You’re invited to our garden gatherings, Harrison happenings, and more!
The U Street Neighborhood Association supports a wide range of programming in Temperance Alley — from ecology classes to music in the garden to writing workshops and more. All are welcome to host a public & non-commercial gathering in our shared backyard. We also co-host and promote various community events across the U Street Corridor, including at Harrison Recreation Center. Signing up for our newsletter is the easiest way to make sure you never miss out on an event.
Upcoming Events
Creatives Club & Community Jam
Creatives Club and open songwriting hours are back in the garden this week. Come gather for some productive artistic time together while the garden is blooming around us. Bring a project you're working on, your instrument of choice, or just come socialize with fellow creatives. Some basic art supplies will be provided.
Hosted by Cory & Creatives Club DC
Morning Hours
Pop in this morning to start your day the garden way. No group agenda—come to meditate, take your pet for a walk, read a book, or just explore the space. All are welcome and there may even be coffee and tea!
Hosted by Cory
Autumnal Equinox Celebration 🌞 Pawpaw Paw-tluck
Join neighbors at dusk to ring in the Fall, reflect on the Summer, and celebrate pawpaw season!
Since the Summer Solstice back in June our nights have been growing longer and our days have been shortening. We’ll celebrate the Autumnal Equinox (equal-night) when the sun passes most directly over the equator and the day and night are of equal length. This marks the mid-point in our seasonal journey towards the Winter Solstice in December.
We’ll also be celebrating the beloved Pawpaw – the only tropical fruit native to the DMV! Prepare your favorite pawpaw dish/recipe and come ready to sample others. If you need help acquiring pawpaws reach out in the TAG WhatsApp group.
This family-friendly gathering is hosted by the Garden Stewards.
Garden Volunteer Hours
Come get your hands in the soil with our partners at Farm the District, every Saturday throughout the growing season. Whether you’re a first-timer or returning veteran, all are needed to help tend to our shared backyard.
There’s plenty of projects to keep all hands busy, including weeding, watering, composting, repairing, crafting, and ongoing side projects. Find a partner and choose your own adventure. And don’t forget to take home your share of the communal harvest.
As always, we’ll also be giving an orientation tour for newcomers. Welcome neighbors!
Community Cyanotypes Art Exhibition
Community Cyanotypes is a printmaking workshop for all ages, focused on community building and bridging social gaps through the arts. Conceptualized by a local artist and supported by a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the event was held on August 24th, 2024.
This follow up exhibition features the artworks created at the workshop, please join the participants as they proudly display their masterpieces!
hosted by Luke Walter / @lukemakesart
Mega-Zine Mixer with DMV Bartering
On this last day of summer — we’ll join neighbors and mutual aid organizers to learn how to use our skills to help others.
Create your own zine, contribute to a group zine, donate items for distribution to local orgs, and chat about bartering with a few tabling DMVB members. MotorMouth will also be providing attendees with demos and guidance on zine-making!
All attendees will get a chance to join organizers for distribution of donated items.
hosted by DMV Bartering and MotorMouth
TAG HouseKeeping Circle
Our official calendaring meeting for the coming month of October. Bring any business you may have or partner with at Stump Fellow to program your submitted event ideas.
Anyone can join as we discuss garden event planning, budgeting, and partnerships. Your ideas and energy are more than welcome!
*HouseKeeping Circles happen at the end of each month, they are the functional meetings where we calendar events for the next month of programming, approve any new spending, and can vote to change any Garden policies if needed. These meetings have official minutes that keep a record of our decisions and are shared with the rest of the U Street Neighborhood Association for transparency.
Yoga in the Garden
All levels flow in the garden for our community donation-suggested classes with the beautiful greenery and open blue sky. Perfect for grounding and centering. Bring yourself, water, and a mat (we’ll have a few extra on hand).
Breathe Easy: Group Meditation
Our meditation community meets weekly to re-center, connect, and cultivate intentions. With a mix of guided, silent, and relational practice, we ground ourselves in presence and compassion. All levels of experience warmly welcomed.
Hosted by regulars and guests alike, bring a practice for the circle to share.
Donation Harvest for Martha’s Table
Our midweek harvest is donated to Martha’s Table through a long-running partnership with Farm the District. Join us every hump day at 7 to beat the heat and give back to the community.
