Bipeds of Brookland: Isaiah.

Isaiah started playing chess when he was very young. He remembers playing often with a Boy Scout leader at the old coffee shop on 12th Street.  He also played on the chess club while a student at Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS in Brookland. “Chess was more than a game for me, it had complexity and that’s what drew me to it.”

Isaiah graduated from School Without Walls and just finished his first semester at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), “I’m getting a BS in Mathematics. I was thinking of doing a dual in Math and Physics but the coursework is a lot.”  He has always enjoyed math. “In Kindergarten, I knew how to count by 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s without them telling me how. As I moved up I realized the math in

Bipeds of Brookland: Karen Towers

Karen Towers grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. “Any street I walked down, I had a relative on every block.”  After living at home through college, she decided she needed to move. “I wanted to go to the Peace Corps, and they sent me to Guatemala. I didn’t speak any Spanish. I had never been to Latin America before.” She taught 6th grade,Junior Achievement and business development in 3 schools in Patzun, a Kakchiquel Mayan speaking town. Because so few of the children were enrolling in high school, Karen and two fellow Peace Corps volunteers started a small NG, Amigos de Patzún, which seeks donations for scholarships to students to continue their education beyond primary school. “I have so much respect

LoveJoy School Loft condo.  Open house Sunday 1-4

Welcome to Love Joy Lofts. This school house turned condominium is full of unique features. Unit 112 welcomes you with fifteen foot ceilings, oversized windows and Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors throughout. This two bedroom/two bath unit was converted to a spacious one bedroom that could easily be converted back. The open kitchen space is full of storage and complete with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and a kitchen island. The tall windows in the large living room/dining area overlook the park. The master bedroom has a en suite bath and upgraded California Closets. Other amenities include central air, touch screen refrigerator and a washer/dryer in the unit. Don’t leave any pets

1218 Perry ST NE, #201 Washington DC.

Open House Sunday 1-4 pm

This light filled two bedroom is located right in the heart of Brookland. The second floor walk-up boasts of parquet wood floors and tons of natural light. Large and welcoming living room with massive windows overlooking bucolic Perry street. The generous eat-in kitchen is updated with stainless steel appliances and marble counter tops. You can relax comfortably with central air and a Nest thermostat. Enjoy a washer/dryer combo in the comfort of your home. Low condo fees to top it off.  Perfectly located just around the corner from Yes Organic Market and all the shops, restuarants and artist studios of 12th street and Monroe Street market. 3 blocks to the Brookland Metro (red line).

Bipeds of Brookland:  Lacey W. Smith Sr.

Lacey W. Smith Sr. was drafted into the army at 19. He remembers leaving England and spending seven days at sea “waiting for D-Day.” He landed at Normandy and spent two years supplying soldiers on the front lines. “You could see kids in the street that lost their mother and father.  They were looking for something to eat… we would just give them our rations and they would sit and eat and say thank you, but they were speaking French, and you really didn't know, but you knew they were hungry.”

He returned to DC in 1946 and married his high school girlfriend. They bought a house in Brookland in which they have lived for over 70 years. Lacey was born in Lynchburg, VA, but first came to DC to visit his

Bipeds of Brookland: Marguerite Duane

Marguerite Duane decided to become a doctor the day her baby sister was born at home. “It was pretty soon after that I decided I wanted to do family medicine. As much I love caring for pregnant women and delivering babies, I love taking care of the babies.”

Marguerite moved to Brookland in 2004, when she and her husband began working for Georgetown School of Medicine, and she could deliver babies and care for patients at nearby Providence Hospital.   She remember getting calls when a patient was in the hospital going into labor and arriving a few minutes later, to the surprise of other staff, because she lived four blocks away.

She was later the Medical Director at Catholic Charities, where their commitment was