LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILES 2023

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Published, February 1, 2023

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself Anna Claire, what was the path that led you to becoming Program Manager for Chevy Chase Main Street?
A. The path began in Birmingham, Alabama where I was born and raised, then continued to Auburn University and Atlanta, GA, where I studied and worked as an actor and theatre artist, before eventually ending up in London, England to study Applied Theatre in Communities. This Master’s degree was my first taste working with nonprofits and government agencies, and I quickly became interested in a career in non-profit community development work. Traveling and living abroad gave me an appreciation for the things that make a community’s culture unique. After relocating to DC during the pandemic, I began volunteering for District Bridges. After two years of freelancing as a program director, events coordinator, and teaching artist, the Chevy Chase Main Street (CCMS) position sparked my interest, and here we are today. I have loved getting involved in the neighborhood and meeting all the business owners and organizations that are so involved in this community. 
Q. What types of things can you and CCMS do to strengthen and expand the Chevy Chase business community? 
A. A cornerstone of the Main Street work is providing grants and technical assistance to business owners along the corridor. CCMS connects them to financial and informational resources and plans fun events that aim to foster the community’s connection to this unique commercial corridor. We use a holistic and relational approach, developing trusted relationships with the business owners, spending time listening and understanding their unique challenges and goals. 
Q. You have been in this position about 5 months, what characteristics of the business community have impressed you the most?
A. Some characteristics that stand out to me are the ingenuity, diversity, and passion of the business owners. There are so many different nationalities and backgrounds represented in the Chevy Chase business community, as well as many women business owners, and supporting them along their journey is so rewarding. Their interesting backgrounds lend themselves to creative ideas that the community greatly benefits from.
Q. Does being on the border of Maryland expand your vision on what activities or events might prove to be impactful for our business community?
A. The DC Main Streets grant has geographic boundaries that limit how and where you can spend funds. However, I am working to make sure that our marketing, engagement, and collaboration efforts reach both DC and Maryland residents. By establishing relationships and partnerships with organizations in other areas of Ward 3 and 4 and Maryland, I can better create programming that is mindful of the entire ecosystem. With this mindset, we can expand the reach of our events and promotions to hopefully connect local businesses with community members across state and ward lines.
Q. Chevy Chase has two designated properties, with businesses, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Avalon Movie Theatre, and the Chevy Chase Arcade. How does that influence you in working with them?   
A. One of the things I loved most about traveling was visiting historical buildings and learning about their story, so engaging with these two landmarks in the community is extremely exciting for me. The Main Street approach is rooted in historic preservation and bringing new life to vital community spaces, so in my role, I aim to find creative ways to engage with these architecturally beautiful buildings so that we can recognize their historical significance while also ensuring their vitality and relevance in the present.
Q. I am sure you have some exciting new ideas that you are looking forward to putting into action here in Chevy Chase, can you give us an idea as to what those might be?
A. I’m really excited to create events that make people feel connected to their community. For instance, we are revamping our First Friday event series and moving it from its previous location at the PNC Parking lot to up and down Connecticut Ave., and my hope is that other community organizations will partner with us and bring their energy and expertise, and folks will remember the first Friday of the month as an exciting community block party. Due to my background in the arts and performance, I would also love to include music, performing arts, and studio arts in more of our programming as, in my mind, they go hand in hand with community development.
Q. What are some things that people would be surprised to learn about you?
A. I’ve performed in over 500 professional puppet shows, I’ve previously lived in Lucca, Italy, Newcastle UK & London UK, I’m a published academic writer, and I also live on Conn. Ave. and regularly visit the corridor even when I’m “off duty.”  

