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Newark Street Park: a unique opportunity

National Cathedral
The gardens offer a remarkable view of the National Cathedral. Photo by Kevin Monahan

WASHINGTON ­­­­— Hidden from the rest of the bustling city, the Newark Street Community Park and Garden features a playground, dog park and tennis courts. But the hallmark of this four acres of public land is its community garden, the largest in D.C., which gives city residents the chance to plant a variety of veggies and flowers.

This year the Newark Street Community Garden Association celebrates their 40th anniversary. Where military offices and housing stood during WWII, is now green space, founded on National Food Day. Susan Akman, former president of the garden association, said nothing formal is yet planned but she hopes they find a way to commemorate the occasion.

Vibrant colors fill the 200 plots with an assortment of vegetables from carrots to radishes, zucchini and lettuce. And because the District is such an international city, Akman said, “We have people from all over the world.” Gardeners learn from each other and bring ideas from their native countries as well.

Akman coordinates the children’s progam, and said she likes to think of their organization as an educational one in general, for all ages. “We have a lot of families with children and they’re learning,” she said, adding that she often sees the tasks of planting, weeding and watering become a family affair, especially with the adjacent playground and dog park,

At the other end of the spectrum, Akman said some gardeners keep at it even into their 90s, but sometimes that means needing the help of fellow gardeners.

“We are a community and we promote that community by helping each other,” she said.

To be a member of the garden, owners of a plot must volunteer 10 hours of service a season or pay a $15 fee.  The goal is to beautify the whole area, she said, and that means everyone pitching in. Many residents also donate produce to area food kitchens.

“We never asked the city for anything. We give back to the city,” Akman said.

 

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Steak ’n Egg: an amiable atmosphere

Clauton Kum talks about his experience at the diner. Photo by Meagan Pruitt

WASHINGTON — Osman and Joe’s Steak ’n Egg Kitchen, a 24-hour staple of the Tenleytown neighborhood, is where Clauton Kum has spent the last three years learning to cook.

“It’s fun to have a staff that works with you,” Kum said. “We goof around with each other all the time, making jokes. It makes the night go faster.”

The 24-hour restaurant features outdoor seating, which looks out on Wisconsin Avenue, and is surrounded with a white picket fence. Eight white tables that can seat about 50 people fill this patio, and if this and the 12 seats at the counter inside aren’t enough, employees make more, said Kum.

The rising sophomore at the University of Maryland came to the United States in 2005 from Cameroon seeking a better education. Osman Barrie and Joe Vamboi, the store’s owners, who befriended Kum’s family, gave him the opportunity to work for their business when he was a sophomore in high school in Silver Spring, Maryland. Through the job, he learned how to cook, working on weekends during the school year and now more hours in the summer months .

Steak 'n Eggs exterior
The patio outside of the diner provides shaded seating. Photo by Meagan Pruitt

Staffers often juggle more than one task— cooking, working the cash register, waiting tables. And Kum’s favorite part of the work is interacting with customers, especially with local college students who frequently come after a night on the town.

“This is the place at the late hour when you’re trying to sober up,” he said. The college crowd energizes the place, adding an entertaining atmosphere filled with spontaneous rap performances and comedic conversations, he added.

The counter, reminiscent of a classic diner, is just inches away from the kitchen, where the staff labors over hot grills. Kum and his fellow staff members work fast; on a recent weekday morning there was a steady stream of people both coming and going.

Kum and other employees are always chatting with customers, laughing with them and trying to make them feel comfortable.

Customers at Steak 'n Eggs
The diner fills up in the morning for breakfast. Photo by Meagan Pruitt

At 10:30 a.m. on a recent weekday, the Jost family, visiting from Indianapolis, arrived after reading a review on Yelp, and ordered biscuits and country fried steak with gravy. Chris Jost described his meal as “great,” while his wife, Candace, said her French toast was “delicious” and daughter Elizabeth pronounced her funnel cakes “the bomb.”

Kum served their table, then dashed back to the kitchen to keep cooking. One of his favorite dishes — and a customer favorite — is the Tennessee Scramble, which features ham, bacon and sausage, and is served with biscuits and gravy.  He said, “the omelettes are a little of a struggle,” but in his time behind the counter, he has now mastered the egg-and-cheese sandwich and pancakes.