Creatives Club & Community Jam
Creatives Club and open songwriting hours are back in the garden this week. Come gather for some productive artistic time together while the garden is blooming around us. Bring a project you're working on, your instrument of choice, or just come socialize with fellow creatives. Some basic art supplies will be provided.
Hosted by Cory & Creatives Club DC
Morning Hours
Pop in this morning to start your day the garden way. No group agenda—come to meditate, take your pet for a walk, read a book, or just explore the space. All are welcome and there may even be coffee and tea!
Hosted by Cory
Music in the Garden! ft. Rachel Ellis & Mar Rose
Rachel Ellis (@curlycutieray) is new to singer-songwriting. For the past year, in her cozy apartment in Alexandria, she’s delved into the world of storytelling through music. Her current project, yet to be released, is one that expresses themes of love, loss, and self actualization during bouts of transition and change through ethereal, confessional lyricism. She’s excited to be playing all of her originals for a live audience for the first time at Temperance Alley Garden!
Mar Rose (@marbloomingrose) is a singer/songwriter born and raised in the DMV. Mar began songwriting in their early years. They were encouraged by their musical family to learn guitar in order to accompany their original vocal melodies. Influenced by classic rock, folk rock, grunge, reggae, and punk, Mar established in their middle and high school years a diverse repertoire, and a sound of their own was beginning to emerge. By the end of college, Mar had experience performing in multiple bands, duets, a cappella ensembles, and as a solo artist. Mar continues to perform throughout the DC and Baltimore region.
Mar has released music under "Mar Rose", their solo act, as well as with their former band, "The Feelz," and under, "Blooming Rose," an experimental self-produced project. Mar released their first studio album in 2022, titled, "Humble Heart" and is currently working on a new record.
Join the Garden plants and critters for an evening of home-grown music! Somewhere between a house show and barnyard jam. While tipping is encouraged, the event is free and open to all. Bring a blanket to sit on and snacks to share :)
produced by Stephen
Garden Volunteer Hours
Come get your hands in the soil with our partners at Farm the District, every Saturday throughout the growing season. Whether you’re a first-timer or returning veteran, all are needed to help tend to our shared backyard.
There’s plenty of projects to keep all hands busy, including weeding, watering, composting, repairing, crafting, and ongoing side projects. Find a partner and choose your own adventure. And don’t forget to take home your share of the communal harvest.
As always, we’ll also be giving an orientation tour for newcomers. Welcome neighbors!
Free & Queer Mending
Free & Queer Mending is a group of queer volunteers who want to provide free clothing and other textile mending for our community! Come to the garden with your item, have our mending experts assess it, and sign up to get it fixed. Due to the time-intensive nature of mending, we will only have a certain amount of slots. We'll be doing first come, first served. We'll also reserve the right to say no to very complex mends or items outside our skillsets.
Sign up here if you’d like to be part of the mending crew!
hosted by Free & Queer Mending
Embodying The Elements: Exploring Nature with Movement
Join Sisi SoulShine of Soul Shine Theater Garden at Temperance Alley for a playful dance workshop to move your body and connect with the nature that surrounds us.
Through dance and movement, we will listen to ourselves, actively reflect on our relationship to nature, and embody various natural elements: roots, water, fire, trees etc…
You will be guided by Sisi SoulShine while also having the space to generate your own unique movements through practices of self consent, boundaries, and improvisation. You do not need any previous dance experience, only the desire to explore, learn, dance, and the commitment to connect to your body. While in shared space, we will celebrate each other and embody play and joy as ways of collective liberation.
An optional RSVP to our free workshop is here. Please consider supporting Soul Shine Theater Garden with a donation at the gate.
Sunday Yoga with Movement for Choice
🌺 Grounding Evening Yoga Flow 🌺
Join Movement for Choice for a grounding evening yoga flow for NVRDC at Temperance Alley Garden on Sunday, September 29th at 5pm. We will be weaving through practices including vocal toning, meditation, and self-inquiry. Hope you join us!!
Temperance Alley Garden offers community donation-suggested classes with the beautiful greenery and open blue sky. Perfect for grounding and centering. Bring yourself, water, and a mat.
Movement for Choice is a DC-based nonprofit fighting for reproductive justice through donation-based movement classes and events.
Yoga in the Garden
All levels flow in the garden for our community donation-suggested classes with the beautiful greenery and open blue sky. Perfect for grounding and centering. Bring yourself, water, and a mat (we’ll have a few extra on hand).