Published, March 1, 2023

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself Rita, how did your background and experiences ready you for entry into the children's toy, games, and book business?
A. My family were refugees from Cambodia so, growing up, we didn’t have many toys to play with. I read what I could get my hands on from the public library, and my brothers and I did a lot of imaginative play with whatever was around us. So, when my older brother discovered Dungeons and Dragons, it opened up entire new worlds of play and countless hours of entertainment for us. That’s why my preference is for toys and books that really enhance a child’s natural curiosity and imagination, which are exactly the types of toys and games that Child’s Play specializes in. Plus, as a former public school teacher, I get pretty excited about games and books that I would love for kids to have at home or to see in a classroom.  In addition, with our children, I saw that there has been a limited (but slowly growing) selection of toys and books for children from diverse backgrounds. 
Q. I know you have lived in the DC area for a while, can I assume that you have had a long familiarity with Child's Play?
A. We’ve been regulars at Child’s Play since moving to DC over 16-years ago and discovered that we had our first child on the way. Many of the staff have seen our kids grow up and linger at the train table and in the arts & crafts section. Our kids have tried almost all the Klutz crafting kits, and it feels like we have every Brio train set, and more than our fair share of Legos. Our daughter Naomi can be found helping in the book section on the weekends, and our son Byron likes to tell anyone who is same-sized as him about his favorite trains, Legos, and Minecraft.  
Q. It must be challenging to take over an iconic neighborhood treasure, how do you approach that responsibility?
A. We’re mindful to really listen to everyone that comes through the doors, from regulars to staff, so we can understand what makes Child’s Play so well-loved. While we have a vision for what we would love to add to our stores, we want to nurture what already makes it such a magical space. I named myself the Chief Happiness Officer at Child’s Play, and I take that role and responsibility seriously.
Q. I am sure you have some exciting new ideas that you are looking to implement in the store, can you give us a sneak peek at what those might be?
A. The staff and previous owners have done such an incredible job with the thoughtful selection of toys, games, and books to have offerings that appeal to and meet the needs of so many different kids and families. As a former teacher and community advocate I’m always thinking about how we can be even more inclusive and accessible to families of all backgrounds. So we’re looking at how we can re-organize some things and more intentionally create spaces and resources for families with special needs and families from different heritages. I’ve started a collaboration to have sensory nights for families with children and adults on the spectrum. We’ve also been thinking about how to make more use of the large space in front of our store. We’ve used it for our annual sidewalk sale during Chevy Chase Day and for the Chevy Chase Art Walk, and I would love to talk to local artists, nonprofits, and others who would like to collaborate.
Q. Does being part of this neighborhood give you some ideas for getting involved in community events and activities?
A. Oh, absolutely. We used to live down the road on Connecticut and Davenport before moving, but we’ve always felt quite connected given how frequently we shop and dine in the neighborhood. One of the first things I did as soon as I knew we were taking over Child’s Play was to meet with Anna Claire Walker, the manager of Chevy Chase Main Street. She and I have been talking about ways the local small business community and Child’s Play in particular can contribute to making Chevy Chase an exciting place to live and play. We’ve already participated in a number of community events since we took over and we’re exploring how we can be involved in the First Fridays, as well as celebrate days and traditions important to Chevy Chase and the DC area.  
Q. What are some of your personal favorite toys, games, and books.
A. I absolutely adore Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, which is such an amazing story to read with a child, with its beautiful imagery and moving story about magic, courage, and family love. Fantasy and folklore are among my favorite genres, so my childhood favorites include the Light Princess by George MacDonald, anything by Piers Anthony, and the Chronicles of Narnia. I love fantasy and role playing, so for games, Dungeons and Dragons is definitely my all-time favorite that I’ve played since elementary school, during college, and can now play with my kids, friends, and family.  I played Candyland and Monopoly when younger, so those hold a special place in my heart, especially as I loved imagining living in a land of infinite sweet.  For toys, I can’t get enough kinetic sand. I love the touch and feel of it, which I think is so soothing. I also love tangrams and Magna Tiles because of the fun shapes you can create. I also think everyone with young children need Water WOW books, they’re magical to a young mind.
Q. What about you would people be surprised to learn? 
A. Let’s play a game called three truths and a lie. I’ll share four amusing tidbits about myself but only one won’t be true. Come into the store and find out if you’re right about which one I haven’t done. Here we go.  1) I arm wrestled a Nobel Prize winner and won, 2) I was Miss Teen Idaho after my older brother surprise entered me in the pageant, 3) I was one of the Yale Anime Society founders and walked around campus cosplaying my favorite female warriors, and 4) I practice classical Khmer dance and have performed for various members of the U.S. Congress 

