Capitol Riverfront Community Planting Day
 On Saturday, October 29th from 9 am to 12 noon, the Capitol Riverfront BID and the US Green Building Council National Capital Region are partnering to plant thousands of daffodil bulbs throughout the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Sign up to volunteer here and join us in this effort to beautify the tree boxes and open spaces in the Capitol Riverfront. Volunteers should meet at the parking lot at M St. and 2nd St., SE. Coffee, juice, and breakfast will be provided. Thanks to our sponsors CSX, Frager's Hardware, William C. Smith + Co., ALKS, and the JBG Companies who are helping to make this event possible.
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Additions to DC Circulator Routes in the Capitol Riverfront
 The Capitol Riverfront already has a great Circulator route that takes you from the Navy Yard Metro to Barracks Row and Union Station. Now we have a new route to take you to Anacostia and Skyland. The Potomac Avenue Metro to Skyland via Barracks Row route complements existing Metrobus routes with fast, limited-stop service bridging the Anacostia River. Passengers paying with a SmarTrip card will be able to travel from Skyland to anywhere the Circulator travels in the District for just $1.00.
"The D.C. Circulator's low fare, convenient schedule and unique styling make it a very attractive and popular way to get around," said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy. "In fact, more than 500,000 people ride Circulator buses every month now, and we're confident that number will go up now that we can provide service to more neighborhoods. We welcome this new route to the Circulator family today and look forward to serving new customers."
The route will initially run from 6 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday, and will serve numerous stops in Wards 6, 7, and 8. Pick it up along Barracks Row or check out the route on the Circulator website!
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Support Living Classrooms at A Night at the Yards
 The 4th Annual Living Classrooms' A Night at the Yards will take place on October 14th at the Yards Park. The festivities take place from 7 pm - 11 pm. A Night at The Yards is a casual fundraiser for an important cause. Michigan's own Greensky Bluegrass will be the feature musical act and The Cris Jacobs Band will open and get the party started. Your tickets will include food and drink from some of DC's best restaurants and breweries. Tickets are $125.00, and $75.00 for professionals under 35. Learn more about this awesome event on their website.
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Photo Contest Winner: Norman Buffalo
 Congratulations to Norman Buffalo, the winner of this Summer's Capitol Riverfront photo contest! His picture of the Waterfall and Bridge, to the left was selected among our other great finalists. Thanks to all that participated, and remember to start taking pictures for next year's contest today.
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Fete du Soul this weekend in the Yards Park!
 The season of events is winding down at the Yards Park. Don't miss the last few opportunities to take advantage of the park events! This Saturday, Fete du Soul, will run from 2 pm - 8 pm on the overlook with a reggae band and host of DJs. Food and drinks will be available. Fete du Soul encourages boardwalk dancing, yoga, zumba, capoeira as well as any positive family-oriented movement and dance! Tickets required for entrance on the overlook, however, the sounds and the vendors on the boardwalk are open to the public. Click here for tickets.
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Come to Egypt Day DC to Celebrate Egypt
 Taste authentic Egyptian food, enjoy Egyptian music, belly dancing and tanoura dancing, henna, and see unique arts and crafts at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt's Egypt Fest DC. The event also features kids activities including a moonbounce and much more! Bring the whole family out for the FREE event on October 15th between 12 noon and 8 pm. Egypt Fest DC will take place in the lumbershed with performances on the boardwalk. Click on their website for more information.
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Green Feature: New MS4 Permit Announced in the Yards Park
 The District Department of the Environment made a big announcement on the Yards Park overlook this Wednesday. The District of Columbia has enhanced their stormwater pollution standards based on a new MS4 permit issued this week by the Environmental Protection Agency. As described by the Anacostia Watershed Society, "every time it rains, dirt, oil, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, and trash wash into the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, local streams and other bodies of water through the city's separate sewer system."
Under the permit, newly developed and redeveloped properties will have to retain 1.2 inches of rainfall on-site through the use of green infrastructure controls like green roofs, rain gardens, and trees planted along streets. This means that no pollution will run off into the District's waterways from new or redeveloped buildings or parking lots during 90 percent of rainstorms, according to EPA modeling. This level is an improvement over permits issued for other cities, which in some cases do not specify an amount of rainfall to be retained and in others do not set a level that provides enough protection. Unlike pipes and underground tanks normally used to control stormwater pollution, studies show that green infrastructure can increase property values and attract economic development in addition to improving water quality.
This announcement is another big step in the effort to clean up the Anacostia River and its watershed. To learn more go to http://www.anacostiaws.org or check out the EPA's website.
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Faces of the Front: Zach Dobelbower of Ecohouse
 Zach Dobelbower is President of Ecohouse, one of our neighborhood's green businesses. They are located at 808 L Street SE, near Virginia Avenue Park. EcoHouse combines comprehensive financial analysis with advanced building science retrofit strategies to offer innovative, cost-effective, deep energy retrofit and design strategies.
Zack explains, "Broadly speaking, we try to improve the quality of life for building occupants and owners through high-performance retrofit solutions for the built environment." Ecohouse has been part of our community for a year and half, offering DC homes and businesses energy efficiency auditing, sustainable design consulting, and other services. Check out their website to learn more.
Zach's favorite part about the Capitol Riverfront is the feeling of revitalization that is catching on. "As a business owner, what I really like is all the sustainable features of the neighborhood. There is truly a cluster of sustainable development here, and it showcases what can be done in the District."
He chose the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood after working for the District government in the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation. Zach said he "saw the plans of what was happening with the stadium, Yards Park and waterfront." He realized that the Capitol Riverfront would be another small city within the city, but would also have a neighborhood feel.
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