Donation Harvest for Martha’s Table
Our midweek harvest is donated to Martha’s Table through a long-running partnership with Farm the District. Join us every hump day at 7 to beat the heat and give back to the community.
Garden Volunteer Hours
Come get your hands in the soil with our partners at Farm the District, every Saturday throughout the growing season. Whether you’re a first-timer or returning veteran, all are needed to help tend to our shared backyard.
There’s plenty of projects to keep all hands busy, including weeding, watering, composting, repairing, crafting, and ongoing side projects. Find a partner and choose your own adventure. And don’t forget to take home your share of the communal harvest.
As always, we’ll also be giving an orientation tour for newcomers. Welcome neighbors!
Donation Harvest for Martha’s Table
Our midweek harvest is donated to Martha’s Table through a long-running partnership with Farm the District. Join us every hump day at 7 to beat the heat and give back to the community.
Breathe Easy: Group Meditation
Our meditation community meets weekly to re-center, connect, and cultivate intentions. With a mix of guided, silent, and relational practice, we ground ourselves in presence and compassion. All levels of experience warmly welcomed.
Hosted by regulars and guests alike, bring a practice for the circle to share.
Gong Bath
Wind-down the day and welcome evening’s rest.
Join local artist Naoco Wowsugi for an experience like no other. The gong's otherworldly sounds and vibrations open the door to delightful, relaxing meditative states.
Come let it wash over you – please bring a mat to lie down on and water to drink (the more you hydrate, the more you vibrate!)
Naoco Wowsugi is a community-engaged artist who blurs the lines between being an artist and an engaged citizen. As a first-generation immigrant living and working in Washington, DC, Wowsugi's cross-disciplinary projects—including portrait photography, participatory performance, sound healing, and horticulture—explore the nature of belonging and inclusive community building.
IG: @wowsugi
Website: wowsugi.com
Yoga in the Garden
All levels flow in the garden for our community donation-suggested classes with the beautiful greenery and open blue sky. Perfect for grounding and centering. Bring yourself, water, and a mat (we’ll have a few extra on hand).
Sunset Soul
A Monday music flashback.
You’ll experience music that connects with your soul like the Blackbyrds, The Jones Girls, Tom Tom Club, George Clinton, and Ohio Players. Sampling songs you could’ve heard at the Ben’s Chili Bowl jukebox from the ‘60s–’90s. These aren’t just any songs—they come with all the story.
Hosted by DJ Kat Kat, aka the soldier of U Street, Marquett Milton
Snailmail Station
In our age of hyperconnectivity and non-stop texting, it can be hard to find the time to send a longform letter through the good ole snail mail. There’s probably someone you’ve been meaning to reach out to, someone you’ve always wanted to be pen pals with, someone who would appreciate holding your message in their hands. Snailmail Station is about setting aside the time to practice the art of correspondence, together.
We’ll have writing materials + stamps on-hand and send you off to the local mailbox. Bring a can-do attitude, addresses of a few old friends (or do that later), and artistic inspiration.
Hosted by Emily, Aaron, & Shoshana
Seeds of Mentorship: Letters from the Garden
Write (and optionally mail) a letter to a tutor or mentor who impacted your life, while learning how you can volunteer to tutor or mentor in your neighborhood!
We’ll have writing materials + stamps on-hand and send you off to the local mailbox. Bring a can-do attitude, artistic inspiration, and any other mentors you might know.
hosted by DC Tutoring and Mentoring Initiative
Goats in the Garden @ Volunteer Hours
A pop-up petting zoo, in your own backyard. Come chill with the goats, and other surprise animal guests. Graciously hosted by our local farmer friend Novian in the “nature preserve” parcel across the alley from the Garden.
Plus the usual, come get your hands in the soil with our partners at Farm the District, every Saturday throughout the growing season. Whether you’re a first-timer or returning veteran, all are needed to help tend to our shared backyard.
There’s plenty of projects to keep all hands busy, including weeding, watering, composting, repairing, crafting, and ongoing side projects. Find a partner and choose your own adventure. And don’t forget to take home your share of the communal harvest.
As always, we’ll also be giving an orientation tour for newcomers. Welcome neighbors!
Shabbat in the Garden
~~RSVP HERE ~~
Join us for a special Shabbat meal in the garden! We'll gather under the stars to reflect, connect, and enjoy delicious food. Explore Shabbat rituals and make them your own – maybe bless the light while appreciating the moon or add herbs from the garden to express gratitude for our meal.
