How a Community Grows: Industry Night, July 11, 2024

Welcome to another episode of Industry Night. Today is my last session at the Capital Jewish Museum, and even though I am so so excited about my next residency at Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery in Delaplane, VA — and the guests that will be joining me like Jarad Slipp and a fabulous VA wine maker panel — the last month of shows at The Capital Jewish Museum have just been amazing. If you are just tuning in, the CJM celebrates DC’s Jewish heritage — it is full of incredible stories of Jewish people from all around the world who made their way to this city and were integral in laying the foundation for the vibrant community we live in today.
There is a fabulous new exhibit here, “I’ll Have What She’s Having”. It explores the Jewish deli culture and how American Jews imported traditions, adapted and built community through the experience of food, not just here in DC but all around the country.
The hospitality of the museum has not been taken for granted! Maura Scanlon, Malki Karkowski, Lisa Del Sesto, and so many others here at the museum have provided me with a space to share stories and chat a little bit about what “the Deli” means to me. In fact, last week there was an amazing evening event here at the museum where myself, Ted Merwyn (author of “Pastrami on Rye”), and Michale Weissman of the “Rye Bread Marriage” got to share our love and personal histories. Prescription Chicken was serving matzoh ball soup and Silver & Sons BBQ had pastrami. But the best part, honestly? The nostalgia. The conversations I had with all those people who joined the event. Whether the deli they went to with their Zayde when they were young or how the pastrami was sliced or is it called Russian Dressing — it is — or Thousand Island? Our histories, our lives are told through our food experiences. And I just love that I had an opportunity to do that here.

Now today’s show is going to be just as delish. A while back I met Kenyattah Robinson. He reached out to me after a RAMW event and I was like how. do. we. not. know. each. other?! He is President & CEO of the MVT CID aka The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District — which is Celebrating 20 YEARS. The Council made a proclamation and everything. Which we will get to in a minute. In getting to know Kenyattah I learned so much about what goes into running a CID. And it is a lot. What’s fascinating about the Mt Vernon District is its humble beginnings compared to where it is today!
But first. I am so excited to chat with
Jonathan Edleman, collections curator & Sarah A. Leavitt, PH.D., curator of the Capital Jewish Museum.
I am so curious about what went into filling this museum with all the incredible history and artifacts.
And now on to Kenyattah. I remember when the City Vista building opened in the now Mt. Vernon Triangle neighborhood. At the time it was a lot of knocked down dilapidated row houses and open lots — 20 years later and WOW. It’s a thriving part of DC filled with gorgeous residences, restaurants, retail, hotels — thriving.

Listen in to hear the full history here, or watch the episode here.