Read Our August // September 2022 Issue

Looking for our full print issue? Log in or become a member today to view this month’s issue in clickable PDF form.

HUSTLE. August is a weird month — especially in D.C. There’s a stillness to our city, unlike its usual bustling nature. And yet, there’s still so much happening behind the scenes within our community. This month, we’re highlighting some of the ways our city embodies hustle year-round, whether through active life, entrepreneurship or creative pursuits. First and foremost, we are taking a deep dive into the culture of all things skate in the District: roller skating, roller derby, skateboarding and more. Cover subject Alex Appah, a huge advocate for D.C.’s roller skating community, spoke with Colleen Kennedy about why skating brings her so much joy. Abi Newhouse reached out to other skating communities, interviewing locals about how they found their respective sport, what makes it unique, and how folks can learn more and join. Aviva Bechky covered adaptive climbing in the DMV, including interviews with organizations featuring ample opportunities for locals with physical disabilities. They also rounded up an assortment of other D.C. area organizations and groups across everything from rowing to cycling with an adaptive focus. Our interest in unique forms of local active life continued with Andrew J. Williams III’s interview with Shaughn Cooper about martial arts and Chad Kinsman’s conversation with Jake Godin about long-distance motorcycling. But wait, there’s more.

Our very own Brandon Wetherbee rounded up 21 locals with innovative professional hustles. From prolific artist Holly Bass and 730DC publisher Hayden Higgins to composer Nikhil Rao and Mess Hall founder Al Goldberg, our picks run the gamut from artistic to entrepreneurial to altruistic — with many embodying all three. Assistant editor Nicole Schaller sat down with Service Bar’s beverage director, Christine Kim, to chat about her journey in the drink industry and how she’s helped put D.C.’s cocktail scene on the map. We also caught up with the team behind the brand-new Peruvian concept Causa/Bar Amazonia, chatted with the folks at DC Brau, listed some of our favorite wine bars, drooled over the latest flavors from Ice Cream Shoppe-Up, picked unorthodox spots to open your laptop and cowork, gave tips on beating the summer heat on your running routes, and much more. August marks the debut of a new column with local food and travel photographer Jennifer Chase, “Joie de Vivre,” where Chase will pick one aspect of health, wellness, beauty or other elements of self-care and explore it from behind the camera lens. For her first installment, she explored the world of Reiki with Dr. Darrien Jamar, both by having a session with them to experience Reiki first-hand and by picking their brain on the topic. She then shot her model using glow-in-the-dark body paint to illustrate the transfer of energy during reiki in a vibrant, colorful way. The result is, simply put, stunning. As we gear up for a fall full of very strong themes — performing arts, fashion and design, and local music among them — we hope you enjoy our hodgepodge issue that pulls together so many different parts of what makes D.C. tick, even during the dog days of summer. 

Monica Alford
Editor-in-Chief