*Potluck encouraged* and pizza provided! This event is part of OneTable's national "Permission to Unplug" series, encouraging wellness and connection through Shabbat.
Hosted by Yael, OneTable DMV Regional Field Manager, this gathering invites young adults to build a personal and meaningful Shabbat practice in a welcoming, intimate space. All are welcome!
~~please RSVP HERE so we can make sure to get enough food~~
Morning Hours
Pop in this morning to start your day the garden way. No group agenda—come to meditate, take your pet for a walk, read a book, or just explore the space. All are welcome and there may even be coffee and tea!
Hosted by Cory
Gay's Garden Comedy Showcase
Calling all hoes and fruits, we have an exciting announcement!! Temperance Alley Garden is an Ally no longer: join Temperance Gay Garden for Gays' Garden, a standup showcase by the funniest queers in the DMV.
We've raised the stakes for this show: Twink and Doll will fight for the garden. So if you like dirty, messy, little queers fighting in a kiddy pool, you came to the right place.
Hosted by Netanel
TAG-Along: DC Bike Party!
Join garden friends as we meet up and roll together to DC Bike Party's September ride!
Grab your bike or bikeshare and tag along with us to this monthly social bike ride. We’ll congregate at Temperance Alley Garden during volunteer harvest hours before hitting the streets around 7:50pm. 🚲🎉🚲🎉🚲🎉
hosted by Zachary and Stephen
Donation Harvest for Martha’s Table
Our midweek harvest is donated to Martha’s Table through a long-running partnership with Farm the District. Join us every hump day at 7 to beat the heat and give back to the community.
Breathe Easy: Group Meditation
Our meditation community meets weekly to re-center, connect, and cultivate intentions. With a mix of guided, silent, and relational practice, we ground ourselves in presence and compassion. All levels of experience warmly welcomed.
Hosted by regulars and guests alike, bring a practice for the circle to share.
Yoga in the Garden
All levels flow in the garden for our community donation-suggested classes with the beautiful greenery and open blue sky. Perfect for grounding and centering. Bring yourself, water, and a mat (we’ll have a few extra on hand).
TAG StoryKeeping Circle
Our dedicated time for reflective listening to all that’s budding within the Garden ecosystem. The rearview mirror where stories from the previous month can be shared in community. Bring a TAG story to share or discover one based on the evening’s prompts.
StoryKeeping Circles are held on the middle Monday of each month. All are welcome to participate fully.
hosted by Josh
Non-Violent Communication: beginner workshop
Calling all peace-builders 🕊️
Discover the power of empathetic communication in this introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC). Explore expressing yourself honestly and listening compassionately, even in challenging situations. The workshop will introduce the key components of NVC: observations, feelings, needs, and requests. Through interactive exercises, you'll practice skills to transform conflicts into opportunities for mutual understanding and strengthen your relationships, both personally and professionally.
All levels of experience are warmly welcomed. Whether you're new to NVC or looking to deepen your understanding, join us for an evening dedicated to fostering empathy and connection.
hosted by Kristen & Rachel
U Street Safety 101
Hi Neighbor! Please join us for a discussion about public safety matters as it relates to the U Street Corridor on September 7th at the Anthony Bowen YMCA. We will have representation from local leaders like Councilmember Brianne Nadeau and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ashleigh Fields in addition to members of the Metropolitan Police Department and local neighborhood associations. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
U Street Neighborhood Association
3rd District Citizens Advisory Council
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B
Garden Volunteer Hours
Come get your hands in the soil with our partners at Farm the District, every Saturday throughout the growing season. Whether you’re a first-timer or returning veteran, all are needed to help tend to our shared backyard.
There’s plenty of projects to keep all hands busy, including weeding, watering, composting, repairing, crafting, and ongoing side projects. Find a partner and choose your own adventure. And don’t forget to take home your share of the communal harvest.
As always, we’ll also be giving an orientation tour for newcomers. Welcome neighbors!
Morning Hours
Pop in this morning to start your day the garden way. No group agenda—come to meditate, take your pet for a walk, read a book, or just explore the space. All are welcome and there may even be coffee and tea!
