astronaut class—Zena Cardman, Jasmin Moghbeli, Jessica Watkins, Loral O’Hara and Kayla Barron—are the new idols of this generation...
Ms Magazine
There have been 154 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone. But when it comes to the gun violence epidemic in the U.S., mass shootings are only the tip of the iceberg—especially for women...
Bay Weekly
I have a lot of hair. Never as long Rapunzel’s, but my hair has grown to my bellybutton. As a newborn baby, I had a head full of thick hair. This fact is recorded in family photos. Growing up, I loved having long flowing hair...
Bay Weekly
Twin Beach Players has unusual success in getting kids to say what’s on their minds. Over 11 years, youngsters from elementary to high school have taken to the Kids Playwright Festival stage, writing plays that describe the world as they know it...
Bay Weekly
Annie Get Your Gun is a classic musical based on real people in the days of America’s western expansion. Buffalo Bill’s traveling performance entertained people from all walks of life with the best shot around, Frank Butler. That is, the best shot around other than Annie Oakley...