Photo by María Helena Carey
Every year it’s an internal debate: will I or won’t I go on the Mother’s Day House tour? And I usually say yes, knowing I’ll doggedly frown upon my own abode when I arrive home. But this torture is for a good cause: each year for the last 55 years, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society has produced this tour of showcase homes as their major fundraiser.
The theme “Windows on Our World” sounds promising, as so many neighbors have international accents in their homes to reflect their personal and professional lives. The houses are contained in a walkable triangle so there won’t be a jitney service this year. The event is from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, and 1-5 p.m. on Mother’s Day, May 13. Tickets cost $25 in advance (find the locations to buy tickets here) and $30 on the tour weekend.
I recommend that you hit as many houses as possible Saturday evening. There is less traffic and more space to ogle the residences. You’ll see creative paint jobs, African and Oriental art, 10-foot ceilings, fountains, sweeping staircases and a home that doubles as a B&B. Two side-by-side homes on 9th Street show how different homes with the same design can have such different footprints and gardens.
Once you’ve finished your gaping, a tear in your beer at your favorite local dining spot might be appropriate. Or perhaps you can begin plotting how to take out that second mortgage and finally plunge into the renovation you’ve been dreaming of?