Hosted by Cory
Dream Germinating
What did you dream of as a child? How do we envision futures for ourselves and our communities? What’s rooting our collective future making and what fruits do our dreams bear? Join us in the garden for an evening of dream germination to plant the seeds for the futures we want to live in.
hosted by Rachel
Donation Harvest for Martha’s Table
Our midweek harvest is donated to Martha’s Table through a long-running partnership with Farm the District. Join us every hump day at 7 to beat the heat and give back to the community.
Breathe Easy: Group Meditation
Our meditation community meets weekly to re-center, connect, and cultivate intentions. With a mix of guided, silent, and relational practice, we ground ourselves in presence and compassion. All levels of experience warmly welcomed.
Hosted by regulars and guests alike, bring a practice for the circle to share.
Yoga in the Garden
All levels flow in the garden for our community donation-suggested classes with the beautiful greenery and open blue sky. Perfect for grounding and centering. Bring yourself, water, and a mat (we’ll have a few extra on hand).
Goats in the Garden @ Garden Volunteer Hours
A pop-up petting zoo, in your own backyard. Come chill with the goats, and other surprise animal guests. Graciously hosted by our local farmer friend Novian in the “nature preserve” parcel across the alley from the Garden.
Plus the usual — Come get your hands in the soil with our partners at Farm the District, every Saturday throughout the growing season. Whether you’re a first-timer or returning veteran, all are needed to help tend to our shared backyard.
There’s plenty of projects to keep all hands busy, including weeding, watering, composting, repairing, crafting, and ongoing side projects. Find a partner and choose your own adventure. And don’t forget to take home your share of the communal harvest.
As always, we’ll also be giving an orientation tour for newcomers. Welcome neighbors!
Music in the Garden!
Featuring David Stevenson + Swataa & Tiff
Join the Garden plants and critters for an evening of home-grown music! Somewhere between a house show and barnyard jam. While tipping is encouraged, the event is free and open to all. Bring a blanket to sit on and snacks to share :)
David Stevenson @dsteve_dc is a local singer-songwriter in Northwest DC. He brings a high-energy guitar style to his solo and full-band shows, local festivals, and songwriter events all over the DMV. David’s most recent EP “Next Time” is out now on all streaming services.
Swataa (@Swataa) has been releasing independently produced songs since 2020, and is inspired by nature and connecting to our emotions through songwriting. Her latest single “Infatuated Dreaming” is out now, which is part of a larger unreleased project. You can hear them play with a full band (w/Tiff) at their headline show on 9/19 at the Pocket in DC!
Tiff (@twimenta.music) is a queer singer-songwriter living in Northwest DC. She is inspired to share her heartaches, joys, and curiosities in hopes that they resonate with her listeners. Tiff is new to sharing their music with the wider world, so keep an eye out for them on Instagram or at the local open mics! She is excited to connect with other musicians, so if you want to collab, make sure to say hello!
Swataa & Tiff met right here at Temperence Alley Garden during a Thursday community jam sesh! They quickly hit it off with their love for lyricism and processing life’s experiences through music.
produced by Stephen
Creatives Club & Community Jam
Creatives Club and open songwriting hours are back in the garden this week. Come gather for some productive artistic time together while the garden is blooming around us. Bring a project you're working on, your instrument of choice, or just come socialize with fellow creatives. Some basic art supplies will be provided.
Hosted by Cory & Creatives Club DC
Donation Harvest for Martha’s Table
Our midweek harvest is donated to Martha’s Table through a long-running partnership with Farm the District. Join us every hump day at 7 to beat the heat and give back to the community.
Breathe Easy: Group Meditation
Our meditation community meets weekly to re-center, connect, and cultivate intentions. With a mix of guided, silent, and relational practice, we ground ourselves in presence and compassion. All levels of experience warmly welcomed.
Hosted by regulars and guests alike, bring a practice for the circle to share.
Gong Bath
The perfect sunset come-down after yoga
Join local artist Naoco Wowsugi for an experience like no other. The gong's otherworldly sounds and vibrations open the door to delightful, relaxing meditative states.
Come let it wash over you – please bring a mat to lie down on and water to drink (the more you hydrate, the more you vibrate!)
Naoco Wowsugi is a community-engaged artist who blurs the lines between being an artist and an engaged citizen. As a first-generation immigrant living and working in Washington, DC, Wowsugi's cross-disciplinary projects—including portrait photography, participatory performance, sound healing, and horticulture—explore the nature of belonging and inclusive community building.
IG: @wowsugi
Website: wowsugi.com
Stay in the U
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