Published, March 31, 2023

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself PJ, what was the path that led you to open Art Sound Language?
A. I grew up in a small town outside Tampa, Florida. I primarily bought cassettes in those days, though I purchased the occasional LP when I couldn’t find the tape. My first concert was the Minutemen opening for R.E.M. in late 1985, my second, Black Flag in early 1986. I attended Florida State University, majoring in English and American Literature. I also played in bands, wrote record and exhibition reviews for the student newspaper, and worked, for a brief time, as a DJ at WVFS, the university’s radio station. I moved to DC in 1997 for graduate work in American Studies/Art History at George Washington University. Some of my very first record store visits in DC were to Yesterday & Today and Vinyl Ink. I also occasionally visited Franz Bader Books, a small art and architecture bookstore near the GW campus. During this period, I played guitar in a noise rock band called the Plums and electronics in an improvising electro-acoustic trio, Spaceships Panic Orbit. In 2006, I began work at the Terra Foundation for American Art in Chicago, where I oversaw a collection of American paintings and works on paper and organized exhibitions with museum partners including the Musée du Louvre, the Shanghai Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Pinacoteca de São Paulo. I also combed record stores, shops, and stalls around the globe. In particular record hunting experiences in Mexico City, São Paulo, London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Singapore. During those years, I began selling records online and really enjoyed the process of identifying, listing, and shipping LPs. I also began to study brick and mortar record stores in Chicago—Dusty Groove, Reckless Records and Gramaphone—as well as influential record stores around the world. These experiences got me thinking about how I might create a space for art, music, literature, and performance that would combine my interests in the visual and the aural. 
Q. What distinguishes ASL from other record stores?
A. ASL differs from other local stores in several ways. I would point to its unique cross-section of music; its distinct assortment of art, design, and music related books; it's simple yet unified design aesthetic; its programming, which will feature live music, guest DJs, art, music focused presentations, and dialogues; and its friendly, open vibe. Lastly, the space is clean and well-lit with clutter kept to a minimum.
Q. What does it mean to a customer when you say that the records and books you sell is a curated experience?
A. I would be one of the last to use that term in describing the experience visitors might have. I have simply created a space in which experience unfolds. That space reflects outcomes of decisions about everything from the store’s inventory and graphic identity to the construction of record bins and the arrangement of shelving units. In selecting records and books, I have followed my own interests and instincts, which have been shaped by listening, learning, traveling, and acquiring.
Q. What do you think accounts for the reemergence of vinyl?
A. I think the renewed interest in vinyl is a result of a complex of factors. Lots of people point to the pandemic, and there’s something to that. But at the heart of vinyl’s recent appeal, I think, is the medium’s tactility, the material aspects of the vinyl record versus the immaterial, evanescent quality of digital files. It’s the feel of an album cover in your hands, the look of its design, the import of its text. And then there are the rituals of playing a record on a turntable and the deeper, richer quality of sound that’s been lost in the age of the MP3. 
Q. What are some ways you plan to interact with the local community?
A. It’s funny, even before ASL’s doors opened, I was interacting with the community, from my fellow tenants in the Arcade to all the businesses up and down the corridor. But since the doors opened, that engagement has expanded immeasurably. And it will continue to grow. In six short weeks, ASL has already become a hub for regular customers in addition to a larger constellation of more casual shoppers both young and old, from the neighborhood and beyond. I’ve really been impressed by the enthusiastic, diverse, and multi-generational response, and have appreciated meeting many interesting people, hearing lots of interesting stories, and learning lots of new things.
Q. Given that you are in the Chevy Chase Arcade, a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, how might that shape events that you will be promoting?
A. As it happens, ASL’s first non-music event, which will occur on Thursday, May 4, and will feature an architectural historian discussing his recent book on gentrification in Harlem during the 1960s and 70s. Of course, the Arcade provides an excellent forum for an event that will investigate and spur discussion about urban life and the built environment during the 20th century.
Q. What is something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
A. Though not surprising to me, some might find it so to learn that I still get out and ride my skateboard on weekends. 

Published, May 1, 2023

 Q. Tell us a bit about yourself Uriah and how you got involved with martial arts?
A. I grew up in an orphanage in Seoul, Korea for 2 years. I was adopted in 1977 and grew up in Columbus, Ohio which was pretty evenly divided between black and white, but not many Asians. My parents are great, and loving people. They adopted 3 different boys (two from Korea and one from Vietnam). They also fostered several kids over the years. Because there wasn’t much Korean culture to learn from, I decided to take Taekwondo at the age of 16 to learn more about my heritage. After graduating High School, I moved to Orlando Florida to go to school at University of Central Florida. I stopped college after 2 years to pursue a full-time job teaching martial arts. I spent 7 years under the tutelage of Chief Master Von Schmeling, an 8th degree black belt, learning everything about the business and teaching. In 2001 I opened my first school in Clifton Virginia. For over 20 years we brought a certified martial arts program to Fairfax, Clifton, and Centreville, and in the process trained hundreds of black belts.
Q. What was it about Chevy Chase that encouraged you to open Infinity Martial Arts here?
A. I’ve always wanted to open a school in DC. After doing some research I started looking in the northeast section of DC. By a miracle of accident, I started wandering west on Military Rd until I got to Connecticut Ave. I immediately fell in love with the neighborhood and knew this was the place to open my next school.
Q. What are some of the main strengths about learning martial arts that can help both young and old to learn?
A. Martial Arts can help everyone. It provides a great outlet for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. By strengthening the body, it can also help nurture the heart and soul through intense and vigorous training. The individual process helps to build confidence, discipline, and focus as well as self-esteem and respect. The group setting provides a great way to foster good relationships and empathy while at the same time individual practice lets each person to move at their own pace.
Q. What are the types of different classes and age groups that you teach?
A. Our Tiny Tiger program is for ages 3-6. This is a great group that sees the full process from an early age. Many of our greatest students and instructors started when they were young. The Karate for Kids program is for ages 7-12. After that we offer classes for teens and adults for any age, my oldest student was 81. We also offer Kickboxing and Krav Maga self-defense to our teens and adults. Infinity Martial Arts brings a unique blend of old school tradition and new age teaching and motivational skills. We’re a full-time school that focuses strictly on martial arts and want to provide the best service possible.
Q. What have you learned so far about this area and the people who live here?
A. The people of this area are very caring and open and seem to be conscientious about the world around them. I truly enjoy engaging with everyone I’ve met and am inspired by the warm welcome I’ve been given. I look forward to participating in as many local events as possible and contribute to the community in any way I can.
Q. What is something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
A. I grew up being a quiet and shy kid. Martial arts gave me the confidence and knowledge of how to express myself physically and emotionally in a way that wasn’t arrogant but purposeful. Sometimes I surprise myself when I think back to when I had a difficult time being in front of an audience and lacking the voice or confidence to speak clearly. Now I bounce around with enthusiasm and articulation.